Recycled Matai – Wharewaka, Taranaki St Wharf, Wellington
Timber:
Recycled Matai, 83mm x 20mm
Details:
The builders of prominent Wellington building the Wharewaka wanted a wooden floor that would highlight their show building.Â
The recycled Matai was recovered from a Manawatu hospital that was being demolished after the heath reforms centralised hospital care. Â We entered into a contract with the demolition contractor to buy all the flooring (and some other timber too). Â We picked up a truck load every month for just over a year, and still have some in stock (as at January 2014).
The substrate is a heated concrete slab. Â We gave the concrete a skim grind and applied Selleysâ Liquid Nails Vapour Barrier. Â 12mm plywood was glued to the concrete and the Matai flooring was laid over the top.
The floor was finished with three coats of moisture-cured polyurethane, top coat matt.
Unique Aspects:
The heated slab meant managing the moisture content of the timber was essential.