Solid vs engineered timber

To start, you’ll need to decide whether you want solid or engineered timber flooring. “New solid timber flooring is machined from rough-sawn billets of timber, while recycled flooring is moulded from timber that has been used for something else, such as rafters,” says Leon Travis, national sales and distribution manager of Boral Timber (boral.com. au/timber). Cost is generally higher on solid floors. “They take longer to install and finish than a pre-finished engineered board,” says Anne Plumb of Royal Oak Floors (royaloakfloors.com.au). “Depending on thickness, they can be laid over joists, however, for a better finish with insulation and structure, most solid timber floors are laid over ply.” Good installers are key. “Solid timber is more prone to expansion and contraction than engineered boards,” says Anne. “If you’re after a more seamless look, sand and finish the floor on site.”

Engineered flooring is a composite product. “It’s made up of several layers, using either a rubber-wood or plywood core, with a 4mm-6mm veneer as the top layer,” says Leon. “Often this flooring is pre-finished and ready for installation. Typically, floorboards with a 4mm top layer can be re-sanded at least once.” These are great on a budget or in an apartment where noise is an issue. “Floating floors are cheaper and easier to install as you need fewer materials and they click together easily,” says Anne. “However, they typically don’t last as long and can make a ‘click-clack’ sound when walked on. They’re laid over a concrete slab and can’t be laid over joists.”