OMG...floor adhesive issues...solved...YAY finally.

I buy 15L buckets of Bostick Ultraset for around $180 - you have been stitched up on the other product (which I think is a Bostick product but in 10L buckets?)

I use Bostick Ultraset for timber floors going over timber, ply and some times concrete - all though my preference for direct stick is the Selleys product.

The only point of difference may be the coverage rate, but on face value looks like someone is having a lend of you

Small world eh, just read through your reno thread - we lived on the Tablelands at Lake Eacham for 10 years before moving down south

Good luck with it all

How awful!
But isn't that Bostik Ultraset SF Polyurethane Timber Floor Adhesive (Bostik being the brand)??
I was told that Bostik Ultraset is the best (for chipboard installation at least) and also the most expensive.

BTW, how come you need that much glue? Seems like they going to trowel glue the floor? Is the installation on slab?

Namtrak, you seem to be in a very small group! We spoke to so many installers and only 2 of them would use a bead of glue (maybe a snake pattern) along each board - all the rest of them only use a bead of glue perpendicular to the boards and spaced away some 300mm or more. And nobody does a trowel glue !!

Does the cost of approx. $100/m2 cover the installation (including glue), sanding and polishing only, or also the timber cost?

Thanks, R. Funny I was looking for Bostik official info on how much of Ultraset SF should be used for particleboard installation, but that product has no proper info, just a short description. BUT, I found yours easily!! However, I don't understand is your glue for so-called overlay flooring (as in slimmer overlay) or for 19mm strip flooring.
Anyway, here's that doco: http://www.bostikfindley.com.au/technical_data_sheets_PDF/Bostik_Ultraset_Overlay.pdf

If they use glue as per the doco (ie. for Overlay flooring - 5mm V notch trowel, approximately 1.2 to 1.4m² per litre) ... so works out you need 168.5 litres of glue if I use the average value of 1.3 m2 / l. They ordered 14 drums, ie. 140 litres. Maybe they will use a smaller notch trowel. There will be a bit of waste with the glue, but it also depends on how good the installers are.

Since you are installing over YT, it's good that they planned for this much glue. What timber do you have and what is the size of the boards?

It could get tricky if you try to argue the cost of glue alone. Some installers can be super sensitive that someone who isn't in the business can get some info very easily, like the cost of various materials. It's also likely that he has tradies discount, so sounds like double dipping - almost.

I am not sure what are the install costs in your region, maybe more than in metro areas, and am not sure if the 22mm has a role in the cost. I would expect that average Sydney price for install, sand and a "standard" coating (not water based or some special oils) is about 55/m2, so max 65 if water based. This includes GST. It also seems that most people who charge this will only use small amounts of glue, but this also varies a lot!

If we deduct the glue from the total of 22k, it sounds much better, at $80/m2. Also depends what kind of coating will you have. Overall sounds good, except that it leaves a very bad taste because of their glue pricing.

I am very cautious as an installer - I don't want any callbacks, so I almost always trowel with a 3mm notched trowel onto timber and a 5mm trowel onto concrete.



Yeh sounds to me like he is chasing an advance payment more so than just paying for the glue. If I was in your boat, I would probably call him on it - something along the lines of the "the glue should cost around $2000, the payment of $4400 looks over and above. If you want an partial payment then just be upfront and we will work fine together etc" I think the installer is probably not sensible enough to just seek a partial.

Only in a small way on the Tablelands. Sorry no recommendations.



Being Cypress I would clarify what sort of finish is going on the floor. I prefer a Hardwax Oil on Cypress I reckon it looks super, either way I would definitely stay away from the older style finishes. Alternatively a water based finish will not yellow over time and keeps the colour of the original floor intact.

$100 is quite reasonable - if you have any doubts never too late to ask to see floors done by the contractor - I always offer the opportunity to see floors in situ for potential clients.

Cheers

It is a personal preference but the solvent based polyurethanes have a much higher degree of toxicity whilst curing and the finish yellows over time - so you basically end up looking at the finish rather than the floor.

The main product I use are Bona water based finishes (Bona)

The solvent based finishes are cheaper, but the extra cost would only be $2/3 per sqm

For 200 sqm the cost of a 1 coat of Bona primer and 2 coats of Bona mega would be just on $8.2 per sqm or about $1650 cost to the installer. Something like a Polycure would cost about $1000 for 200 sqm

The Hardwax Oil I use is called Treatex supplied by Whittlewaxes. This costs around $330 per 5L but, and this is the thing a lot of installers don't consider is that you only need 2 THIN coats, as opposed to 3 coats for the polyurethanes

Treatex is actually cheaper than the Bona products.

2 coats of Treatex costs $3.16 per sqm per coat ($6.32 finished)

1 coat primer and 2 coats Bona Mega costs $8.2 finished.

Maintenance for both is similar - a spray on /wipe off cleaning product from both companies which is very easy to use. Prevention is always better - door mats, furniture protectors, clipped dog nails etc

If you are considering the Treatex product a go give Giles at Whittlewaxes a call (google them) he is very helpful, and if Bona send Bona a email with any questions then Adrian will happily answer your questions

Well, to be fair, I did have one guy did give me the address of a public place ...