Boral Timber has contributed to the first stage of a major redevelopment of the Gallipoli Barracks, Enoggera in Queensland, providing certified hardwood flooring for the new Sergeants’ and Officers’ Mess Dining & Ante Rooms within the Combined Messing Facility.

The large 800m² area can seat an impressive 500 people and incorporates a number of different timber features. The result is a warm, inviting and easy to clean communal area for daily meals to be enjoyed.

The project brief stipulated that certified timber must be used for the flooring, proving that it had been sourced from sustainably managed forests. Boral Timber’s AFS Chain of Custody-certified hardwood was ideal and its 85mm x 19mm solid strip flooring was selected. A native Blackbutt species was chosen for its durability and hardness.

Before the timber flooring could be laid, Finlayson Installations levelled the concrete subfloor and sealed it with a plastic membrane to prevent moisture being expelled. Next, hardwood battens were fixed with masonry anchors to the concrete. Finally, the timber boards were glued over the top and secret nailed to the battens, in order to preserve the aesthetics of the floor’s surface.

The installation took just seven days, with five required for sanding and coating, using the environmentally responsible Intergrain Enviropro Timberseal to bring out the natural colour of the timber. This was followed by two coats of Intergrain Enviropro Endure 2 Pack Gloss to provide a high performance, commercial grade finish.

“The response from everyone has been very positive. The new facility has made a real difference to the atmosphere and functionality of Messing at Enoggera,” said Craig Simpson, Project Manager of builders John Holland Pty Ltd. “We’re delighted with the visual effect that the timber has provided and look forward to continuing this theme into the next stage of the project.”