Which Type Of Timber Flooring Is For You? Pros & Cons

Timber flooring has always been a popular choice among homeowners and interior designers. Its timeless elegance, durability, and ability to add warmth to any space make it a versatile choice for any home. However, with the multitude of timber flooring options available, it is essential to understand each type to make the best choice for your home.

Understanding Timber Flooring

Timber flooring is essentially any product manufactured from timber designed for use as flooring. It is favored for its environmental profile, durability, and restorability. To learn more about timber flooring, be sure to check out our guide on the best timber flooring. 

Timber Flooring Options

The benefits of using timber flooring include its longevity, ease of cleaning, and the value it adds to your home in terms of appearance and resale value. But there are different options to consider when deciding what kind of flooring will work best for your home, especially in the humid Queensland climate. 

1. Hardwood Flooring

Hardwood flooring is a luxurious option made from the wood of deciduous trees such as oak, maple, and walnut. It is known for its durability and rich natural color variations.

However, hardwood flooring can be more expensive than other options and may require more maintenance. Different types of hardwood offer unique grains, colors, and textures, giving homeowners an array of choices to suit their aesthetic preferences.

2. Softwood Flooring

Softwood flooring originates from coniferous trees like pine, spruce, and fir. This type of flooring is generally less expensive than hardwood but is also less durable.

On the positive side, softwood is easy to work with and can be stained to achieve various looks. There are many types of softwood each with unique features. For instance, pine is known for its warm yellow tones while cedar boasts a rich red hue.

3. Engineered Timber Flooring

Engineered timber flooring is a popular choice due to its stability and versatility. It consists of multiple layers of wood pressed together.

While it may not be as durable as solid hardwood, engineered timber flooring handles moisture better and can be installed over various surfaces. The manufacturing process involves pressing together several layers of wood, with a top layer of high-quality timber.

4. Bamboo Flooring

Bamboo flooring is an eco-friendly alternative to traditional wood flooring. Despite being a type of grass, bamboo is surprisingly durable and hard.

One downside to bamboo flooring is that it can be prone to scratches and dents. The manufacturing process involves slicing bamboo stalks into thin strips, which are then laminated together to form planks.

5. Timber Vs Laminate Flooring

Laminate flooring is a synthetic product that simulates the look of hardwood or stone. It's easy to install and maintain, making it a great choice for busy households.

However, laminate cannot be refinished like real wood and may not last as long. The production of laminate flooring involves fusing multiple layers together under high pressure.

6. Vinyl Flooring

Vinyl flooring is another synthetic option that offers a wide range of designs. It's water-resistant, easy to clean, and comfortable underfoot.

However, vinyl isn't as durable as other options and can be prone to damage from sharp objects. It's made by printing an image onto a vinyl layer, which is then coated with a protective layer.

7. Parquetry Flooring

Parquetry flooring is a unique style that involves arranging small pieces of wood in geometric patterns. This adds a touch of luxury and character to any space.

While parquetry can be expensive and difficult to install, it can create stunning and unique designs in your home. The patterns can range from simple squares to complex mosaics.

Tips for Choosing the Right Timber Flooring

As timber flooring specialists, naturally, we’re always going to lean towards timber floors. 

When choosing timber flooring, consider factors such as your lifestyle, budget, and the style of your home. If you have pets or kids, opt for more durable options like hardwood or engineered timber. 

If you're on a budget, consider laminate or vinyl flooring. Most importantly, choose a type that complements the overall design of your home.

Pros & Cons of Different Timber Flooring

If you’ve decided on timber then you’re only halfway done. With numerous varieties available, deciding on the best type of timber flooring for your home can be a daunting task. Let’s go over the most popular types of timber as well as their pros and cons.

Blackbutt Timber Flooring

Blackbutt timber, native to Australia, is a popular choice for flooring due to its attractive appearance and durability. With a pale brown to light yellow colour and straight grain, Blackbutt offers a contemporary and clean aesthetic, making it suitable for various design styles. 

Pros:  

• With a pale brown to light yellow colour and straight grain, Blackbutt offers a contemporary and clean aesthetic, making it suitable for various design styles. 
• Its hardness and resistance to wear and tear contribute to its longevity.

Cons:

• It can be prone to insect attacks and decay if not properly treated or maintained.
• Its lighter colour can reveal scratches more easily than darker wood types.

Ironbark Timber Flooring

Ironbarks, a group of eucalypt hardwood species native to Australia, are valued for their exceptional durability and strength, making them a popular choice for flooring. The timber typically features a range of colours from pale browns to deep reds, along with distinctive grain patterns that contribute to its aesthetic appeal. 

Pros:

• Known for its resistance to termites, decay and wear, Ironback has a long lifespan in various settings. 

Cons: 

• Due to its high density, working with Ironbark during installation may be challenging, requiring specialised tools and expertise.

Jarrah Timber Flooring

Jarrah timber is known for its rich red-brown colour and distinctive grain. Its high density and durability contribute to Jarrah’s longevity, though it may be harder to work with during installation.

Pros: 

• Jarrah's rich red hue offers a unique aesthetic appeal. 
• It's also termite-resistant. 

Cons:

• On the downside, Jarrah can be more expensive than other types of timber.
• The timber's natural oils can also make it difficult to stain or finish.
• The high-density can make it difficult to work with.

Pine Flooring

One of the most popular flooring choices, pine flooring is cost-effective and easy to install and the unique knots and whorls add character to any room. 

Pros: 

• Unique appearance in every home. 
• Natural preservatives provide resistance to decay and insects. 

Cons: 

• Its softness may make it susceptible to denting in high-traffic areas.
• It also scratches easily with furniture or pets’ claws.

Spotted Gum Timber Flooring

Spotted Gum timber is a popular and versatile choice for flooring that is native to Australia. It comes in an attractive mix of colours, including pale greys, rich browns and vibrant red tones. Spotted gum is known for its distinctive grain patterns and durability and provides a visually appealing and resilient flooring solution. Its high natural resistance to termites and decay contributes to its longevity, making it suitable for various applications. However, the timber's density can make it challenging to work with during installation, and some boards may display gum veins or insect markings, which could influence the uniformity of the flooring. 

Pros:

• Spotted Gum is known for its unique grain structure and vibrant color variations.
• It's durable and resistant to pests. 

Cons:

• Can be expensive
• Requires regular maintenance to retain its beauty.

Tasmanian Oak Flooring

Tasmanian Oak is a popular choice due to its versatility and durability. It is also prized for its light colour and workability, adds a modern touch to flooring. 

Pros:

• Versatile
• Easy to installation

Cons: 

• Susceptible to scratches and dents if not properly maintained.

Tasmanian Blue Gum Flooring

With a striking range of colours from pale cream to reddish-brown, blue gum is an Australian native that has an eye-catching appearance and often features attractive grain patterns. Its high hardness level contributes to its durability, making it suitable for high-traffic areas. However, the diverse colour variations can pose a challenge for uniformity in appearance, and it may require regular maintenance to preserve its original lustre. 

Pros:

• Beautiful color tones
• Durable

Cons: 

• Prone to movement if not properly acclimated before installation.
• Not for designs that are seeking uniform looks.

Beech Flooring

Beech flooring is a popular choice due to its durability, attractive appearance, and versatility. It features a fine, tight grain and ranges in color from pale cream to reddish-brown. Beech is hard and strong, making it resistant to wear and denting, ideal for high-traffic areas. 

Its uniform grain and warm tones suit various interior styles, and it can be stained or finished in multiple ways. Beech wood is relatively abundant, making it a more sustainable option. Maintenance is simple with regular sweeping and occasional mopping. 

Pros: 

• Mid-range cost
• Relatively sustainable option. 
• Easy maintenance

Cons: 

• Beech wood is sensitive to changes in humidity and can expand or contract, leading to warping or gaps.
• As it’s hard, it can increase installation costs
  

Brush Box Flooring

Australian brush Box timber has warm and rich tones ranging from pale pinkish-brown to deep red-brown. Its straight and even grain adds to its aesthetic appeal, bringing a sense of elegance to spaces. 

Pros: 

• Elegant choice 
• Suitable for high-traffic areas 
• Good for staining & polishing 
  

Cons: 

• Susceptible to surface checking and gum vein markings. 

Flooded Gum Flooring

Originating from Australia, flooded Gum timber is a distinctive choice for flooring that’s known for its pale to light brown hues and prominent grain patterns. 

Its unique appearance and natural lustre make it an aesthetically pleasing option that can add character to various settings. Flooded Gum is valued for its durability and resistance to decay, making it suitable for flooring in both residential and commercial spaces. 

Pros: 

• Popular choice for design enthusiasts.
• Durable
• Resistant to decay.

Cons: 

• Very dense, so hard to work with. 
• Hard timber, which affects installation ease. 

What Is The Best Timber Flooring for Australia?

Considering Australia's climate, Spotted Gum and Blackbutt are top choices for flooring due to their high durability and resistance to the country's harsh environmental conditions. 

Spotted Gum, known for its strength and hardness, handles heavy foot traffic and weather fluctuations exceptionally well, making it ideal for both indoor and outdoor applications. 

Similarly, Blackbutt offers impressive resilience, resisting warping and damage from humidity and temperature changes. Both hardwoods are also naturally resistant to termites and decay, adding to their longevity and suitability for the Australian climate. 

Additionally, their attractive grain patterns and warm tones enhance the aesthetic appeal of any space, making them popular choices for homeowners seeking both functionality and beauty.

Final Takeaway

The choice of timber flooring depends on various factors such as the climate, usage, and personal preference. While Spotted Gum and Blackbutt are excellent for high traffic areas and harsh climates, options like Pine and Oak offer a unique aesthetic appeal.

The key is to balance the aesthetics with practicality, durability, and maintenance requirements when choosing the perfect timber flooring for your home.

If you’re looking for specialised advice from local timber flooring experts on the Sunshine Coast, get in touch with DIRECTLINE Timbers today.

‍