Timber overlay flooring – surface wear

Causes

Clear finish or film applied to boards worn through 

Product not suited for heavy use area

At the end of its serviceable life

Thin finish veneer is worn through 

Listed under: Interior, finishes, clear finishes, floor coverings, timber and wood-based, timber, floors, timber overlay, timber veneer

Cause

Clear finish or film applied to boards worn through 

Repair

  • the appropriate repair (and whether repair is even possible) will depend on the nature of the product. For example, an engineered wood product that has a thin layer of natural hardwood bonded to several layers of plywood may be able to be lightly sanded and recoated. With a product where the surface is a photographic image of wood with a protective overlay, where the wear is through the decorative image, no repairs may be possible and replacement may be the only option. The latter product is often described as “laminate flooring” in the industry.
  • what method of recoating will be best also depends on the original coating used on the floor – for example, whether it was a polyurethane or a wax/oil type of coating
  • seek guidance from the flooring supplier
  • some manufacturers and suppliers of engineered wood flooring topped by a natural timber veneer say the hardwood can only be sanded and refinished once because it is relatively thin – 4 mm thick is typical. When refinishing these types of floors, be careful not to sand down through the hardwood to the ply beneath

 

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Cause

Product not suited for heavy use area

Repair

  • if the product is only a few years old and was recommended/specified by a designer or builder, call them back
  • for repair/replacement, see the guidance in the first repair above. Ensure any replacement product is suitable for heavy use areas

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Cause

At the end of its serviceable life

Repair

  • the flooring is likely to need replacement

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Cause

Thin finish veneer is worn through 

Repair

  • the flooring is likely to need replacement

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