The project

In Melbourne's leafy eastern suburbs, our client had already begun work on their home refresh by painting the internal walls. The new paintwork highlighted the ageing floors, which were overdue a much-needed update.

In consultation with specialist flooring applicator Tony Belajin of The Wooden Floor Co, the client selected Enviropro coatings for the Tasmanian Oak and Jarrah floors across six rooms of the property.

"It's easy to use, looks good, it lasts well and it's made here in Australia. Australian products are made to suit our climate and environment. With overseas suppliers, the shipping process can affect the product too," explains Tony.

The challenge

After more than 20 years, the floors in the property had developed an unsightly orange appearance.

"Sanding refreshes the floor and brings out the natural beauty of the timber by highlighting the natural grain. This helps modernise the home – making it feel lighter and fresher," explains Pat Guarnaccia, Technical Sales Executive for Intergrain Trade & Industrial.

The client was looking to revive the natural beauty of the floors, while also avoiding yellowing and discolouration in future. Speed of application and drying time were key considerations to limit time away from the property.

The Intergrain solution

Meeting all of the client's preferences was simple with Enviropro water-based floor finishes. The floors were treated with a two-coat system:

• Primer: Enviropro Endure TimberSeal Ultra – a low odour and high-performance water-based sealer that is designed to maintain the natural colour of timber.
• Topcoat: Enviropro Endure 2 Pack Satin – a durable, clear water-based polyurethane that does not darken or yellow over time.

With the primer's quick-dry properties, the first topcoat was able to be applied on the same day as the sealer. The following day, the floors were finished with a light sand or 'cut back', vacuum and final topcoat.

According to Tony, the high quality of Enviropro products ensures a smooth application.

"What can happen with some products is that sanding in between heats up the product, making it sticky and clogging the sanding papers. Enviropro Endure doesn't behave that way."

Enviropro Endure's capacity for quick drying in cooler climates was an advantage with the project completed in late autumn (a chilly time in Melbourne!) The client was away from their property for just four days – with furniture moved back in after only two.

The results

Bringing floors back to their natural best can have some surprising results. In this case, it was a subtle timber border that had been lost beneath the previous solvent.

"Once the floor was sanded and brought back, it really popped out and gave it the feature it deserved. It's amazing how much it changes from the solvent-based to the natural colouring," explains Pat.

With a satin sheen, the timber finish adds a touch of warmth while also reducing visibility of dust and other surface imperfections.

A long-standing relationship between our team and the applicator helped ensure this project was completed swiftly and professionally.

"Intergrain Trade & Industrial make it easy to complete a project. If you have questions, they answer right away. And if there is an issue, they work with you through it," says Tony.
"Tony is one of our trusted contractors and someone I'm always happy to put forward and recommend," says Pat.

Get in touch

The non-toxic and highly-durable Enviropro range is an ideal solution for refreshing residential and commercial properties. Call our Help Line on 1800 630 285 to find out how we can support your next project. Or visit our project gallery for more inspiration.