Polished Image Will Floor You
Illawarra Mercury
Wednesday July 21, 1999
It's cheaper than re-carpeting, it's healthier because it doesn't hold dust, it's easier to clean up spills, it looks great and gives a totally new appearance to any room.
``It" is polishing and sanding floor boards.
Claude Corvalan set up his East Coast Floors company in 1996 and works on new homes, those undergoing renovations and on commercial premises.
``Many homeowners are tearing up carpets, vinyls and other older style floor coverings and in the process are discovering that there are some really nice floorboards underneath it all," he said.
``We do all types of floor repairs - replacing boards if necessary and filling knotholes - and can stain the floors to achieve whatever the owner wants.
``Mostly the colouring is done to match either furniture or the colours chosen for the walls of the home, or the timber can be left in its natural tones to really show the beauty of timber.
``We can also do a lime wash which results in a bleached look and it works really well in homes with a lot of white in the decor."
Mr Corvalan said many ``trendy" stores - fashion boutiques, surf shops and hair salons - were choosing recycled timber flooring to give a rustic look.
When it comes to sanding and polishing in a home, Mr Corvalan said his tradesmen could work around the family. But it was necessary for the area to be left for a few days.
While it took three days for floors to be finished with three coats of long-lasting polyurethane, the slight inconvenience was well worthwhile.
© 1999 Illawarra Mercury
