Hi Everyone,

This is a great forum! From reading some of the existing posts, it's great to see people with so much knowledge who are also willing to help

I've just purchased my first home, and there appear to be floorboards underneath the carpet. The unit is around 35 years old in eastern suburbs of Melbourne. Ideally I'd like to polish these boards, but am not sure if they're an appropriate type (e.g. hardness, durability and finish).

I've attached a photo - does anyone know what kind of wood it is, and if this was your floor, would you polish it?

Thanks in advance!

Attached Thumbnails

 

Radiata pine - can be polished and oiled or coated with a polyurethane. Very soft timber. Not well liked by many as it yellows badly in UV and marks easily, but still OK even so.

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Advice from me on this forum is general and for guidance based on information given by the member posing the question. Not to be used in place of professional advice from people appropriately qualified in the relevant field. All structural work must be approved and constructed to the BCA or other relevant standards by suitably licensed persons. The person doing the work and reading my advice accepts responsibility for ensuring the work done accords with the applicable law.

Soft As!

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Shawn.
woodnfloors.com.au

You mentioned that this is a unit, not a house, so perhaps it is in a a strata title building?


Strata title rules and regulations vary from state to state. I don't know anything specifically about the situation in Victoria, but I would not be surprised if you had to get permission from the Body Corporate / Executive Committee before removing carpets. That is because removing the carpets can increase noise in adjacent units.

For the price of sanding and coating you'd get a DIY timber or laminate floor in there.

__________________
Advice from me on this forum is general and for guidance based on information given by the member posing the question. Not to be used in place of professional advice from people appropriately qualified in the relevant field. All structural work must be approved and constructed to the BCA or other relevant standards by suitably licensed persons. The person doing the work and reading my advice accepts responsibility for ensuring the work done accords with the applicable law.