How Do I... Choose a Timber Floor?
Are you in the market for a new timber floor? Read our expert guide to choosing the perfect style to suit your needs
Easy to clean, durable and beautiful to look at – there’s much to love about timber flooring. But with so many different styles on offer, it can be difficult to know which one is right for you. We’ve asked timber flooring expert Randy Flierman, CEO of the Australasian Timber Flooring Association, to give us the low-down on the various flooring styles, plus a few tips on how to choose between them.
What are the main things to consider when choosing?
Colour, grade, width and finish of the boards are the most important considerations. The colour or blend of colours is determined by the species or species mix. The grade relates to how much character – veins and knots – the floor has.
When it comes to board width, 80 millimetres is the traditional choice. However, wider boards are trending right now. Narrower boards tend to blend the colours of the timber more.
The choice of finish for site-sanded and coated floors is a very important consideration. There are many coating and staining options available. Staining can enhance the timber grain patterns or colour, while different finishes can give flooring a natural or glossy look.
Colour, grade, width and finish of the boards are the most important considerations. The colour or blend of colours is determined by the species or species mix. The grade relates to how much character – veins and knots – the floor has.
When it comes to board width, 80 millimetres is the traditional choice. However, wider boards are trending right now. Narrower boards tend to blend the colours of the timber more.
The choice of finish for site-sanded and coated floors is a very important consideration. There are many coating and staining options available. Staining can enhance the timber grain patterns or colour, while different finishes can give flooring a natural or glossy look.
What are the latest trends?
Lighter-coloured timbers and brown tones are trending right now, while red timbers are less popular. When it comes to width, wider boards are popular.
In pre-finished, engineered-timber flooring, we’re seeing rustic brushed and coloured surfaces coming through, as well as styles with more obvious natural features and characteristics.
9 Australian Timbers and Their Characters
Lighter-coloured timbers and brown tones are trending right now, while red timbers are less popular. When it comes to width, wider boards are popular.
In pre-finished, engineered-timber flooring, we’re seeing rustic brushed and coloured surfaces coming through, as well as styles with more obvious natural features and characteristics.
9 Australian Timbers and Their Characters
What are the main types of flooring?
Solid timber, engineered timber and laminate are the main types. They each feel different underfoot. A floor that is fixed over a continuous subfloor, such as solid timber and adhesive-fixed engineered timber, will feel solid. Floated engineered or laminate floors will usually have some flex underfoot, but can sound hollow when you walk on them.
Be aware that solid timber, engineered timber and most laminates are not suitable for wet rooms such as bathrooms and laundries.
Solid timber, engineered timber and laminate are the main types. They each feel different underfoot. A floor that is fixed over a continuous subfloor, such as solid timber and adhesive-fixed engineered timber, will feel solid. Floated engineered or laminate floors will usually have some flex underfoot, but can sound hollow when you walk on them.
Be aware that solid timber, engineered timber and most laminates are not suitable for wet rooms such as bathrooms and laundries.
Solid timber
Solid timber is made from solid hardwood planks. If it is thick enough, it can be used as a structural floor, while thinner overlay timber flooring is installed over a structural subfloor. All solid timber flooring is fixed to the subfloor and most is sanded and coated on site.
Solid timber is made from solid hardwood planks. If it is thick enough, it can be used as a structural floor, while thinner overlay timber flooring is installed over a structural subfloor. All solid timber flooring is fixed to the subfloor and most is sanded and coated on site.
Engineered timber
Engineered flooring consists of a layer of real timber veneer laid over a supporting board, commonly plywood. The veneer layer varies in thickness from about 1-6 millimetres.
Engineered timber boards can be fixed onto a subfloor with adhesive or floated on a foam underlay (the latter can be installed over existing floors, such as tiles). Most engineered timber comes pre-finished, which means that it’s quicker to install than solid timber.
How to Get the Look of Timber Without the Cost of Solid Wood
Engineered flooring consists of a layer of real timber veneer laid over a supporting board, commonly plywood. The veneer layer varies in thickness from about 1-6 millimetres.
Engineered timber boards can be fixed onto a subfloor with adhesive or floated on a foam underlay (the latter can be installed over existing floors, such as tiles). Most engineered timber comes pre-finished, which means that it’s quicker to install than solid timber.
How to Get the Look of Timber Without the Cost of Solid Wood
Laminate flooring
Laminate flooring is made from multiple layers of pressed wood topped with a photo image of timber that is then covered with a layer of clear, tough melamine plastic.
Laminate flooring is very stable and can provide a highly wear-resistant surface. The latest styles are specially textured to mimic real timber.
Laminate is installed as a floating floor on a foam underlay. It requires no sanding or coating and is quick to install.
Laminate flooring is made from multiple layers of pressed wood topped with a photo image of timber that is then covered with a layer of clear, tough melamine plastic.
Laminate flooring is very stable and can provide a highly wear-resistant surface. The latest styles are specially textured to mimic real timber.
Laminate is installed as a floating floor on a foam underlay. It requires no sanding or coating and is quick to install.
Bamboo flooring
Bamboo is technically a type of grass, but often gets grouped with timber floors. It is hard-wearing and comes in a range of colours.
Choose from ‘strand-woven’ bamboo flooring, where strands or strips of bamboo are fused together to create a board, or laminate or engineered flooring styles.
Most bamboo floors are floated over a foam underlay. Consideration is often needed to accommodate seasonal shrinkage and swelling.
Bamboo is technically a type of grass, but often gets grouped with timber floors. It is hard-wearing and comes in a range of colours.
Choose from ‘strand-woven’ bamboo flooring, where strands or strips of bamboo are fused together to create a board, or laminate or engineered flooring styles.
Most bamboo floors are floated over a foam underlay. Consideration is often needed to accommodate seasonal shrinkage and swelling.
Parquet flooring
Parquetry is made up of small pieces of solid timber that are laid as flooring. The width of a piece is a multiple of the length and this allows a wide range of different patterns to be created.
Australian block parquetry is commonly 260 x 65 millimetres in size, where the length is four times the width. Larger pieces are generally laid piece by piece. Smaller ‘finger’ parquetry often comes on a backing sheet to speed up installation time.
See more gorgeous contemporary kitchens
Parquetry is made up of small pieces of solid timber that are laid as flooring. The width of a piece is a multiple of the length and this allows a wide range of different patterns to be created.
Australian block parquetry is commonly 260 x 65 millimetres in size, where the length is four times the width. Larger pieces are generally laid piece by piece. Smaller ‘finger’ parquetry often comes on a backing sheet to speed up installation time.
See more gorgeous contemporary kitchens
Pricing
Prices for timber floors vary significantly, and it’s important to remember that the final cost will be influenced not just by the price of the product, but by the installation method and whether on-site sanding and coating are required.
Solid timber flooring often requires the most work and is therefore more costly. A lower-grade floating laminate is generally the cheapest option. The installed price of some top-of-the-range engineered timber and laminate flooring can be similar to solid timber.
Prices for timber floors vary significantly, and it’s important to remember that the final cost will be influenced not just by the price of the product, but by the installation method and whether on-site sanding and coating are required.
Solid timber flooring often requires the most work and is therefore more costly. A lower-grade floating laminate is generally the cheapest option. The installed price of some top-of-the-range engineered timber and laminate flooring can be similar to solid timber.
Which timbers are best for indoor-outdoor flow?
Internal solid timber flooring is not intended for outdoor use. For outdoors, decking boards are required. If you’re looking to create a cohesive look between these two parts of your home, look for a hardwood species that comes in both indoor timber floorboards and decking.
Also be aware that some deck coatings can darken the look of decking, which can make your indoor and outdoor finishes look quite different.
Internal solid timber flooring is not intended for outdoor use. For outdoors, decking boards are required. If you’re looking to create a cohesive look between these two parts of your home, look for a hardwood species that comes in both indoor timber floorboards and decking.
Also be aware that some deck coatings can darken the look of decking, which can make your indoor and outdoor finishes look quite different.
Maintenance
Solid, engineered and laminate timber floors are very easy to maintain. The main thing you’ll need to care for is the coating. Some flooring will have a more robust coating than others, so it’s important to know your coating type.
The melamine layer on laminate flooring is very wear-resistant, but no surface is indestructible. Grit can scratch the surface (which is why mats are a good idea), some cleaning products can degrade the coating, and the use of steam mops can affect both the board and coating.
Whatever flooring type you choose, it pays to read the instruction manual carefully.
Solid, engineered and laminate timber floors are very easy to maintain. The main thing you’ll need to care for is the coating. Some flooring will have a more robust coating than others, so it’s important to know your coating type.
The melamine layer on laminate flooring is very wear-resistant, but no surface is indestructible. Grit can scratch the surface (which is why mats are a good idea), some cleaning products can degrade the coating, and the use of steam mops can affect both the board and coating.
Whatever flooring type you choose, it pays to read the instruction manual carefully.
Tell us
Did you find this story useful? Tell us in the Comments below. And if you enjoyed this story, don’t forget to like it, bookmark it or share it. Join the conversation.
More
Browse renovating stories
Did you find this story useful? Tell us in the Comments below. And if you enjoyed this story, don’t forget to like it, bookmark it or share it. Join the conversation.
More
Browse renovating stories
Sponsored
Spotted gum, blackbutt, Tasmanian oak, European oak and American oak are the most common types.