Ironbark

Polycure Silky Matt Protection

Mt Eliza VIC

This magnificent Ironbark floor in Mt Eliza had everyone fooled. The owners and the Estate agent both told me it was Jarrah, and I ran with that, thinking they knew what was laid down as a floor in the first place, so they must be right? 

Nope, wrong. It was already there when they purchased the home and were told it was Jarrah by the original builder. So, once I got into the sanding I've gone "Hang on, wait a minute, this isn't Jarrah, it's top quality Ironbark" Which for me was great as it's my favourite timber, to both sand and look at.

It was a bit all over the shop when we started, and looked to have been sanded in two different stages by two different sanding contractors. Which, from a professional point of view, is always interesting to see the results others come up with, using different sanding techniques.

Anyway, off came all the old work and the boards were sanded to our super fine finish before the fresh coats of polyurethane were applied. The final finish here is an amazing solvent-based coating called 'Silky Matt' from a local company Polycure. This finish is the finest I've ever experienced. It has depth, strength and the silkiest matt sheen of them all.

These pictures may just help sway you towards Ironbark for your own home - you couldn't go wrong if you did. 


Getting our sanding machines set up to sand this Ironbark floor in Mt Eliza

Rough at the start

The edges of this Ironbark floor in Mt Eliza have been fine sanded

Even rougher once the sanding commences

An Ironbark floor in Mt Eliza, that's been fine sanded and is now ready for the first coat of polyurethane

However, like magic...

The first coat of polyurethane being rolled onto an Ironbark floor, using a short nap mohair roller

...it all comes together

Starting to build up the protection with our finishing coats

Showing some great depth and style


With the first coats of polyurethane on we have now built up some serious protection for the boards. Our next task is to cutback between the coats to give it that superfine look. This is a really important step in the process.


Looking in the entrance of this beautiful Mt Eliza home at the highly polished Ironbark floor

The first coats are 2 Pac polyurethane

Sanding between coats of polyurethane with a Polivac floor sanding machine, on this beautiful Ironbark floor in Mt Eliza

Sanding between coats  - it's pretty important

The entrance way to this beautiful Mt Eliza home featuring a stunning Ironbark floor

Boots off - now there's a good idea

Stunning Ironbark floor with a white 2 Pac kitchen

The beauty of the Silky Matt finish

A close up of the grain in this Ironbark floor

Up close and in ya face

Grey and white kitchen sitting on a beautiful, red, Ironbark floor

The colours all work in so well together


Ironbark comes in two varieties. Red Ironbark, as featured on this page, and the other is Grey Ironbark - which is even tougher, and more durable than the Red variation. 

The Red Ironbark is used as flooring more often than the grey - mainly due to it's excellent colour.


Ironbark is a great timber for large family living areas

Red Ironbark floor in a lovely Mt Elza home

The red timber tone makes a memorable backdrop to the modern white and grey