There are two common types of timber flooring: unfinished and prefinished. Unfinished timber floors need to be sanded before application. Prefinished timber floors do not need to be sanded, as they already have a UV coating. Both types are durable and can be carved to a desired design. If you are looking for a timber floor for your home, you should decide on the appearance you would like to achieve before buying it.
A ten-metre span timber floor is technically feasible and can be produced with acceptable acoustic performance. The challenge lies in providing a competitive design, while minimizing the commercial risk. As an example, in the case of a ten-metre span timber floor, it is technically feasible to install a solid, non-stretch concrete subfloor on top of the joists. This can be achieved by distributing the load between a timber floor and an underlay.
The composite action of nine different types of floors was investigated by Weckendorf et al. The results indicated that the fundamental frequency remains unchanged despite a decrease in the spacing between adjacent modes. However, the interconnectivity between the floor elements and the boundary conditions of timber floors must be further studied to determine if they affect the performance of the flooring system. So, what are the benefits of a timber floor? Let’s find out!
Structural damping can be evaluated through the strain energy method. Structural damping is closely related to the execution and design of the floor element as well as the supporting structures. Consequently, full-scale tests are necessary to obtain credible values of total damping. This research is one of the few investigations to assess the dynamic response of a cassette-type timber floor element. These studies provide valuable guidelines for the efficient adaptation of floor elements.
In addition to static stability, a timber floor’s relative vertical deflection is an important design feature. This characteristic of a floor’s strength has been confirmed in tests. As the screws are installed, the relative vertical deflection between floor elements decreases. This translates into a lower moment stiffness. When the resulting deflection is compared to that of a floor with the same number of screws, the lower panel of the interaction chart reveals that C3 is more stable. In addition, the presence of 19 screws is not as problematic as C2 does.
In order to keep a timber floor looking beautiful, you need to keep it clean. To do this, you can use an antistatic mop or damp mop. It is important to use a damp mop, not a steam mop, because it may cause scratches to the surface. It is also advisable to install mats at the entry of the house to prevent deep scratches. Nevertheless, you must remember that timber floors will need light scuffing back and recoating after a decade.
Australian hardwood timbers are also available for flooring. Various species from different countries are used for this purpose. Oak is the most popular timber in Australia. Among them are the blackbutt, spotted gum, and Jarrah. Each species has its own unique colour pattern, which is an important factor when deciding on the right type of timber for your home. However, there are also many imported species of timber available. The best thing about them is that they have long lifetime warranties.