Browse Forums Flooring & Floor Covering 1 Nov 28, 2010 2:51 pm My timber floor polishing has been disasterous. We have now been out of our place for three weeks and facing another week as the floor polish has to be done for the third time. After doing all my reserach, we decided to go with ironbark timber and bona traffic silk matt. We bought a package deal through one of those timber floor place in WA and were assured that all work was done "in-house". When the floor was delivered, we realised that the "in-house" was actually using a contractor that subcontract work out to other contractors. By then, we were stuck with them with deposit paid, timber delivered etc. The first coat went on and we only thought one area was a bit ******* looking. It wasn't till the second coat was on and we saw it under the light and noticed extensive orange peel looking areas, some which gave the appearance of no vanish at all. We called them back and they agreed to resand and polish the floor assuring us that the marks would be gone. This second resand polish resulted an even poorer job. Some of the orange peel look have been minimised but new orange peel appeared in other areas. On the top of this, there is an unacceptable amount of hair too. We counted in our 100 sqm floor, we have about 50 hairs stuck on the vanish on the floor!! The subcontractor that did the floor did not return to inspect the floor. We had the main contractor came back and said the finish was border-line with ATFA standards, but said that it was a problem of temperature not poor workmanship. He told us that we should live with it and have a free recoat after 12 months. They would spot fix where the hairs stuck to the vanish. He also said if we were to pursue this through the ATFA and were wrong about the floor that we would be out of pocket for up to a $1000 or more. We asked another floor sander who polished our previous house to have a look. He suggested for us to contact ATFA for an inspection which we did. It cost us $250 for a visual inspection and we yet may seek a written report (cost $400). The ATFA inspector confirmed our suspicions that the finish we see is because of poor workmanship NOT temperature. I gave the main contractor a call yesterday and he suggested for a resand and recoat (again). My problem is that I do not trust them to do the job properly again. He reckoned that he is going to ask the person with most experience to do the job this time (same subcontractor). We have spent so much money staying in temporary accommodation and eating out due to this. My two kids have been very unsettled due to the moving. Any one has suggestions what best we can do in this situation. Re: Any advice pls- polish with orange peel look 3Dec 01, 2010 5:52 am Bona is a great product and it actually sounds like it is going on too thin. Unlike a lot of finishes it goes better the thicker and more even it is put on. I am pretty sure they shouldn't be adding actual thinners to the finish? Bona have an additive called Retarder which extends the 'wet' time of the finish so it is easier to get on. With Bona the products need to be shaken really well and I also sit the bottles in hot water for a few minutes just to help with viscosity. I would suggest you contact the tech team at Bona through their website, they are a great resource. I would also contact the floor sander and get them to ring the tech guys as well. Re: Any advice pls- polish with orange peel look 4Dec 01, 2010 6:44 am Wow, how horrible, I feel for you. Good on you for calling ATFA, I cannot believe they told you it's "borderline". I find almost all flooring guys I spoke to were so full of themselves and with "know all" attitude and becoming very rude and offensive after the client shows a tiny bit of very basic knowledge (as basic as having heard of a product like Bona Traffic!!). I had some guy who's quite old and been in this business all his life (aka very experienced) telling me that black Timbermate does not exist . I had other 2 guys to whom I had to write down the name of our chosen coating product (Bona Traffic). Most of the guys never heard of Treatex ... and so on, it's scary (but they "do" know everything!!). I so appreciate when I come across someone who keeps himself up to date and is smart enough to recognise that times have changed and accept that many clients these days take notice and interest in their own house and how things are done (and changed) and that Googling and/or asking many questions is not always a bad thing. End of rant My signature is distracting people from my wise posts ... Re: Any advice pls- polish with orange peel look 5Dec 02, 2010 2:36 pm Thank you for responding to my post. We just have them back again to resand and recoat my floor again. When we spoke to them about hairs on their previous attempt, they openly acknowledged the guy that did our floor always get the same complaint from customers. How is this acceptable????!!!!! This time, I am ended up with 3 boards with orange peel. it was better than before. I do not believe I should have any orange peel look on my floor varnish. Is orange peel very common? I have had my previous house done and I dont have any of this. I am also ended up with drip marks - all over the house the round marks, I dont care the one that I cant see. But the ones that are visible near my side door are just unacceptable. all orange peel can not be eliminated - it can only be minimised - I am told. I have so many orange peel look on my floor - I can not count, some really visible, some that have been minimised. I do not know what else we can do. we are now told, by the floor sander that, ATFA standards are a joke, we should not base on that --- that the inspector we hire from ATFA is no good. He wants to see the floor before ATFA inspector. I just want to get on with my life - and this floor business is just upsetting. I wish i just have tiles on instead Re: Any advice pls- polish with orange peel look 6Dec 02, 2010 2:55 pm Is the floor still pretty bad? Maybe it's the combination of the species (ironbark) with the coating (water based bona traffic) that adds to the likelyhood of the problem happening? I can't remember if IB is an oily timber, but I do remember reading about certain oily timbers not going well with certain coatings, like water based ones. Makes me want to switch to natural oils ... but don't like the prospects of higher maintenance. Also, was told and saw it for myself how some oils are indeed oily and stay oily . Anyway, none of this rambling is helping you . I hope you don;t give in to this guy for saying that ATFA guys are talking rubbish. In fact, in the very ATFA main manual, there is some pic and a note saying that "high levels of perfection in finish can be achieved" or something along those lines. I believe so, especially after seeing some less than perfect things done by some flooring people. Is there some other industry or govt body in your state? In NSW we have Forestry deparment and also ATFA and some other associations as well - all of these can inspect the floor for you, not just ATFA. I guess the problem is that nobody can force these guys to fix it, well unless you haven't paid them yet My signature is distracting people from my wise posts ... Re: Any advice pls- polish with orange peel look 7Dec 02, 2010 3:27 pm Thanks Lex. No, we have not paid for their work yet. I am just frustrated that they could not just say - oops, we did stuff up. they blame everything but themselves. Now, we have so much debris stuck on the varnish of the the floor, they said it is in the Bona product - it was not them!!! I really dont think it is to do with the timber but poor workmanship. I just realise from reading ATFA guide that they are doing bad job with timber filler too. ATFA guides said that if one colour filler is to be used, then that colour should match the darker tone in the boards. My floor nail holes are filled with light filler - the filler will match tassie oak floor. I told them that it did not look right and that my floor looks like it has white specks all over them - but was told it would blend in over time and it was what ATFA said. And they could not fix the timber filler anymore as they have been coated. I am going to ignore what the sander said, and get the same ATFA guy to come again. Adrian from Bona knew this chap and thought he is a good inspector. He reckons that they are going to come back to resand and recoat my floor again if it is found to be unacceptable. Why would I want them back for the fourth time? Re: Any advice pls- polish with orange peel look 8Dec 02, 2010 3:46 pm OMG, makes me boil. That's exactly what I thought - them blaming everything and everyone but themselves. How low and cowardly. As for the putty - anyone who's done at least one floor as a paid pro should (IMO) know and understand that timber will never become lighter, but it will yellow/darken to a degree (depending on various factors) and therefore the filler which is already lighter than the timber should never be used. Tas oak colour for IB!? I only met one flooring guy who was following latest developments, going on ATFA training courses and constantly educating himself in his profession - but I ended up not selecting him based on some other weird requirements (like well above 10% deposit b4 start - which according to my understanding is illegal to ask for, and a very short warranty on his work). But theory-wise and attitude-wise, he was way ahead of the rest, happy to hear that some clients actually can and do read and do take interest. And why would they bring (and use!!) Bona which "had something in it" Far more likely not taking care preparing and using Bona. Sorry again, I can't help (other than vent). My signature is distracting people from my wise posts ... Re: Any advice pls- polish with orange peel look 9Dec 02, 2010 5:15 pm Thanks Lex for your views. We were so naive to think that we can just trust them to do their job professionally. We did not think we had to specifically request to have darker filler... now they just made us feel that we were "particular". I have friends over to look at our floor - and they could see the white filler without us saying anything about it. We were told that we would just get used to it - and they said the same with the blemishes on the floor. planning what to do next Very common on rendered homes Smaller suppliers get the lower quality raw materials 6 12236 A question. Im in Queensland and building a new home. We managed to reach practical completion 6 weeks ago but we haven't heard any date for handover yet. Who should we… 0 6263 No the fireplace doesn’t work. It’s been enclosed. I’m not sure what was removed, as it was done quite some time ago - well before what I can see with photos online… 2 11993 |