HOW TO CHOOSE SOLID TIMBER FLOORING

The easy guide to selecting your solid timber flooring in Canberra, ACT, Australia. 

Once you have made the decision to make the investment in a Solid Timber Floor you might find yourself overwhelmed in the vast choices that follow. We have made an easy step by step guide to help this become a seamless experience for your build or renovation. 

Don't jump ahead guys. These are in order so follow the guide and select one at a time!  

Raw Timber or Pre-finished Timber? 

Traditional Raw Timber boards arrive raw on site, they require a period of acclimatisation prior to installation and are coated after installation. A prefinished timber floor is a floorboard which has been treated, coated and sealed in a factory and not during the installation process. 

Located in Canberra & Surrounds? Try heading over to Monaro Timber & Joinery in Queanbeyen. Let them know you are working with us and they will walk you through ordering your materials. https://www.monarotimber.com.au

Choose your Species and Grade of Timber

Australian species of timber vary greatly on colour, hardness, grain and character. Some popular timbers in the Canberra region are Tallowwood, Ironbark, Spotted Gum and Ash. These species tend to fair well in our extreme shifts in weather, temperate and humidity. 

In Australia, timber is graded to Australian Standards depending on the extent of natural marks, colour variation, knots, gum veins and trails of insects. Choosing between grades is purely a personal preference depending on the end vision of your space and does not impact the hardness and durability of your species. 

Select Grade: This timber is quite literally the 'select' boards of the batch. Select grade is usually more consistent of colour with minimal character in the boards. As such, it is usually at the higher end of the price scale. 

Standard Grade: Standard is the most common type of flooring installed. It has a very natural look as the batch is mixed with a variety of select boards and some with more feature and character. 

Feature Grade: Feature grade timber, which is usually at the lower end of the price scale. Is becoming more 'on trend' in the community. These boards have a bunch of character and can be made even more dramatic with the use of black filler to really make the knots stand out. 

Thickness & Width

You might need to think about the thickness of the boards depending on what you are installing it over and what flooring is in other rooms. Solid Timber boards can come in a standard 19-22mm thickness and down to a thinner 14mm overlay. As you would come to expect, the thinner and wider the board, the better the price. 

Coatings & Surface Finish

With pre-finished timber, these boards are ready to go after installation. However a raw floor will require the final stage with installation which is a sand and polish. 

We always recommend using the waterbased BONA floor coating range. Unsure of water-based vs polyurethane? Read here before selecting.

Matt, Satin or Gloss? A great way to narrow this down is to talk to one of our team during your measure and quote. They can give you advice based on how much light is in the room, traffic, what the floor is used for and any lifestyle factors such as pets or children. 

Oil or Stains? Some timber species such as red ironbark love a good coat of oil to really bring out the natural colour of the timber whereas other flooring may suit a stain to alter the colour to suit your style. 

Well we hope that helps you select the right timber floor look and feel for your home! Need more advice? Call us for a free measure and quote today on 0404277706 or book your quote online here.