Bonus flooring special: The ultimate guide to floorboards, carpets, rugs & more!
TIMBER FLOORBOARDS INSTANTLY IMBUE A SPACE WITH GRAVITAS AND GRACE - AND THERE ARE PLENTY OF OTHER BENEFITS, TOO
Australians love timber boards – and it’s clear why. They combine toughness with tactility, while the grain lends a decorative element. “Natural timber provides an authentic warmth and depth to your home unlike any other finish,” says Nicole Canty of Choices Flooring. “The patina exhibits a unique finish and colour, making it perfect for an individually tailored interior.” Adds Anne Plumb of Royal Oak Floors: “Timber is fantastic for anyone suffering from allergies, as it doesn’t trap dust and it’s warm underfoot. It’s also environmentally friendly, as carbon is trapped in the timber.”
OAK OASIS
Oak, spotted gum and blackbutt in smoky greys and light tones remain top floorboard choices, says Brett Talbot of Carpet Court. Royal Oak specialises in its namesake. “It has a beautiful grain,” says Anne, and is famously durable. Oak, limed oak, black Japan stains and grey-wash timbers in matt and satin finishes top the wish lists of interior designer Lauren Mahoney’s clients. “We choose either really light oak or larch or dark-stained oak,” adds interior designer Anna-Carin McNamara. “In-between colours are too strong and dominant, limiting what you can do with the rest of the furnishings. Light timbers create a sense of airiness and freshness, while dark timbers ground rooms with high ceilings.”
TO THE POINT
Baffled by the difference between chevron and herringbone flooring? Chevrons are a series of V-shapes, with the tips of each board meeting the next at a 45-degree angle. Herringbone is staggered (see above), with each plank meeting the next at 90 degrees to create a zigzag. >
THE NITTY GRITTY
SWEEP OR VACUUM AS OFTEN AS POSSIBLE TO REMOVE LOOSE GRIT WHICH COULD SCRATCH YOUR FLOOR. THEN WIPE WITH A DAMP MOP, AVOIDING EXCESS WATER, WHICH IS THE ENEMY OF TIMBER. LOOKALIKES ARE A PRINTED TAKE ON TIMBER, SO ONCE THE SURFACE IS SCRATCHED, THAT’S IT, BUT ENGINEERED BOARDS CAN BE SANDED BACK.
“NATURAL TIMBER PROVIDES AN AUTHENTIC WARMTH AND DEPTH TO YOUR HOME UNLIKE ANY OTHER FINISH”
~ NICOLE CANTY, CHOICES FLOORING
CHANGE AFOOT
Engineered and hybrid board options are gaining a firm toehold on the market, leaving behind conventional barcode-thin boards laid in parallel, with adventurous homeowners wanting more wow underfoot. “Engineered flooring has been a solid trend for the past three years, especially in a wide plank over 200 millimetres wide, and in chevron or herringbone,” says Lauren Mahoney of Studio Trio. “Wide planks, with their appealing patterns of knots and grains, create a real sense of space,” adds Choices Flooring’s Nicole. “Chevron and herringbone add a different dimension from the lineal look, their angles creating an eye-catching masterpiece on the floor.” Says Carpet Court’s Brett, “The crisscross style combines contemporary and classic, adding a touch of personality and European design.”
BOARD MEETING
THE FOREST OF TIMBER CHOICES CAN BE CONFUSING. ASIDE FROM SOLID WOODEN TIMBERS — AS YOUR GRANDPARENTS HAD — YOU NEED TO NAVIGATE ENGINEERED TIMBERS, LAMINATES, VINYLS, HYBRIDS AND EVEN BAMBOO. HERE’S THE LOWDOWN: – Solid timbers consist of tongue-and-groove boards, which sit over joists or battens over the slab. But they expand and can cup and warp.
– Engineered timbers comprise a core of cross-laminated timber topped with the desired timber veneer. “Timber expands and contracts, so laminating it in different directions produces forces working against each other that prevents the board from moving out of position,” explains Anne Plumb of Royal Oak Floors. Fast-growing plantation timbers such as pine in the core give them the environmental tick, while the surface layer can be treated with various finishes.
– Laminate consists of a highdensity fibreboard topped with a photographic timber image, installed by clicking the planks together over an existing floor.
But it doesn’t like excess water and can expand and contract.
– Vinyl such as Polyflor is thinner than laminate and is bonded like tiles to the underlying material so preparation of this surface is important. Benefits include high durability and resistance to water.
– Hybrid flooring is similar to laminate but with a polymer, not fibreboard, core, which makes the product more rigid and resistant to temperature changes. Best of all, it’s waterproof. Click and install it like a laminate – a DIY job for some.
– Bamboo is technically not timber. Being fast growing, it gets the green tick and it’s tough, but it goes against the grain for those who think it looks too uniform, lacking the character of timber.
“THE TANNIN IN OAK REACTS WELL TO STAINS, ENABLING A BEAUTIFUL RANGE OF TONES” ~ ANNE PLUMB, ROYAL OAK FLOORS