  Timber Care
Timber is a natural product and expands and contracts depending on seasons, humidity, heat, direct sunlight, wind etc. The level of movement really depends on the species of timber, Australian Hardwoods being the most prone to movement. To limit this movement it is recommended to seal the timber as soon as it is installed including areas not seen. Sealing will not stop the timber from moving but will greatly reduce it. Genneral Staircase has a strict policy of not machining any timber until it has been tested for correct moisture content (and recorded). Slight gaps may appear to newel posts, landings, treads etc from time to time and may close again. These are not considered a defect but a stabilization of the material or reaction of the material in an unstable environment. An example of an unstable environment could be rapidly cooling your house with air conditioning after a hot day, the changes in the humidity is so rapid it will cause timber to move or open up. Another example could be lights under your staircase for a storage area can create allot of heat and will rapidly change the environment causing the timber to move or open up. Common practice for Genneral Staircase when gaps may appear is to put a color matched expandable caulking material in the gap, so if the material continues to move the caulking material will move with it. By placing hard putty in a gap it will crack and breakout if the material continues to move. Genneral Staircase uses Guide to Standards and Tolerances which was produced in collaboration with the Victorian Building Commission, the Office of Fair Trading NSW, the Tasmanian Government and the ACT Government in 2007. This identifies what is considered acceptable movement in timber. If you have any questions or concerns please contact Genneral Staircase for further assistance. |
