For your project, and solid Hardwood Floor choices NUFLOORS Auckland can source the following:

Timber Species 

Due to their toughness and durability, New Zealand native and imported solid hardwood timber flooring is ideal for your next timber flooring project. Their classic beauty and rich colours also make them popular for uses where aesthetics count.

 

Beech

Since the 1920s Beech has been source mainly from Southland and Westland New Zealand. It is light, strong and pliable, although it does not last well in exposed situations. It is easily worked and has been put to many uses, including furniture, bentwood work, car and coach bodies, timber flooring, interior finishes, dowels, tool handles and brush backs.

Fijian Kauri

Fijian Kauri is a great alternative to NZ Kauri, especially if you're looking for a cheaper flooring option. Fijian Kauri flooring typically has a pale golden colour, but will be more variable than NZ Kauri solid timber flooring.

 

 

Heavy Hopea

Heavy Hopea is found growing throughout Southeast Asia and Papua New Guinea. These trees are reported to grow upwards of 45m in height, with trunks reaching 120cm in diameter or more. Timber is commonly used in New Zealand for decking, solid timber flooring and outdoor furniture.

 

 

Jarrah

One of the world’s most durable timbers and highly resistant to fire, termite and marine borer attack and impervious to acids. Jarrah has a very wide range of uses, previously regarded as a heavy construction timber for bridges and wharves it is now favoured for interior finishing, joinery, cabinet-making and solid hardwood flooring.

 

 

Kwila

Kwila is a dense timber and very strong - commonly used as an attractive wooden floor with dark warm/golden brown colour., with flecks of gold that you can see in sunlight. Kwila is a high quality, strong and durable hardwood. It has become popular in New Zealand, It is in high demand for decking, outdoor furniture and high-quality solid hardwood timber floors.

 

 

Massa

The heartwood of Massa is light red when freshly cut, turning to dark reddish-brown when dry. Lustre is medium and texture fine and uniform. Grain is usually straight, occasionally interlocked. The hardwood timber is hard, heavy, strong and very durable. Massa carries independent certification that it is sourced from legal and well managed forests.

 

American Oak

American Oak has been used for solid timber flooring for hundreds of years. It is hard wearing and look great.The wide distinctive grain looks great clear finished or highlighted with a stain. The rustic grade has large and small knots throughout. It makes for an attractive timber floor.

 

 

 

American Oak (prime)

This solid Hardwood Timber flooring is imported from America. It Varies in colour and is similar to European Oak. Wide flowing grain with medium course texture. A very durable hardwood timber with great colouring properties. Available in wide or standard floorboard.

 

 

 

American White Oak

American White Oak is a light to medium solid hardwood flooring with consistent colouring and very attractive figure, when cut on the full quarter. A highly decorative wood suitable for your niche markets, as well as an attractive and appealing timber for architects, furniture designers and timber floor installers.

 

 

 

European Oak

Europea Oak Hardwood is pale and yellow-brown, which darkens with exposure. The sapwood is creamy and unusually distinctive. European Oak is stunning and lends itself well to various speciality processes. excellent solid hardwood timber flooring choice.

 

 

 

Tasmanian Oak

Tasmanian Oak is imported from Australia. The colour is pale to light brown with a pinkish tinge. Straight grained and open texture. Moderately durable solid hardwood flooring timber. Available in a wide or standard floorboard.

 

 

PNG (Papua New Guinea) Oak

PNG Timber flooring is a good economical replacement for American White Oak flooring. The colour is paler than American White Oak solid hardwood flooring, but it does have a very similar grain.  

 

 

American Red Oak

The sapwood of American Red Oak is white to light brown and the heartwood is a pinkish reddish brown. The solid hardwood timber flooring is similar in general appearance to American white oak, but with a slightly less pronounced figure due to the smaller rays. The hardwood flooring is mostly straight-grained, with a coarse texture. The red oak tree gets its name because of the colour of the leaves in the 'fall'.

 

 

Pacific Matai

Pacific Matai Wooden flooring is graded into two distinctions, heartwood and sapwood. It's presentation is very similar to the Matai and Rimu floors of the 1920s, with elegant reddy brown colours and fine even textures. Flickers of golden colour gives special intensity to this fine timber that so beautifully reflects our past and enhances our present.  Gives a beautiful silky finish when Sanded and polished. Another excellent solid wood flooring choice.

 

Rosewood

Rosewood is a stunning heartwood that varies in colour from golden brown / red / light yellow in colour. The redder the wood the heavier it is. It Has a wavy grain which can swirl and ripple which makes it a visually interesting flooring timber. It is very durable as solid hardwood flooring.

 

 

Saligna

Saligna is a NZ grown hardwood which makes a premium Timber flooring product. In hardness, it is comparable to Jarrah timber flooring and it has a warm reddish / brown colour. The colour ranges from light to dark pink. The grain is usually interlocked, occasionally straight. The texture is coarse. To facilitate drying the timber is always quarter sawn. Warm in colour makes it an excellent timber flooring choice.

 

Taun

Taun is a wood species originated mainly from Southeast Asia. Raw taun wood is pink to reddish brown, sapwood is not very distinct from the heartwood . Taun wood is moderately durable. As solid wooden flooring, it can be for interior use only.Taun is nearly one of the most ecnomical imported hardwood for solid wood flooring. So if you are looking for an inexpensive solid hardwood flooring, taun might be your ideal choice.

 

Pilularis

Pilularis colours are cream to light brown, with little visible grain and medium texture, Some gum vein is present. This hardwood is grown in northern NZ, but log supply is limited. widely used for solid wood flooring.

 

 

Yaka

Timber is brown to red-brown with great colour variation and dark streaking. The texture is fine and the grain is usually straight but sometimes wavy. Yaka is a relative of the New Zealand rimu and looks like heart rimu with a more distinctive colour variation. Perfect for solid hardwood timber flooring extensions

Wooden floors have been a key feature within homes in Auckland, New Zealand for hundreds of years.   Today they provide insulation, style and easy maintenance for the home business owner.   Providing a safe allergy free environment for families, polished hardwood, engineered, laminate floors also add value to any property.  Here is some guidence around the care and maintainance of your recently completed wooden floor. 

Excessive water will damage and stain your hardwood timber flooring and could warp or expand your wooden floorboards.

Never, Never use a steam mop on your timber flooring, this causes the polyurethane to bake and go white, YOU will need our floor sanding services again to fix this problem.

DO use mats on hardwood timber flooring near entrance ways. They prevent grit and dirt being walked on the wood floors which increases the risk of scratching.

DO take your shoes off. So you dont walk stones or road grit onto your wooden flooring.

DO NOT vaccum your hardwood flooring with a vaccum beater bar or power nozzle. These are intended for carpet and will scratch and damage our beautiful floor sanding.

DO regularly sweep or vaccum your hardwood floors with a floor brush.

DO use flat mops to push particles of grit and dirt on you timber floors without trapping them under furniture.

DO NOT flood your hardwood timber floors with water, as it can cause warping, damage and cause the wooden floor to go black.

DO follow the grain of the wood floor to lift embedded dirt. this will give a more effective result

DO NOT use very HOT water on your wooden flooring. The heat will dull your finish and cause white patches which cannot be fixed. Our floor sanders will need to return and COMPLETELY resand your wood floors at extra costs.

DO NOT use vinegar, bleach or ammonia on your timber flooring. They are acids! Some are toxic but ALL will dull your wooden floors appearance.

DO use mild dishwashing liquid to lift any grease or grime on your hardwood timber floors.

DO keep mops dry or slightly damp to clean your wooden floors.

CLEANING YOUR FLOORS IS EASY AS 1 2 3

1. With a slightly damp mop and a 1/4 of cup of mild dishwashing detergent to 1 bucket of water; wash your hardwood floor. This dissolves dirt and grime
2. Wring out your mop thoroughly and wash your floor again with clean water. This provides a rinse for any residue on your timber flooring.
3. Buff your wood floors with a dry towel. This removes any excess moisture and allows your floors to resume their beauty and lustre for years to come.

It is recommended this process be completed monthly or seasonally. If you choose to perform this more or less frequently it will depend on foot traffic and personal preference.

Many wooden floor materials can be sanded including wooden floor boards, parquetry, cork tiles, particleboard and strandboard, prefinished wooden tile and engineered wooden flooring. Many Beautiful old wooden floors are found suitable for sanding and polishing after the previous coverings have been removed.

There are three stages, floor preparation, floor sanding, and then coating with you choice of protective sealant.

Our flooring specialists use modern equipment  The majority of the job is done by a big belt or drum sander.  Where this floor sanding machine cannot reach we will usually use an edge sander, corners are then scraped out by hand and the finishing specialised floor polishing machine is used.  Floor Preparation- staples and tacks from previous floor coverings are removed as our floor sanding machines do not like them and may cause damage.  Nails are punched and any required floor repairs are undertaken.  

Floor Sanding

Wooden floors are usually angle sanded with 40 grit to level out any differences in height between the wooden floor boards. Our flooring specialist will then sand the woodgrain multiple times with various grits of sandpaper including 60 grit, or 80 grit to the medium stage of sanding. The edges are also sanded ready for the fine sanding stage.

If there are any gaps that are required to be filled this is then completed. These gaps are identified in the initial quote. We do not routinely fill the wooden floors as many customers like the 'rustic' look. The wooden floor is then left to dry depending on how much filler has been used.  In nthese first stages of floor sanding, it is okay for you to walk on your wooden floor.  Our flooring specialist will then fine sand and disc your floor ready for the first coat.

Floor Coating 

At this stage of the floor sandingprocess, the floor cannot be walked across as we need to protect the exposed wooden floor from contamination. Even opening a door to peek inside can allow a certain amount of dust to blow in and onto the wooden floor. A sealer is applied, followed shortly by the second coat. Our floor sanding equipment is designed to keep harmful dust to a minimum at all stages of the floor sanding process.

YOU MUST NOT WALK ON THE WOODEN FLOOR ONCE THE COATING PROCESS HAS BEGUN AS THIS COAT TAKES 24 HOURS TO DRY. If you stand on the polyurethane that has not quite cured not only will you have a sticky substance stuck to your foot, but you risk putting a footprint or dust in your wooden floor. Fixing this can be costly for you as the customer.  

Our Floor Sanders will return the following day (usually in the afternoon to allow time to dry) to apply the third coat. You may walk on your wooden floor 24 hours after the final coat has been applied. We recommend you remove your shoes to prevent any damage to the fresh coat. It takes 3 days for the polyurethane to reach full strength.

Putting furniture back in position

It is recommended not to put furniture in the area once the floor sanding is complete for 7 days. However, we know you need to get on with your lives. 48 hours (at your own risk) and DO NOT DRAG your furniture across the polished timber floors as you risk scratching or gouging the wooden floor.

Handy hint: Cut small pieces of felt or carpet and apply it to the feet of your furniture. This will also prevent and damage to the polished wooden floors if the furniture is moved again.

Mats/Carpet

It is recommended that mats and carpets are put back after the 7 days as they can leave marks or imprints on the new polished timber floors.

Handy hint:  If your find they are sliding on your polished timber floors your can purchase anti-slip mats that can be cut to size from any hardware shop.

Floor cleaning post staining and coating

Cleaning instructions - use an anti-static mop to collect dust and dirt, wash the floor boards regularly with hot water and gentle detergent for water. Be careful to use only a damp mop, not wet, as excess water will damage the floor boards. We do not recommend the use of steam mops as they can damage the floor making it look patchy and worn. Waxes or silicone cleaners should never be used on the floor they can damage the floor and make it very slippery.

 

6 reasons why you should get your solid wooden floors sanded and polished

1. It gives your timber floor another lease of life
2. Solid Timber flooring can add value to your property, increasing your equity.
3. Solid Timber floors last longer than carpet, vinyl, tiles and other laminate floorings.
4. Ideal for people with allergies, no carpet mites or other nasty's, keep your family safe!
5. Solid wooden flooring is easy to keep clean and dust free
6. No more carpet stains, ideal for rental properties.

What happens to the rubbish?

All of the rubbish associated with our floor sanding job, will be taken away and disposed by our flooring specialists.  

Can I stay in my home while you are floor sanding and polishing?

During the initial stage of floor sanding you can stay in your home, however in the final stages of floor sanding we recommend that you find alternative accommodation as you are unable to walk on the floor and the smell is very strong if moisture-cured polyurethane is used.

My Timber floors have a lot of staples in them, will you take care of these?

NUFLOORS will endevour to remove as many as we can without them breaking or you can remove them carefully yourself with pliers - try not to break them. They may require grinded off (which we do with a small grinder) prior to floor sanding.

What is the difference between solvent and water based Polyurethane?

Moisture cured is a solvent based polyurethane and is very strong smelling and takes 24 hours to harden. Waterborne is a water-based polyurethane which is non-smelling and only takes approximately 4 hours to dry. Waterborne polyurethane is not toxic, and non-yellowing. Both products take 3 days to fully cure.

Is there a minimum charge for a small area?

Yes for very small areas under 25 sqm we have a minimum charge policy. If the total square area falls within this limit then we will charge our minimum flat fee. This flat rate includes floor sanding and applying 3 coats of your choice of polyurethane finish.

Do you give quotes over the phone?

Yes we can give you an indication  of what your job may cost over the phone if you are able to supply us with the measurements and condition of the soild hardwood floor. However, this just an estimate and can be confirmed during an on-site quote which is FREE with NO OBLIGATION.

Do you remove carpet, lino, tacks and staples?

Yes we can remove and dispose of carpet and vinyl, tacks and staples, this is an additional cost which will be discussed and added to the quote.

Do you fill nail holes, gaps and other random holes?

Yes most customers prefer to have the nail holes filled.  Some timber floors require nail hole and gap filling to give a uniform look while other timber floors should not be filled to keep it unique rustic look. We can recommend whether to fill or not at the time of the initial quote. However, the final decision is yours.

How long will it take for the smell to go?

If you have chosen water based coating there will be no lingering smell.  However if solvent based polyurethane has been selected, once the floor sanding process is complete and you are able to get in and open up the place to air out, the smell should be gone in approximately 24 to 48 hours. 

How long do polished timber floors last?

When properly maintained, polished timber floors can last a lifetime. On average carpet needs to be replaced every 10 or 12 years. Every polished timber floor should be re-visited between 10 years if wear is showing then a re-glaze may be recommended.

Is it true that solid hardwood floors provide a cleaner sanitized environment?

Yes carpet attracts and can contain many allergenic spores, dust-mites, bacteria, fungi and other unhealthy microbes. Vacuuming regularly does not always remove these nasties. Water-borne polyurethaned floors can be washed with neutral detergents, killing germs and leaving your solid hardwood flooring disinfected and clean.

How much dust is left behind?

Floor Sanding can be a very dusty job!, however, our floor sanding machines have their own vacuum cleaners attached which removes much of the dust during the floor sanding process. We also vacuum the floor between coats and do our very best to minimise the amount of dust distributed.  We recommend you remove or cover any electrical appliances and curtains prior to the sanding process.

My wooden flooring has black water stains around the nails stains in the wet areas, can they be removed?

Water stains may not always come out, it's all dependent how deep into the hardwood timber they are. It will only be apparent once we commence floor sanding on these areas. There are no guarantees that watermarks will ever come out with floor sanding, floorboard replacement is the ONLY option to resolve this issue.

My current solid timber flooring is looking worn and dull, what alternative options are available?

Your solid timber floor could require a reglaze or maintenance coat. This is when we clean the wooden floor the day before with hot soapy water, then allow to dry. Then we lightly disc back the timber floor and apply two coats.

Are timber floors recommended for rental properties?

Polished wooden floors are ideal for rental properties and are very common. No more orange cordial, or red wine stains or the extra expense of calling in the carpet cleaners.

How long will it take to get my timber floors sanded and polished?

Job duration is dependent on the size, the wooden floors condition and the extra wooden flooring requirements i.e. nail hole filling, staining, repairs etc...

GENERAL SIZE GUIDE

• 40-75 square metres (Half a 3 bedroom house or Whole 2 bedroom unit) – 3 to 4 Days
• 75-100 square metres (Whole 3 bedroom house) – 4 to 5 Days
• 100+ square metres (Whole larger 3-4 bedroom house) - 4 to 6 Days

What type of finish can I have?

To discuss the pros and cons of each finish please call us, as every floor may require different finishes according to area, amount of sunlight, living situation etc...

Gloss finish is very shiny and reflective, Satin is a midrange coat which is very popular, lo-sheen is a dull and flat like finish and is our most popular finish.

The lesser the shine the more forgiving the timber floor is to scratches, defects, dust, dirt and general wear and tear. We can easily make samples so you can see and choose the finish you like.

Do you move all the furniture and replace it, or is it the customers responsibility?

No - due to liability and insurance issues, the customer is solely responsible for their furniture.

How far in advance should I book in with you?

We recommend you book in as soon as you have a confirmed date. Generally, two weeks is usually enough notice.

I am getting carpet laid in other areas, when should I get it laid?

It is recommended that the floor sanding and polishing to be done first, shortly followed by the carpet. New carpet can create a lot of unwanted dust that can affect the wet polyurethane, thus giving it a dusty speckled finish.

Can I wear my stilettos on the timber floor?

Never wear stilettos on wooden floors. Any pointed heeled shoes should be avoided.  It's the number one sin!!!