Quantities and costing

When buying your overlay flooring you will need to know the square metres of your floor. Just tell your supplier haw many square metres you want to cover and allow an additional 5% for cutting. If you're not sure phone your supplier.

When buying your Overlay flooring you will need to know the square metres of your floor. Just tell your supplier how many square metres you want to cover and allow an additional 5% for cutting. If you're not sure phone your supplier.

Work Out What You Need
Convert your room measurements from square to lineal metres as follows.
The following factors include allowance for wastage:

Local Environment

Being a hygroscopic material, timber will be affected by conditions of excessive moisture or drying. In your home conditions such as heaters, air-conditioning, exposure to sun from large windows and moisture sources mean you must allow the timber time to adapt to its new location. Otherwise, you risk future problems of shrinking (drying) or expansion (moisture).

Acclimatisation

Because timber is a hygroscopic material, it is recommended that solid timber floors be allowed to acclimatise to their new local environment. In the home, various conditions such as heaters, air conditioning or direct sunlight can effect the moisture content of your floor. For this reason you must allow the timber time to adapt to these conditions. There are many different ways to correctly acclimatise timber. You should always avoid extreme weather conditions when acclimatising your Slimwood floor. Contact you local Boral Timber office if further information is required.

Suitable Sub-floors

Slimwood Overlay flooring is designed for the following sub-floor conditions:
• Concrete slab
• Sheet flooring such as plywood or particleboard
• Over existing strip timber floors

GLUE DOWN APPLICATION

Subfloor requirements - in all cases, the subfloor must be structurally sound, level, dry and clean.

Concrete slab

• The concrete must be sound and have a steel trowelled finish and be free of floating ridges (these may be removed by rubbing the floor with an emery stone or house brick).

• The concrete should be clean, dry and free of dust, wax, coatings, adhesives, curing compounds, oil or grease.

• The slab must be flat with no more than 3mm deviation in a 3 metre radius. If deviations are greater than acceptable then the laying surface can be brought to level using a self levelling compound available from Boral Timber.

• An alternative method is to fix Boral Hancock Underply plywood underlay to the concrete slab after first laying a polyethylene membrane (minimum 2 microns). Comprehensive instructions on fixing this membrane and underply are contained in the Boral Hancock Underply brochure.

• Slimwood must not be laid on any section of a concrete floor, which has moisture content of more than 5.5%. As a guide for new concrete floors, allow a month of drying time for each 25mm of concrete thickness. This time may vary depending on climatic conditions. The best way to test for moisture content is to use an appropriate moisture meter.

• Concrete floors that are not suspended should have a polyethylene waterproof membrane underneath to prevent rising damp. If this is not present or you have concerns with varying moisture in the slab, you should use Bostik Moisture Seal as per the manufacturer's instructions. Contact Boral for advice on 1800 818 317

Plywood and particleboard

Plywood or particleboard is a good subfloor for Slimwood Overlay flooring when free from wax and dirt. The subfloor must be level sanded prior to Slimwood installation. This will remove any other surface irregularities, such as edge swelling at joints. Plywood or particleboard should be a minimum of 5 ply or 12mm. For further information on installing a plywood subfloor ask for the Boral Hancock Underply brochure at your local reseller.

Existing timber floor

Timber flooring must be rough-sanded to remove any cupping or rough material. Sand to eliminate any unevenness and to remove wax or other surface finishes. It is recommended that the Slimwood boards be laid at a 90 degree angle to the line of the subfloor boards to avoid possible subfloor movement that could affect the finished Slimwood floor. If the above preparation is not practical then Boral Hancock Underply plywood underlay should be laid over the existing floor boards to act as a subfloor.

Fixing the Boards to your prepared surface: Glue Method

Tools for the job

• A saw, Hammer,Rebated tapping block, Bostik Moisture Seal (if required), Chalk line Timber wedges, 3mm V-notched spreader, Pull tool, Square rule, Concrete nails, Bostik Ultraset polyurethane adhesive

Installation

• It is recommended that you lay boards parallel to the longest wall in the room.

• You will need to set up a work area and a main floor area. Flick a chalk line that is 10 board widths + 12mm from the starting wall to establish a straight line. The area between the chalk line and the starting wall is your work area. See figure 1.

• Using concrete nails ("mickey pins") nail a row of boards on this line as a holding block, with tongues facing the starting wall. These may be removed after the glue has dried.

• Leave a board thickness expansion gap (12mm) along end walls. Place 12mm blocks/wedges along one end to maintain the gap while boards are being placed and glued down.

• Slimwood must be fixed with Bostik Ultraset polyurethane adhesive; applied using a 3mm v-notched trowel. Spread only enough for 3 or 4 boards at a time.

• Once laid the boards should be in constant firm contact with the adhesive until cured. If in doubt, nail down (using "mickey pins" or similar, which can be removed later) or apply appropriate weights. Do not remove weights or "mickey pins" until completely dry.

• Start the first row of boards with the tongue facing the starting wall and the left hand end of the board against the block/wedge on the side wall. Slot the tongue firmly into the groove on the fixed temporary board and then press the board down firmly into the adhesive. See figure 2.

• Working from left to right, lay the next board and continue working towards the right until you need to measure and cut a strip to finish the first row, remembering to allow for a 12mm expansion joint.

• To minimise cutting waste try to make the off-cut from this board long enough to use elsewhere.

• As you add the next row, tap the boards gently together using a tapping block for a tight fit. Figure 3.

• You will need a pull tool to fit the last board, closest to the wall.

• Start all new rows with a board at least 450mm shorter or longer than the strip used in the previous row. This will prevent end joints from clustering or aligning throughout the floor. See figure 4.

• Scribe the last board to fit allowing for the 12mm expansion joint along its whole length.

• Once your main floor area has been laid, remove your temporary block and lay Slimwood in your work area following the same procedure above.

• Clean up excess adhesive with a cloth and methylated spirits.

Sanding and finishing

There are many different types of finishes ranging from oils through to water-based urethanes. You should choose the best finish to suit your functional and aesthetic requirements. At all times it is important that the manufacturer's instructions are followed carefully.
You should not use a product that will bond several boards together. This can create unsightly gaps as the boards expand and contract in groups, creating large gaps every 4 to 6 boards. Always check with the finishing product manufacturer to ensure that this is not a problem.
Boral recommends that you use a professional sander and finisher to complete this stage of the job. Allow a minimum of 72 hours after completing the gluing of the floor before sanding, to give the glue time to set.

The finishing touches

Don't forget the finishing touches on your new timber floor. You will need to cover the 12mm expansion gap that you left between the wall and the Slimwood floorboards. This can be covered with an appropriate skirting which should be nailed to the wall and not fixed to the floor. If you install your Slimwood floor with existing skirtings in place use a fillet mould or bead to cover the gap, fixed to the skirting and not the floor.

Important points to remember

• Read all instructions before you start

• Take your time to plan the job properly

• When installing over a concrete slab, Slimwood must not be laid over concrete which has a moisture content greater than 5.5%

• Ensure that the subfloor is flat (within 3mm over a 3m radius), clean and dry

• If possible, lay boards before fixing skirting

• Slimwood is not recommended for wet areas such as laundries or bathrooms or over heated subfloors

• If there are any problems before or during the laying of Slimwood floor, stop and do not continue laying. Contact Boral Timber immediately for further advice on 1800 818 317

Safe work practices

• Wood dust may cause irritation and repeated inhalation may damage health and increase the risk of nasal cancer. Machinery or power tools may generate sufficient noise to damage hearing. The following work practices should be employed when working with timber:

• Work areas must be clean. Sawing, sanding and routing equipment should be fitted with dust extractors. Dust levels should be below standards set by Work Safety Australia for wood dust

• When machining timber, respiratory protection, gloves, clothing, hearing and eye protection should be worn

• After handling timber, wash skin thoroughly with mild soap

• Regularly launder clothing

Guarantee

The timber chosen for Slimwood Overlay timber flooring is specially selected from the highest grades of hardwood and is guaranteed. Any faulty Slimwood will be replaced as quickly as possible. If Boral has not handled the installation process, our guarantee does not cover any part of the installation.

HANDLE WITH CARE

The packing surrounding Slimwood Overlay flooring is designed to protect it during transport only. Upon delivery, your Slimwood should be taken inside where it can be protected from the elements. Do not try to store it outside by using a protective covering such as a tarpaulin as this will have the effect of trapping condensation underneath which will damage your timber.

For guidance on how to care for your new Slimwood timber floor refer to the Boral Timber Floorcare brochure.