From Milan to Maribyrnong

I’m Gabriele, and I’ve been working with timber floors for more than 20 years.

I learned my trade in Milan, Italy, trained in the traditional old-school way: craftsmanship, precision, and attention to detail above everything else. Growing up in a culture where quality workmanship was respected made me want to do the job properly. Those values have stayed with me ever since, and they’re the reason I still do things by hand that a lot of operators now rush or skip.

Today I run AF Timber Flooring out of Maribyrnong, and I’ve become one of the tradesmen Melbourne homeowners call when they want the job done right. From here I travel across the city installing new floors, sanding and polishing old ones, handling repairs, and bringing custom finishes to life. Most of the homes I work on are people’s pride and joy — I treat every floor like it’s my own.

Why work with a sole trader

I’m a sole trader by choice. It means when you hire AF Timber Flooring, you’re not getting a project manager and a crew of subcontractors who’ve never met you. You’re getting me — the same person who comes out to quote the job, lays the boards, sands the floor, and stands behind the work afterwards. Nothing gets lost between the person who promised the work and the person who does it, because they’re the same person.

That also means you get one point of contact from start to finish. If you’ve got a question mid-job, you ask me. If something needs adjusting, you tell me. There’s no chasing an office or waiting on a callback from someone who wasn’t on site.

How I work

Every floor is different. Timber species, age, the wear it’s had, the light in the room — it all changes what the floor needs and how it’ll come up. I don’t have a one-size-fits-all approach. I look at what’s in front of me, tell you honestly what I’d do and why, and give you a straight quote with no surprises later.

Whether it’s a fresh install, breathing life back into tired old boards, or a custom finish you’ve had in mind for years, the goal is the same: a floor that looks right, lasts for years, and that you’re glad you had done.

What I care about

What I want is simple: for the floor to look right, last for years, and for the whole experience to feel straightforward and honest from start to finish. No pressure, no jargon, no cutting corners where you can’t see them. That’s the work.

If that’s the kind of tradesman you’re after, I’d be glad to hear about your project.

— Gabriele