The longevity of timber flooring starts with an expert installation
At Havwoods, we understand that the journey of our timber products doesn’t end when they leave our warehouse. It continues with the skill of installation, where care, preparation and technical know-how combine to ensure our quality floors perform in our clients’ spaces.
The meticulous approach of a skilled installer starts with the floor prep, which includes levelling the floor, ensuring the correct base and moisture levels, and considering the client’s needs and specific individuality of the space.
Without proper floor surface preparation, problems such as bubbling, cupping, bowing, warping or damage to your floors can arise post installation. In short, you can have the best timber flooring in the world but if it is not installed correctly, it can very quickly end in disaster. Correct installation is key to a long-life for your timber flooring and to delivering a beautiful brand-new timber floor that you love.
Introducing Havwoods' head of technical and installation
In order to better assist with installation queries and ensure optimal performance of our timber floors for our clients, earlier this year in March 2023, Tony Trajkovski joined the Havwoods team as head of technical and installation. Tony offers a wealth of product and installation knowledge and experience for both our installers and clients, and has been providing guidance and support where required including before, during and after timber flooring installations.
Tony's love of timber flooring is infectious and he takes great pride in delivering a beautiful timber floor – one that you not only love but can also rely on. We are thrilled to have Tony on the Havwoods team and to introduce him to you formally as yet another Havwoods expert who can assist you with ensuring your new timber flooring installation is completed correctly and delivers you the timber floor of your dreams that will perform to its upmost best for a long life.
Expert knowledge and experience at your service
We sat down with Tony to chat about his passion for timber flooring and how his experience and knowledge can benefit Havwoods clients and installers and ensure they get the very best out of their brand new Havwoods timber flooring.
What does your background and experience in the industry look like?
Over the past 25 years I have been involved in the retail and commercial sectors, including large-scale developments. My knowledge extends to product development and purchasing, standards implementation, and application of most of the flooring products on the market.
Spending almost 8 years in commercial project management served me well in understanding the commercial side of flooring applications. I developed a keen ability to work alongside designers, architects, developers and builders, to be able to make on-the-fly design changes and ensure they retained their practicality and purpose. This experience greatly expanded my knowledge in the industry.
Throughout my career I have worked with, and continue to work alongside, many leading professionals and installation experts. I stay connected with many of these people so I can remain up to date with all the latest developments and changes in the industry.
What would you consider one of the most important steps to ensuring a successful timber flooring installation?
One of the more overlooked but most important aspects of installation is preparation. Ask any trade and they will tell you the same thing. Over the years, I have gained a large amount of practical experience and educational knowledge around timber flooring installation, and this has given me an edge in assessing flooring conditions and selecting the correct fit-for-purpose products for application to ensure a successful outcome.
Being able to now pass this on as an educator in my field is an honour for me, seeing and hearing my colleagues use this knowledge, gives me a real buzz.
What is it that you love about timber flooring?
In the last 5 years of my career I have developed a focus and passion for timber flooring. Its natural beauty, variation and especially the potentially limitless customisations of the product drew me in.
I never thought I would develop such a passion for this industry when I started my career but I quickly learned that there were so many cogs that made it go round. My general thirst for knowledge and my problem-solving skills have also worked in my favour in this industry over the years.
Why do you think it is important to ensure timber flooring installation is carried out by a skilled craftsman?
Flooring can be one of the three largest investments you will make in your lifetime, so I always encourage people to do it right.
One of the most important things I have learnt is that flooring isn’t as simple as selecting a product and colour you like, and then picking the first or cheapest installer to put it on the floor for you. Many people can install flooring – but very few can do it well. And having a bad install of your timber flooring can be a very expensive and stressful mistake to make.
Over the years, I have had the privilege to have been a part of some amazing projects and some not so. One of the most important parts of a successful installation is not just engaging an experienced timber flooring installer, it’s an experienced installer with a passion for his or her craft. Their knowledge in all aspects of installation from start to finish, and their incredible attention to detail, go hand in hand with their passion. Passion cannot be taught, so to have the privilege of knowing and working with this calibre of installer has made my job easier and delivered some of the most amazing and detailed projects.
What do you like about working at Havwoods?
I was an advocate for Havwoods before I joined the team. Now that I am part of Havwoods, I feel privileged to have been given the opportunity.
The people, the culture, the product quality and offering, and the general passion that Havwoods have for timber flooring is incredibly infectious. The support and backing I have been given is like no other company I have worked for before; this makes waking up and going to work every day a pleasure.
Of course, my passion for timber flooring is a huge plus too!
Your dream timber flooring deserves an expert installation
The first step is to explore our products to discover your perfect product. Next we can assist you in recommending a trusted and experienced installer who can ensure your timber flooring installation is completed correctly.
All of our recommended timber flooring installers have been carefully curated through long-term working relationships, client feedback, skill-level and audits carried out by Tony to ensure best practices and correct techniques are employed.
Should any questions or technical hurdles arise, Tony is here to help and will come up with a solution to ensure you can be in your space and enjoying your new timber floor in no time.
