Engineered Timber FAQ
17 questions answered by NSW's only Bona Premier Dealer.
Engineered Timber (17)
What do expansion covers do for hybrid flooring?
Expansion covers do four things: they accommodate floor movement, clean up transitions between rooms, protect vulnerable floor edges, and reduce tripping hazards. The six common types are T-mouldings, reducer trims, end caps, scotia, skirting boards, and stair nosing. A professional floor sander can tell you which transition profile suits your setup.
What type of trim should I use between rooms with hybrid flooring?
T-mouldings go between rooms at the same height. Reducer trims handle the step-down to a lower surface. End caps or square-nose trims are for sliding doors and thresholds. In commercial spaces, you'd typically use metal or heavy-duty PVC trims with low-profile flush transitions. A professional floor sander installs the right transition for every situation.
What is cupping in engineered timber floors?
With engineered floors, cupping is when board edges sit higher than the centre -- usually caused by moisture coming from underneath. You can also get crowning, where the centre is higher than the edges. Humidity, lamella species, thickness, and installation method all play a part. A professional floor sander diagnoses engineered floor problems by checking all those factors.
What is lamella delamination in engineered floors?
That's when the top timber wear layer separates from the substrate layers underneath. It's a manufacturing fault, not something caused by installation or use. It's usually covered under the manufacturer's warranty. A professional floor sander can confirm whether it's delamination and help you go after the warranty claim.
What is acceptable lipping in engineered timber floors?
Lipping is board edge mismatch between adjacent planks. The acceptable limit is less than 0.2mm for square edges and 0.5mm for bevelled edges. Anything beyond those tolerances might need fixing. A professional floor sander installs engineered floors to meet those industry standards.
What is a floating floor and how does it work?
Floating floors have boards fixed to each other but not to the subfloor -- they rest on foam underlay and act as rafts that need to move freely in all directions to accommodate seasonal expansion and contraction. That free movement is the whole point of the system, so anything that restricts it is going to cause problems.
What items must NOT rest on a floated timber floor?
Kitchen benches, pool tables, large bookcases, and waterfall benchtops must NOT rest on a floated floor because they stop it from moving freely. Don't use sealant where the floor meets vertical surfaces like benches and skirting either -- same reason. If you restrict a floating floor's movement, you're asking for costly damage down the track.
Why are control joints needed in floating floors?
Control joints are required at doorways and hallways in floating floor installations. Skip them and you risk buckling because the floor has no allowance for expansion in those areas. Proper compartmentalisation with transition strips prevents expansion pressure from building up over long runs. They need to go in at every required location -- no shortcuts.
What width ranges are available for engineered timber flooring?
Engineered boards commonly range from 130-220mm wide, with some going over 300mm. Standard profiles per AS 2796 include 80 x 19mm and 130 x 19mm for solid timber. Parquetry options include herringbone blocks and chevron-cut formats. There's a pretty wide range of widths and formats to work with depending on the look you're after.
What is wire brushing on engineered timber floors?
Wire brushing creates a textured surface on the timber before coating, and it really enhances the grain character and beauty. The catch is that heavy texturing needs careful cleaning because dirt can get trapped in those textured grooves over time. Maintaining and recoating wire-brushed engineered floors takes a bit of know-how.
How does engineered flooring handle moisture differently from solid timber?
Engineered flooring expands and contracts less than solid timber because of its multi-layered construction with fibres running in opposing directions. But it's still a hygroscopic material -- it still absorbs moisture under high relative humidity and releases it under low humidity. The movement's reduced compared to solid timber, but it's definitely still there.
Can prefinished engineered floors be recoated?
Yes, recoating prefinished floors is possible, but you need to understand the original coating system and do proper preparation. ATFA provides specific technical information on this process. A knowledgeable floor sander can safely recoat prefinished engineered flooring -- it's about knowing what you're working over.
What causes peaking specifically in engineered timber floors?
Higher density backsawn hardwoods installed in moderate to more humid areas are the most prone to peaking in engineered floors. The standard profile design concentrates expansion pressure on the top third of the board, and wider undercuts can trigger severe peaking. Selecting the right profiles and installation methods makes a real difference in reducing peaking risk.
Can I install a floating floor in a kitchen?
You can install a floating floor in a kitchen, but here's the catch -- kitchen benches and waterfall benchtops must NOT rest on the floated floor because they'll stop it from moving freely. Any heavy fixed items need to be independently supported. A professional floor sander makes sure floating floor installations in kitchens account for all these restrictions.
What causes end-peaking in engineered floating floors?
End-peaking is when the end joints of engineered floating floor boards push up. It's usually caused by not enough expansion allowance or missing control joints at doorways and hallways. Proper compartmentalisation and expansion gaps sort this out. A professional floor sander installs control joints at all the required locations to keep end-peaking from happening.
Should sealant be used where floating floors meet walls?
No -- don't use sealant where the floor meets vertical surfaces like benches and skirting boards. Sealant stops the floor from expanding and contracting freely, and that can cause buckling and other performance issues. A professional floor sander leaves proper expansion gaps at all perimeter and vertical junctions.
What is the difference between a T-moulding and a reducer trim?
A T-moulding is for equal-height transitions -- it goes between two flooring surfaces sitting at the same level. A reducer trim transitions from a higher surface down to a lower one. Both are essential expansion cover types for hybrid and floating floor installations. A professional floor sander picks the correct transition profile for every doorway and room junction.
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