Number 1: Splits/ white line syndrome

This is a fancy name for the surface finish splitting due to the timber below moving around. This tends to happen with surface finishes.

White lining is associated with movement of boards as they shrink, causing the top coat to stretch across the gap.

• This tends to occur with water based finishes

• This can lead into delamination, or splitting of the finish

• Flooring can shrink due to a few factors:

• Incorrectly acclimatised before installation

• Very low humidity/ change in climate to a much drier environment.

• Combination of both, or other factors.

To try and prevent shrinkage is possible, but difficult to maintain over the long term. Such as, if the timber boards are installed with high moisture it will shrink eventually over time.

Splits/ white line syndrome

Number 2: Peeling

Peeling is a visual issue where the surface of the finish starts to peel off the timber. This is an issue because the timber below is essentially unprotected from dirt, moisture, dust which over time requires additional maintenance or even to be re-sanded and re-sealed.

When does this happen? Some common causes:

• If the surface finished with a solvent/ oil/ water based polyurethane. Normally, in order to create a solid bond between layers, each surface needs to be scuffed. If not, the above layer will not adhere and start to peel off a couple of months after completion.

• If the existing timber is prone to oil- such as brush box, spotted gum, cypress, tallowwood, the surface needs to be primed before applying the top coat. Otherwise it will not adhere and peel off.

• Minute timber movement can delaminate the surface.

• If the wrong mix of water/ oil/ solvent based finish is used and not completely left to dry. It can peel.

• If the timber has been finished previously with an oil, it will needs to be sanded back to raw timber and all oil residue to be cleaned before a polyurethane finish can be applied.

Peeling surface finish