Author: Nathaniel Kok

For more than 30 years, Master Hire has remained committed to our customers through managing the quality of our products and services, our impact on the environment and the health and safety our team, customers, suppliers, and visitors to our branches and sites. Our Integrated Safety, Quality & Environmental Management System meets ISO compliance requirements and has now been third party certified to the relevant standards. These standards align with our company culture and values and assists our team to remain focused on what is meaningful to you, our customer. Our team strives each day to continually improve every aspect of our equipment and service experience, because we are Built on Service.

OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH & SAFETY: ISO 45001

Master Hire is committed to providing a safe working environment and safe systems for everyone involved who comes in contract with our company. We believe that safety is no accident. It is the result of diligence and having and following clearly defined procedures. Our Integrated Management System is certified to comply with ISO45001:2018 – Occupational Health and Safety Management Systems. Master Hire is proud of our excellent safety record which is a direct outcome of our team following work instructions, operating procedures and complying with our WH&S Policy. Our company wide safety and equipment compliance program ensures that our equipment is checked, cleaned, and serviced before each hire to meet the needs of our customers.

QUALITY: ISO 9001

Through the successful implementation of our Integrated Quality Management System and our Quality Policy, Master Hire can guarantee the processes and procedures used to operate our business are compliant with and go well beyond the requirements of the standard. Master Hire is certified to ISO9001:2015 – Quality Management System. Master Hire is committed to nurturing a culture that delivers consistent quality services and products in an effective, efficient manner to the benefit of the customer and our business. This means when you hire from Master Hire, you are guaranteed a quality product with quality service from experienced and well-trained staff.

ENVIRONMENT: ISO 14001

Master Hire aims to provide a sustainable working environment where all activities carried out on our premises or undertaken by our team members are conducted in such a way that no or minimal harm is created to the environment. Master Hire is now certified to ISO 14001:2015 Environmental Management Systems. We regularly look for improvement opportunities so that we meet or exceed our environmental and sustainability objectives which are outlined in our Environmental Policy and our Integrated Safety, Quality & Environmental Management System.

Our policies are available to view and download from our website.

• Master Hire’s Quality Policy
• Master Hire’s Environmental Policy
• Master Hire’s WH&S Policy

Master Hire is a leading Australian equipment hire company with branches throughout South East Queensland and the Mid North Coast of New South Wales. For more information, contact one of our branches on 1300 107 107 or email us at info@masterhire.com.au

There are a number of ways you can get rid of a fallen tree in your back yard. You could turn it into firewood by stacking it and store it up off the ground to dry out. You could also take it to the green waste facilities, piece by piece, on the back of a trailer or you could even turn it into garden mulch.

Do I need to trim branches before using a wood chipper?

Master Hire’s large mulchers are equipped with feed rollers in the neck of their feed tables, which allows the blades to engage with the wood at a controlled rate. To prevent the machine from clogging these rollers move in both directions forward and reverse depending on its load.

While these rollers are designed to regulate the materials being fed into the mulcher they can also create some hazards while mulching your trees. Any large limbs or straggling branches can catch on clothing or ropes as they are fed into the rollers. It is critical that the area around the mulchers is kept clear and free of needless debris and any ropes used in felling the tree are removed. Anyone not operating the mulcher should stay away from the machine while it is in operation.

To help the materials flow smoothly into the feed make sure you trim branches to a manageable size. This may require making another cut in the tree branch so that it does not catch on anything as it is fed into the mulcher by the feed roller.

The best time to put wood through a mulcher is right after it has been cut down. Master Hire’s 9 inch mulcher can take branches or small trees up to 220mm in diameter. So that means you could feed the whole tree trunk into the mulcher – large end first and the branches and other leaves will slowly be dragged into the blades and mulched up as well. If you think there are too many branches that might catch or drag, you should trim it using a chainsaw into smaller manageable sections.

Can a wood chipper be used to shred tyres?

Tyres are not to be put through any wood chipper. Tyres have metal threads internally that will cause damage to the blades. We recommend recycling tyres at an appropriate site where they will be broken down and recycled. There are a number of creative ways you can use a tyre around your garden.

Can I use a garden mulcher to shred papers?

While its possible, its practically very difficult. We would highly recommend appropriate services that specialise in destruction and disposal of important documents or papers. It is much more financially practical as well. Since hiring a service to safely shred paper for you will end up costing you only a fraction of the cost compared to hiring a mulcher. Plus these services often come to you collect and destroy the papers at your location.

Can you put lumber or a 2×4 in a wood chipper?

Depending on the size of the lumber and the type of wood chipper you are using you can feed just about any type of wood through a wood chipper. Some of the reasons you would put lumber through a wood chipper are as follows:

• The wood has bolts or nails in it
• The diameter of the wood is too wide for the chute of the wood chipper
• The type of mulcher blades are not designed for it
• The wood is treated

Clean lumber, untreated timber or dead wood is fine to be put through a heavy duty mulcher. Check the manufactures guidelines and specifications to make sure the type of wood is suitable for the mulcher. Putting tough dried out timber through a mulcher that is not suitable can cause damage to the machine and blades.

What Size Wood Chipper do I Need?

Tackling a major garden project involving multiple trees can mean a number of trips to the tip and can some times take days. Strapping branches onto your trailer and then unloading branch by branch at the green waste section will take hours and hours. Depending on the number of trees you are trimming, pruning or even cutting down, wood chippers make light work of heavy awkward branches. Depending on the size of your material you could use a smaller mulcher or a may need a larger wood chipper.

When to use a small wood chipper

Master Hire’s small wood chippers are perfect for chipping small to medium branches into garden mulch. These machines are designed to tackle smaller branches, bushes and small low hanging tree branches. The garden mulchers that are used to shred and mulch up smaller branches and leaves gives you a much finer mulch that will decompose much faster. Keep in mind its the material you send through the mulcher not the size of the mulcher.

These smaller garden mulchers cannot be used to mulch up palm fronds, stringy plants like lantana or tree limbs older than 3 days. Small trees and branches that have been cut down in the last 3 days are considered green wood. As these branches and stumps get older they dry out and become much harder as the moisture leaves the wood. This hard, aged wood can be too much for some smaller mulchers and can even damage the blades.

Should I choose to use a large wood chipper?

Master Hire’s large wood chippers are a great way to save your self hours when clearing your garden. You can even use the left over wood chips to cover your garden. Medium to large branches will need to be fed through a larger heavy duty mulcher. These larger mulchers are designed to take fibrous plants as well as aged wood. They are also equipped with internal feed rollers to help pull in larger heavier branches and do most of the hard work for you. The heavy duty wood chippers like this machine will give you a much more fibrous mulch, with long shredded parts of wood and leaves.

Ideally mulch used for your garden is made up of a combination of bark, wood, and leaves. As these ingredients break down, they slowly provide small amounts of nutrients to your soil. Master Hire’s large wood chippers are the perfect machine to shred all these materials into a manageable mulch for your garden.

Very large branches and full-grown trees will need to be cut up into manageable sized pieces and fed into an industrial or commercial sized wood chipper. Sometimes these units are paired with a truck and canopy and the materials are fed into the rollers via a winch. These really coarse chips you see in parks and other places come from these really large industrial wood chippers splitting up really hardy materials where the main material is large tree trunks.

Safely setting up your wood chipper

Make sure where you are working is an appropriate distance from where you are cutting down tree and branches. Ensure the wood chipper is set up on an level surface and that all appropriate wheel choke and handbrakes are in place or engaged. Adjust or aim the chute into an open space in your garden or aim it into a trailer. Never aim point it towards people, where people are walking, toward vehicles or windows. The wood chips and debris that are emitted from the mulcher chute can cause serious damage or injury.

How do I Transport the mulcher?

All of Master Hire’s wood chippers are trailer mounted which means you can transport them your self as long as you have a vehicle with a towing capacity capable of pulling the machine. While Master Hire offer’s delivery options to all our customers, we recommend that Master Hire these very powerful machines are always attached to a vehicle while in use. 

Are wood chippers or garden mulchers dangerous?

Like some machinery, if used incorrectly wood chippers and garden mulchers can be very dangerous and can lead to serious injury and even death if safety measures and instructions are not followed. Master Hire’s wood chippers come with a number of safety features depending on which model you choose to hire. These safety features are designed to keep hands and limbs away from the most dangerous parts of the machine while in operation. There are also multiple emergency stops designed to stop the feed roller from feeding any material towards the blades.

Master Hire’s free customer hand over includes basic training to ensure you can operate the equipment confidently and safely at all times. We also include the operators manuals with all of our garden mulchers and large wood chippers. All of Master Hire’s advice should be treated as guidance only and you should always read the manufacturers instruction manuals and hazard assessments before starting your project.

Can I remove a tree from my backyard myself?

First, ensure the size and scope of the job is within your capabilities. If you don’t think you can remove the tree safely and confidently, then consider having it removed by a professional.

Make sure the tree you are cutting down will not fall on houses or damage fences. Make sure the space you are working in is safe, clear the yard of all unnecessary items and animals, and ensure you are working with all the appropriate safety equipment.

Depending on how big the tree is you might need to trim smaller branches first. These can often be reached with a pole chainsaw. Once the tree and surrounding area has been clear use a chainsaw to cut down the tree. There are many various techniques to cutting down a tree, including notches, rope and wedges to fell trees safely in a certain direction.

There are a number of ways you can remove a tree from your backyard. Here are a few things you will need check and a list of tools you will need.

Checks & Planning

• How tall is the tree?
• Which way is the tree leaning?
• Are their any objects near it that could be damaged when it falls?
• What do I do with the tree once I cut it down?
• Do I need to get Council approval?

Tools & Equipment

• Chainsaw/Pole Saw (depending on how tall the tree is) & Ropes
• Trailer & Straps or Heavy Duty Wood Chipper
• Stump Grinder & Shovel

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How do I remove a stump in my backyard?

After all the hard work cutting down and disposing of a tree you will be left with one or more tree stumps. The best way to remove a stump is with a stump grinder. These units are designed to undercut unsightly tree stumps and roots. The machines work by spinning a wheel of tungsten tipped teeth that will grind and chip away at the wooden tree stump. You can find out what size stump grinder you need here.

First, you need to prepare the stump for grinding – Start by cutting the stump as close to ground level as you can (with out putting the chainsaw chain into the dirt). Make sure any roots that are protruding up too far off the ground are dug out around them by using a shovel. Any dirt or debris left to close to the stumps roots can cause damage to the stump grinders tungsten tipped teeth. Ensure the stump has a flat even surface on which to operate and make sure you are using protective safety equipment to protect you from sawdust and wood chips.

Getting your hands on the tools for the job

Unless you’re planning on using the stump grinder, mulcher or chainsaw day in day out, the most efficient way of getting your hands on the right tool is to rent one. Master Hire has a range of gardening and landscaping equipment and the all the information you’ll need to use them. Plus, you can hire the equipment for only a few hours if need be or even a few weeks. The choice is yours.

Contact Master Hire

Master Hire has a large network of stores that covers much of South East Queensland and the mid north coast of New South Wales. We hire out much more than just stump grinders and mini loaders. We’ve got air tools & compressors, cherry pickers and scissor lifts, equipment for cleaning, compacting, concreting, earthmoving, generating power, lighting, scaffolding, trailers, tipper trucks and more. Master Hire is a family owned and operated company with over thirty years of experience and was recently awarded Australian Rental Company of the Year by the Hire and Rental Industry Association.

If you’re looking to rent or searching for another piece of equipment to hire, we’ve got you covered. If you’ve got questions about which piece of equipment is best for the job at hand, or about how to best use it, Master Hire will look after you. Get in touch today by sending us an email or call 1300 107 107.

COVID – 19 (Coronavirus) Infection Management

During 2020, Master Hire has undertaken various measures of control to minimise the risk of infection from COVID – 19 (Coronavirus) to our valued people, customers and suppliers. This is being undertaken to facilitate the continuation of service in a healthy and safe manner during the current crisis, which we acknowledge is part of our social responsibilities.

• We are ensuring our team is constantly informed with information on what can be done to minimise the impact and spread of the virus.
• We are minimising the spread of contamination and contraction between people through heightening the importance of personal hygiene, avoiding physical contact such as handshaking, and increasing personal space between team members and customers. We ask for support in this by following requests by our team.
• We are taking additional measures when servicing equipment for you by using sanitiser on main touch points such as handles, levers, controls, steering wheels, starter cord handles and keys etc.
• We are having a daily cleaning regime in and around our stores for common touch points such as counters, phones, keyboards, office equipment, drawer handles etc.
• We are enabling some team members to continue their work from home to reduce person-to-person contact and restricting internal movements of personnel to limit any cross contamination.
• We are ensuring management has the most informed advice to share with their teams on developments and any new strategies required.
• We are communicating any contingencies in the event of a major isolation to ensure continuation of service to our customers.
• We are using technology such as video conferencing apps to conduct meetings rather than travel and have face to face contact.

During these unprecedented and ever changing times, Master Hire’s primary concern is the health and safety of our staff, their families, our suppliers and you, our customers.

We are adjusting the way we do business and will continue to update you with what we are doing as a business as the COVID-19 situation evolves and further advice is given by government health officials.

Currently:
• All Master Hire stores are open and fully operational with social distancing measures and increased hygiene in place for our staff, suppliers and customers.
• Our mechanical staff and field service technicians are fully operational with the above measures also in place.
• All equipment is available for hire as usual with increased cleaning procedures in place for all items.
• Our delivery and pick up services are fully operational in all stores and available to service our customers across our network.

Master Hire would like to thank our customers, our suppliers and our amazing staff for their patience and support during these difficult times.

Are you stumped by the prospect of stump grinding in your yard? There are many commonly asked questions that people have when selecting a stump grinder. How big a stump grinder will you need? How much will you have to grind the stump? What will be required for cleaning up afterwards? After all that, is there a way to put the new wood chips to use? That just covers the technical side of stump grinding – there’s the commercial side, too. To ensure quality equipment for a reasonable price, where should you look when hiring a stump grinder? Well, to answer all these questions and more, check out our handy guide to stump grinders below.

How Big is Big Enough?

When you’re dealing with unsightly roots and hard-to-clear tree stumps, you’re likely going to need a stump grinder. Depending on the size of the job, there are a variety of options. For one, you could use a small walk behind unit. Alternately, there are larger stump grinders that work as an attachment on a mini-loader. If you’re totally green when it comes to removing a stump, it can help to talk to the professionals at Master Hire who can help diagnose the right solution for your problem.

How Far Should a Stump Be Ground?

There are limits on how far you can grind a stump down, which will differ depending on where you’re grinding. Generally, you should grind the stump down to a little under the surface level. It makes sense from a technical point of view, too. Any more than that, and you’d need something other than a standard stump grinder to access the roots.

Using a Stump Grinder as an Attachment

A mini loader, also known as a skid steer loader, is a small, engine powered machine with powerful lift-arms and hydraulic hose connections for various attachments. There are a range of different attachments which can be used with a mini loader to make the job easier, including a stump grinder. Depending on your situation and available room on the site, it might be better to use a stump grinder as an attachment on a mini loader.

Master Hire has a range of mini loaders available for hire: the wheeled mini loader and the tracked mini loader. Bother are perfect for moving and levelling dirt and are both powerful enough to run a stump grinder attachment on stubborn stumps. Master Hire also stock a wide variety of other attachments for the mini loaders, which will fit on a trailer for your convenience. Like all their equipment, they can be picked up or delivered from one of their many branches.

How to Clean Up After Stump Grinding

Woodchips can take years to decompose. If you don’t have that long and you don’t want woodchips in the area where you’ve ground the stump, you’re going to have to remove them. Once you’re done grinding the stump, rake away any debris in the area like wood chips, twigs and branches. If you’re planning to cover the area with topsoil and planting something new, pour the soil to slightly higher than ground level; during the planting process it will settle. From there, it’s up to you – you could plant new lawn, shrubs, or even a new tree.

Getting Your Hands on the Right Stump Grinder

Unless you’re planning on using the stump grinder day in day out, the most efficient way of getting your hands on the right stump grinder is to rent one. Master Hire has a range of stump grinders and the all the information you’ll need to use them. Plus, you can hire the stump grinder for only a few hours if need be or even a few weeks. The choice is yours.

Contact Master Hire

Master Hire has a large network of stores that covers much of South East Queensland and the mid north coast of New South Wales. We hire out much more than just stump grinders and mini loaders. We’ve got air tools & compressors, cherry pickers and scissor lifts, equipment for cleaning, compacting, concreting, earthmoving, generating power, lighting, scaffolding, trailers, tipper trucks and more. Master Hire is a family owned and operated company with over twenty-five years of experience and was recently awarded the 2019 Australian Rental Company of the Year by the Hire and Rental Industry Association.

If you’re looking to rent a stump grinder or are searching for another piece of equipment to hire, we’ve got you covered. If you’ve got questions about which piece of equipment is best for the job at hand, or about how to best use it, Master Hire will look after you. Get in touch today by sending us an email or call 1300 107 107.

(as voted by Dads) – We have taken the liberty of asking Dads the hard question. We even managed to extract an answer out of them! We surveyed dads and asked the question:

“What do you want for Father’s Day?”

See our top 4 Father’s Day requests below.

4. Socks & Jocks

Ahhh the ol’ “Socks ‘n’ Jocks”! Just be clear, our Dads answered the question, “What do you want for Father’s Day?” – not “What do you think you’re getting for Father’s Day?” Regardless, our survey results have shown and that the old socks and jocks have still found favour with Dads.

3. Tools

Maybe all of Dad’s tools have gone missing! Maybe he just wants a new shiny toolbox… Whatever the reason may be, tools are on our Dads wish-list this Father’s Day. At Master Hire we have a range of big tools for Dad – see our Big Toys (earth moving) section here.

2. Gift Cards

“Its more than a card”  This is a gift card! It could be anything!”
Dads have no doubt been watching too much TV. Our survey has shown that they want a gift card for Father’s Day. The good thing is, there are a lot of stores offering gift cards and vouchers, including Master Hire!

1. Nothing – “Just Time with Family”

“Ummmm… ahhhh nothing…”  was the common response followed by “Just time with the family… -spend some time with my kid/s.” Our Dads really just want to spend time with their families. If you already have something for Dad, make sure to give him some quality time this Father’s Day!

“Have a great Father’s Day!”
From Master Hire

A large heavy plate compactor is often used to compress different types of soils and gravel. These units have a large motor mounted on top of the plate that is used to vibrate the plate. Compaction is one of the most important steps in any construction project. It provides the stability needed to properly support structures, roads and paths. Therefore it is critical that you match the right type of compaction equipment with your project.

Important things you need to know before starting your compaction project are:

• What is the size of the area to be compacted?
• What is the compaction rate required (if known)?
• What type of soil is needed to be compacted?
• What type of finish do you require after compaction?

How to best compact soil

Plate compactors are best suited to the compaction of bituminous and granular materials e.g. granular soils, gravels and sands or mixtures of both. Cohesive soils such as silt and clay are best compacted using the impact force produced by an upright rammer.

There are generally two types of soil when it comes to compacting, granular soils and cohesive soils. Here are the main differences between the two.

Granular Soils

These are soils like gravel and sand and very difficult to compact regardless if they’re wet or dry. They tend to crumble when picked up and have limited cohesive strength.

Cohesive soils

These soils typically have high clay content and hold together firmly. They need to contain a certain amount of moisture to help ensure proper compaction. Each soil will need a different type of compactor to efficiently compact the soil.

How to compact sand for paving

Specifically compacting sand is tricky due to its granular composition. For this reason, when you are preparing your bed for pavers, it’s critical you compact the bottom layer of dirt or soil before you put down a layer of sand for your pavers.

Before you start compacting your soil for pavers, make sure the surface you’re compacting is level and the soil is evenly spread. You can use a mini loader, larger tracked loader, with spreader bars, or simply a hand held lawn lever to spread the soil evenly across your surface. Secondly wet it. Ensure the moisture content in the soil is correct. Moisture in your soil is vital to achieving proper compaction as the water helps slide soil particles together. Not enough moisture might lead to inadequate compaction; too much moisture will leave water-filled voids that weaken the soil’s load- bearing ability.

How to compact crusher dust

Crusher dust is a blend of small crushed blue metal rocks and finer dust. Typically used in roads surfacing and as driveways, it can also provide a great foundation for tanks. We recommend you use a mini loader with a bucket to move large amounts of crusher dust around your job site. If you have the option, use a levelling bar attachment to quickly and evenly spread the material around. Again wet it. Wetting the crusher dust not only reduces the amount of dust in the air but also allows for a firmer compaction rate. Once you given it a good soaking use a vibrating plate to further compact the partials together (depending on the area you are compacting you may need a larger machine, even consider hiring a smooth drum roller). You will need to go over the same area multiple times to achieve your desired level of compaction.

Compacting pavers after laying

Once you have laid your pavers neatly on top of your compacted material, whether it is sand or crusher dust, we recommend you go over the top of your pavers once more with a small compaction plate. To prevent damage to your pavers, use a piece of rubber or use a compaction plate with a heavy duty rubber mat attached to the bottom. Running the compaction plate across the top of your pavers will help solidify your hard work. This will send vibrations down through the pavers into the ground beneath working them into a firm foundation.

Tips for how to use a plate compactor

Here are some safety and efficiency tips to help you get your job done safely:

• Wear the correct personal noise protection.
• Run the engine warm in idle speed for a short while before starting work.
• Do not shut the engine down all of the sudden from full speed, but let it idle for a while for temperature equalisation.
• Always maintain good footing so that you do not slip and loose control when starting or operating the machine.
• Clean the underside of the plate regularly to prevent a build up of material. this will allow your machine to move freely.

Types of Compactors

It is very important to know what type of machine you require before starting your project. All three examples of small compaction equipment listed below may be referred to by different names.

Upright Rammers

Also known as wacker packers or jumping jacks, upright rammers work great when compacting cohesive soils because of the size of the plate. The smaller plate size allows for a more focused and direct compaction. They are also great for trenches and tight spots where compactors aren’t easy to manoeuvre. They have the ability to compact a deeper amount of soil than a plate compactor.

Pedestrian Rollers

Also known as walk behind rollers, these rollers are perfect for cohesive soils such as silt or clay. They are commonly used for road base or crusher dust which forms a layer below pavements, driveways and parking spaces. They are more suited for larger areas and when more compaction is required. An advantage of using a pedestrian or walk behind roller is that they give greater compaction and travel faster along the ground, therefore, they can complete a large work area faster.

Plate Compactors

Plate compactors, also known as vibrating plates, are ideal when working with granular soils because they use vibrations to help settle the soil as it compacts. Compactor plates are wider than an upright rammer, which means that its weight and compaction force is spread out over a greater area. Because of their ergonomic design and operating procedure, plate compactors are better for larger, flat surfaces and leave a smoother finish.

In Summary, upright rammers are used for a more direct and focused compaction on cohesive soils. Mainly used in trenches, around pipes/manholes and in areas where other compactors won’t fit. Vibrating plates are used for a more evenly spread compaction on granular soils. Mainly used for bedding sand and road base where an even surface is required. Pedestrian rollers are best used on cohesive soils for larger projects like driveways, where the size, speed and compaction rate of the machine are an advantage.

Master Hire has all three of these small compaction machines available for hire and more information or for hire rates, contact us on 1300 107 107.

In early 2019, Master Hire was once again nominated for the Australian Hire and Rental Industry Association’s (HRIA) ‘Rental Company of the Year’. This year, we decided to accept this nomination and complete the formal judging process and compete against other hire companies from across Australia for the coveted title. The process required us to submit a formal presentation to the Hire and Rental Industry Association about our business covering a range of topics from our history and structure through to our achievements and future growth plans. With the help of a number of our team at Master Hire, we delivered a first class written submission to the Association which ultimately led to Master Hire being named a finalist in this year’s awards. As a finalist, we were eligible for a branch site visit by the judges in the following weeks.

Two independent judges visited the finalists around Australia at their nominated hire locations. Master Hire had to choose only one of our eight branches to be judged and we decided on Rocklea. Our Rocklea store, located at 679 Beaudesert Road, is very well presented, with great road frontage, a huge range of equipment and convenient access for our customers. After some minor updates, including painting, gardening and re-positioning our equipment displays, we were ready for the judges. Our Rocklea store remained fully operational during the process and this is testament to the great management and organisational skills of the team.

Whilst on site, our local Rocklea managers gave the judges a tour of the branch and introduced them to our team who each play an important role in serving our customers including the pre-hire of our equipment, deliveries and pickups, maintaining our equipment and of course speaking with our customers. After the day of judging, it became a waiting game until the Hire and Rental Convention Awards Night on 23^rdMay. We were pleased to be able to send a number of Master Hire team members to the two day hire convention and awards dinner in Melbourne. During the evening, a number of industry awards were presented to various hire companies and equipment suppliers, but the Hire Company of the Year award was the final one to be announced on the night. The National President of the Hire and Rental Industry Association read out ‘Master Hire’ as the major award winner for 2019 which was met with a huge cheer from the crowd. Our two company Directors accepted the Hire Company of the Year Award on stage on behalf of Master Hire team and paid tribute to each and every team member at Master Hire for their contribution to the success of our business and thanked our customers who continue to choose Master Hire as their preferred hire company.

We are very excited and at the same time very humbled to be awarded the HRIA Hire Company of the Year for 2019 and wish to thank everyone involved in making this happen.

There is almost nothing more pleasing than walking into a house with beautifully polished timber floors. The natural character of the exposed timber adds warmth and personality to the house.

Sanding floors can be a daunting job, but it doesn’t need to be. It can be extremely rewarding when you stand back and enjoy your finished DIY project.

The following steps are a how-to guide with some tips and techniques to get the timber finish you want in your house.

Make sure that you allow enough time to do the job and have everything you need to be organised before you start. Depending on what finish you want, it will be worth talking to your local hardware or paint store about the right product to use and drying times.

Hire a drum floor sander and floor edger with Master Hire, (we can also supply the sandpaper for each machine).

Ensure you read and understand the instructions of each sander carefully before you begin as these may vary from model to model. Ensure the area you will be sanding is well ventilated as the machines will create a lot of dust (open windows or use fans). Ensure power leads are out of the way so they don’t become a trip hazard or are run over by the sander. As these machines draw a lot of power, ensure the extension leads you are using are suitable so not to cause machine burn out. We recommend lengths no longer than 20m.

Ensure you use all the correct PPE including dust masks, safety glasses and earplugs – your health and safety is paramount.

• • Preparation – Remove everything out of the room including all furniture and even curtains… it is going to get very dusty. Remove any floor coverings and ensure that any staples or screws are removed and nails are punched down or removed. These are a killer for sandpaper as they will shred a sanding sheet in seconds. Fill any gaps and repair the floor as required. Remove the skirting boards to ensure you sand right to the edge of the timber. It is important to take time and effort in the preparation phase as you don’t want to have to come back and redo this.
  • Using the drum sander – Start with a medium grit sandpaper (e.g. 60/80 grit) and ensure it is fitted tightly on the drum facing the correct direction. Do a small area and see how your floor responds to it. You may find that you need to use a more coarse grade on the floor to begin with. If you floor isn’t flat, sand at a 45-degree angle in the direction of the floor boards. Overlap each run so that each is blended into the next. As you near the end of the pass, gradually lift the drum off the floor before you come to a stop. Practice this so you don’t end up with hollows at the end of your floor boards. Once you have the floor evenly sanded with this coarse grade, change the paper to a finer grade and continue to sand along the grain.
  • Using the floor edger – Ensure the sandpaper disc and locking bolt is secured tightly on the machine before you begin. Sand along the grain of the timber smoothly to reduce the chance of putting divots in the floor. Use the same grade paper as you used with the drum sander to ensure you end up with the same finish.

If your floor boards have already been polished, if possible find out what product has been used previously. Typically, it’s either a wax or an oil finish, or possibly a polyurethane varnish. When buying your new polish (vanish), ensure you find a product that’s right for the type of floor boards you have. If in doubt, ask your local hardware or paint store for advice when choosing a product.

Test a small area before polishing your floor boards

Before you dive straight into polishing the entire area, test a small section first, preferably underneath a piece of furniture or in a corner. If the polish damages the floor boards or creates a discolouration, stop and check you are using the right product for your floor boards. Once you have confirmed that your polish is the correct one to use, it’s time to start covering the entire area. This is a very satisfying process and you will quickly see your floor boards spring to life with a rich vibrant finish.

Allow the polish to dry completely before walking on it

Read the product manufacturer’s instructions carefully before you begin your project. After applying the first layer of product to your floor boards, allow it to completely dry before apply more layers. Keep in mind that different products may have difference drying times and these will be indicated on the product label. Try not to walk on the newly polished floor for at least 24 hours, as it may be sticky and leave marks on the surface. Once the area is dry enough to walk on, we recommend waiting another 24 hours before putting any furniture or rugs back on the area.

If you would like to know more about sanding your timber floors or if you have any questions about our range of floor sanders and other equipment, call Master Hire on 1300 107 107 to talk to one of our friendly team members.