Having experienced a leaking shower, a step down sounds like a welcome added precaution, which seems rarely done. Supposedly if there is no hob or atepdown there is an angle, and obviously the whole thing is supposed to slope towards the drain anyway, but BeachBathrooms' earlier comment about capillary action rings true. It became obvious very quickly in our other shower that water was creeping across the grout outside the shower so whatever was meant to be done either wasn't or wasn't correctly done. Then there's the modern hotel bathrooms I've experienced where the water simply splashes out too easily. All in the name of style.

i'm guessing that a problem could be that the boards will shrink and create drafty gaps so i think my old builder dad would have laid the boards upside down, without nails to settle to the temperature and moisture in the room while he did other jobs for a week or two and then turned over the boards and, using a solid timber length to push the boards tight as possible before nailing and he would have probably appreciated the idea of adding some under floor insulation as well

Timber flooring is always one of the most popular types of flooring choices for households in Canberra. This is because it gives a warm feel to the house as well as having many other advantages. Many types of timber floors are durable and low-maintenance. However, cleaning and maintenance are still required if you want your flooring to keep their look for long time. This article will show you how to maintain timber flooring, making it look even better as time goes by. LAMINATE FLOORING First of all, a regular sweeping can always help you keep the floor clean. You can use an electrostatic broom, soft-bristled broom or wood floor mop. And sweeping in the direction in which the boards were installed would also help a lot, because this allows you to pick up any debris that may hide in between the grooves of the laminated flooring boards. Other than that, you can as well use a non-abrasive soft bristled vacuum head. Regular cleaning takes away the dust and debris, so when people walks on it, it would be less possible to create scratches. Liquid may harm the flooring. It just happens as we use the floors on daily basis. It wouldn’t be a big deal if you wipe the spills and dirts quickly. If not, they may damage your floors and cause stains. You can use dry cloth or mop to soak up the excess liquids, and then use a clean and wet one to remove any remains. After that, you can leave the surface dry itself or use a dry cloth. Please do not use traditional household cleaning solutions as they are likely to damage the coating of the floor. If necessary, use a pH-neutral cleaning solution. You can buy suitable cleaning solutions from a number of reputable flooring retailers and don’t forget to read the instructions carefully before using them. Use a rug or mat in high traffic areas. For example, entrances and spots near doorway. You can also stick soft pads to the base of furnishings in contact with the floor. This also aims to prevent scratches to the coating. If you have pets in the house, it is also a good ida to keep pets claws properly trimmed. ENGINEERED TIMBER FLOORING Use an anti-static or micro-fibre mop to clean your flooring at least once a week. Therefore you can keep away any gathered dust or dirt. emove any spills immediately so they won’t soak into the board and cause stains. Try not to use mops that are too wet. Only dampen the mop a little or use specialised flooring clean solutions. The less dirt you bring back home, the easier maintenance will be. So do place a rug and use doormats at the entrance to keep away most of the dust. Equip all your furniture with floor protectors such as felt pads on their bases, so they wouldn’t scratch or dent your floor. If the room is for office use, then your office chair also needs plastic pads or a mat set underneath the wheels so protect your flooring boards. https://flooring2you.com.au/how-to-clean-and-maintain-your-timber-floor/

Timber floors gone a yellow/orange look over time? Many light coloured timbers are prone to yellow over time from UV light. With house designs now with large windows and natural light floors can yellow significantly within months of being finished. Finally there are now finishes that significantly reduce the yellow look and give a lighter completely natural look to timber. Bona one of the worlds largest floor finish manufacturers have a special white primer when this is applied to the raw sanded timber will retain the natural look of the timber without darkening & will significantly reduce the yellow look caused by UV light. When used in conjunction with ultra flat and durable top coatlike Bona traffic Raw this finish has almost no sheen and is amazing at hiding dints ,scratches and dust. Simply the best finish for timber like Tasmanian oak and Baltic pine both prone to yellowing. More info & pics at www,victoriancoastalfloors.com.au