How to Maintain Timber Floors in Perth’s Dry Climate

Although the weather in Perth seems ideal, it can be tough on timber flooring. In the summer, humidity is about 47%, and temperatures can be over 40°C. Humidity increases and approaches 73% in the winter. Timber floor Perth is constantly subject to these changes throughout the year. In contrast to humid eastern Australian cities, Perth residents suffer from dryness, high levels of UV radiation, and the air-conditioning system within the home lowers humidity even more. Keep reading this blog to understand the effect of Perth’s dry climate on timber flooring. 

What Does Perth’s Dry Climate Actually Do to Wooden Floors?

Solid timber flooring is sensitive to humidity variations. Due to the different seasons of the year in Perth, the summers are dry, and the winters are wet, causing continual expansion and contraction of timber boards, which over time has an impact on the stability and appearance of floors.

How Wood Responds to Dry Air

Wood is hygroscopic, that is, it absorbs and releases moisture according to the humidity of its environment. Wood dries and shrinks in dry air and expands in humid air.

Perth’s Summer Humidity Drops to 47%

Timber boards lose moisture during the summer and contract. This frequently causes gaps to become visible between the floorboards, particularly in air-conditioned homes.

Perth’s Winter Rise to 73%

Moisture levels increase during the winter, and boards swell again. This motion can cause stress in joints and floor coatings.

The Damage Trio: Board Gapping, Finish Cracking, and Cupping at Edges

There are several common issues with Perth floor timbers that you should be aware of, such as:

• Gaps between boards
• Surface finish cracking
• Cupping, in which the edges of the board are slightly raised

These are particularly common in rooms that are exposed to the sun and lack ventilation.

5 Practical Tips to Keep Your Perth Timber Floors in Top Condition Year-Round

Costly treatments or regular upkeep aren’t always needed for timber floor maintenance in Perth. A few minor changes and habits a day, and a few adjustments according to seasons, can mean a world of difference in preventing long-term damage.

The following tips are geared toward simple practices in Perth to ensure your timber floors remain stable, smooth and beautiful all year long.

• Monitor humidity year-round with a $20 – $50 hygrometer. A hygrometer will assist you in monitoring humidity levels indoors prior to significant floor movement starting. Keep indoor RH between 40–60%.
• Remove sand and grit at doorways. Perth’s coastal lifestyle makes this critical daily habit. Timber finishes are easily marred by fine sand, particularly in beach suburbs.
• Use felt pads on all furniture legs. Perth’s dry boards are more prone to static scratching. Dry conditions can make timber surfaces more vulnerable to small scratches and scuffs.
• Apply UV window film to north-facing rooms, the highest ROI floor protection in Perth. UV window film reduces fading, finish wear, and timber discolouration caused by Perth’s strong sunlight.
• Refinish in autumn. Perth’s March to May offers ideal humidity and temperature for curing. The best time to hire timber flooring experts for residential carpentry services is the autumn season. It provides balanced humidity and milder temperatures that allow finishes to cure more evenly.

Which Timber Species Hold Up Best in Perth’s Conditions?

Perth’s dry climate can be much more challenging for some timber species than others. That’s why many homeowners are confused when choosing timber flooring near me. The following table explores which timber options perform best in Perth homes.

How Should You Control Indoor Humidity to Protect Your Perth Timber Floors?

Dry air is common in the Perth summer, particularly when the air conditioning is turned on all the time. Keeping the moisture balance in the house right helps the timber flooring in Perth stay more stable all year round. One of the best ways of controlling the movement of timber floors and the appearance of damage is to control the humidity.  Most timber flooring performs best when indoor humidity stays within this range. Perth carpentry contractors urge homeowners to keep the humidity level at 40 to 60%. 

In an environment with continuous air conditioning, it may lead to excessive dryness of the indoor air, which again can cause shrinking and board separation. A simple hygrometer is available to allow changes in humidity to be noted before issues occur with the Perth flooring.

Humidifiers can also be used to add moisture to rooms that are heavily air-conditioned. Most quality humidifiers range between $80 to $300, depending on the room size and features they have. Opening windows during Perth’s cool evening sea breeze also helps regulate indoor airflow and humidity naturally.

What Is the Right Way to Clean Wooden Floors in Perth’s Conditions?

Mistakes in the cleaning process can cause timber floors to have a shortened life span, surprisingly soon. But not many are sure about how to maintain timber floors in Perth conditions. One important thing to remember is to dry sweep or microfibre dust mop daily to maintain outdoor and indoor floor carpentry. Perth’s open-window lifestyle brings in fine sand and grit. Abrasive particles are eliminated prior to scratching the floor finish by daily dry cleaning. Here are a few other tips to follow:

• Damp Mop Only, Never Wet Mop: In Perth’s dry climate, too much water may result in timber distortion and uneven swelling.
• Use pH-neutral Timber Floor Cleaner: Perth carpenters recommend not to use vinegar, oil soaps or steam mops as they gradually strip away timber coatings.
• Remove Fine Beach and Path Sand From Entrances: Fine sand acts as sandpaper and will gradually remove protective coatings.
• Wipe Spills Immediately: Even during Perth’s dry summer months, liquids can still seep through timber finishes rapidly.

How Does Perth’s UV Intensity Damage Timber Floors and How Do You Prevent It?

Perth is one of the most highly exposed areas in Australia for UV. The UV index can go as high as 14 during the summer months. Natural light makes interior areas look great, but can also harm timbers over time.

The colour of the timber and the protective finish on top of the timber are both affected by the UV. North-facing rooms are usually the most vulnerable to fading and finish deterioration. The following sections describe the best methods of minimising it.

• UV-filtering Window Film: Timber flooring contractors in Perth suggest that window films are an effective tool to limit harmful UV without completely blocking the amount of natural light.
• Use Rugs in High UV Zones: Rotating rugs seasonally helps floors fade more evenly over time.
• Choose Water-based Polyurethane Finish: The outdoor floor carpentry experts often recommend using water-based finishes because they perform better under Perth’s harsh UV exposure.

Should You Choose Solid Hardwood or Engineered Timber in Perth’s Climate?

Whether you select the correct type of flooring is as significant as maintenance. Large seasonal humidity changes can have differing impacts on solid hardwood and engineered timber in Perth. This leads to confusion during timber flooring installation. 

While some homes are better off with engineered flooring, some will work better with solid hardwood. The table below explains the major differences in a simple way to assist Perth homeowners to make the right choice.

Perth’s 26% seasonal variation in humidity is greater than that of many eastern-state cities, resulting in greater variation in the stability of the flooring. Engineered timber is definitely more effective for controlling movement in most modern houses, whereas Jarrah is one of the most effective hardwoods for the Perth dry climate.

Final Note

Timber floors can be a problem in Perth due to climatic conditions. But with proper maintenance of outdoor and indoor floor carpentry, they can last for decades. The single most important thing to keep in mind to avoid gaps and shrinkage is to control indoor humidity. UV protection is also essential as Perth’s sun is too strong. The timing of the job is also important. The autumn season is the best for refinishing and repairs.

If your timber floors are beginning to gap, fade in the sun or look worn, BODA Carpentry Services Perth can provide an assessment of the condition of your timber floors and the best restoration solutions.