Thinking of renovating your home with timber floors but don’t know where to start? Or maybe you’re building a brand new home and are yet to decide what kind of flooring you’d like? Choosing timber flooring is no easy feat, especially if you have no idea what the difference between softwood or hardwood is, or what timber flooring can be used in your bathroom. Generally, we see hardwood flooring commonly used in flooring and decking projects, as it’s renowned for its beautiful appearance and durability. But depending on your budget and where you plan to use it, hardwood flooring might not always be the best choice. To help you, we’ve come up with a short guide on the types of timber floors and where you can expect to find them in the household.
Types of timber floors
Hardwood flooring
Used for centuries, hardwood flooring is one of the most common types of timber floors featured in households. Hardwood flooring is more durable than softwood flooring, as the trees it’s harvested grow much slower. This means hardwood timber tends to last longer and isn’t as susceptible to dents or scratches.
Benefits of hardwood flooring include:
- Low maintenance and easy to clean
- Adds value to your home
- Suits most décor
- Strong and durable
- Better natural acoustics
Hardwood flooring can be used in virtually any room but will require more maintenance when installed in a moisture heavy area.
Engineered timber flooring
Timber flooring such as ‘Boral engineered timber flooring’ is made by sandwiching thinner planks of wood together and covering them with a top of laminated hardwood. This gives it the appearance of hardwood but with stronger structural integrity and less susceptibility to shrinkage. Boral engineered timber flooring is usually less expensive than traditional hardwood flooring and is less likely to bow or warp as the timber is supported by multiple layers of timber.
Benefits of engineered timber flooring include:
- One of the most affordable options
- Better for the planet
- Easy to install
- Beautiful natural appearance
- Hard to tell apart from solid flooring
Engineered timber flooring works best in kitchens and bathrooms as it’s less susceptible to moisture related expansion than hardwood flooring.
Pine flooring
Attractive and built to last for decades, pine flooring offers a rustic appearance and a wide range of colours such as light golden, dark grey and rich brown. Untreated pine can be customised with a finish to suit your colour preference and will attain its colour for years to come. Pine flooring is a popular choice as it features knots and whirls, making each plank unique.
Benefits of pine flooring timber flooring include:
- Lots of colour options available
- Customisable with stain or varnish
- Costs less than hardwood
- Looks fantastic with the rustic or country look
Pine flooring works perfectly for bedrooms, as it can be susceptible to denting if used in high traffic areas.
Particleboard
Particleboard is another type of engineered timber, comprised of wood chips and synthetic resin which is pressed together. Ideal for both residential and commercial interiors, particleboard is one of the most affordable flooring options on the market and is quite easy to install. It can be used on its own or to act as an underlay for carpet or a floating floor.
Benefits of particleboard flooring include:
- Does not dent or distort easily
- Provides a flat surface for wood veneers
- Eco friendly as it uses left over parts of timber
- One of the most affordable flooring options
Scyon Secura EXT Flooring
Though not a timber, Scyon Secure EXT is a flooring that can be used both flooring and under flooring for household exteriors. This makes them the perfect material for decks, verandas and patios and other external flooring applications. Scyon flooring is a heavy duty, cost effective alternative to hardwood flooring, and can even be used in interiors where there is heavy moisture content. Simple to install, Scyon flooring is a highly versatile solution for all areas of the home.
Need help choosing timber flooring?
Looking for timber flooring suppliers in Brisbane? Be sure to get in touch with Versace Timbers on 07 3266 9000 or via our online form and a member from our team will be in touch soon. Or visit us in person at Versace Timbers timber yard located at 33 Vauxhall Street in Virginia for more information on the different types of timber floors available.