FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

“Engineered” refers to the construction of the timber flooring plank. An engineered timber plank consists of more than one layer, as opposed to solid timber which is one single layer or one single “solid” plank of wood.

Engineered timber is “engineered” to be more stable than traditional solid timber planks. More stable means that it is less susceptible to cupping, bowing and warping, therefore less prone to problems after installation.

With engineered timber, each layer of an engineered board is placed so that the grain runs perpendicularly, giving it much more strength and stability and making any expansion or contraction with changes in atmospheric conditions very minimal. Engineered timber is highly suitable to Australian building projects due to our volatile climate.

Yes. The top layer of an engineered timber board (the lamella or wear layer) is genuine solid wood, usually hardwood, and may be anything from 0.6 to 6mm thick. This means that yes, engineered timber flooring is genuine real timber and will look no different to traditional solid timber flooring.

The lamella is securely bonded to one or more following layers. These following layers can vary in their materials from product to product. They may consist of multi-layered plywood or a solid core of either softwood or hardwood. The final layer is a stabilizing backing board of either birch, ply, or similar material.

Engineered timber flooring is now the most common type of wood flooring used around the world. This is due to its many benefits that allow you to have a genuine timber floor that is more stable than traditional solid planks, lower in cost of purchase, installation and maintenance, and available in a much larger range of sizes, colors and finishes.

Highly Stable - Engineered timber flooring is highly suited to the Australian volatile climate conditions. Engineered is much more stable than traditional solid timber flooring due to its construction making it less susceptible to cupping, bowing, and warping.

Choosing Engineered timber flooring results in a lower likelihood of problems down the line. Unlike solid timber flooring, the engineered construction enables most engineered timber flooring products to be installed over underfloor heating (conditions do apply, please contact us for more info). This stability also allows for wider boards that are less likely to warp, cup, or bow than with solid timber flooring.

Budget Friendly - Engineered is also much more affordable than traditional solid timber flooring due to advancements in technology and increasing demand reducing the production cost and increasing affordability. The cost of installation is also reduced due to the product taking less time and effort to install than solid timber flooring. Perfect for small through to large scale projects!

Faster, Easier Installation - The installation of engineered timber flooring is much quicker and simpler than with traditional solid timber flooring. Engineered timber flooring is available in pre-finished planks, meaning reduced installation time and cost as you do not need to finish it on-site. Engineered timber flooring is available in either tongue and groove profiles or with a simple install click-system which allows for a very fast, easy install. These profiles also allow for different methods of installation such as glue-down or floating installation. Solid timber flooring may only be installed using a nail-down method and needs to be sanded and finished on-site after installation.

Larger Range, More Choice - Engineered timber flooring is available in a much larger and more comprehensive range of colors, sizes, and finishes than solid timber flooring

Underfloor Heating Compatibility - The majority of engineered timber flooring products are able to be fitted over underfloor heating (conditions do apply, please contact us for more info).

Eco-friendly Choice - Engineered timber construction enables many more planks to be constructed from a single tree, meaning less wastage and better use of slow-growing timbers.

Choosing timber is also one of the most eco-friendly building materials you can select, provided you choose your timber from reputable and ethical suppliers. Responsibly sourced timber ensures that the trees are replaced, wildlife is protected, and local villages are employed under fair-work conditions.

Production and transport of timber have a lower impact on carbon emissions compared to the majority of other building materials due to timber being lighter in weight.

Timber also holds CO2 for the duration of its life. By continuing the life of the timber in flooring or other such materials, the CO2 is kept from releasing into the atmosphere. Less CO2 in our atmosphere is good for the planet! Choosing ethically sourced timber is choosing a brighter future for our planet.

Versatile - Engineered timber is versatile in its use meaning it can be seamlessly incorporated into a range of design styles and environments. It is well known for the beautiful flooring it creates, however, the majority of engineered flooring can also be used just as stunningly on ceilings, doors, tables, walls, stairs, and other cabinetry and joinery applications - get creative!

Warranty Satisfaction - Engineered timber flooring, unlike solid timber flooring, comes with the backing of a warranty. This means that we stand by the quality of our products. Warranties vary from product to product and commercial vs residential use and are subject to terms and conditions. Please get in touch for more information on any of our warranties.

Yes*, the majority of engineered boards are able to be installed over underfloor heating - however conditions do very much apply and vary from product to product, so please check with your Timbervilla consultant prior to purchase to ensure your selected product is suitable.

*Always check with Timbervilla before specifying any timber flooring for use with underfloor heating.

A floating floor installation is one where the planks are attached to each other instead of to the subfloor over which it is being laid. It is a fast, relatively easy method of fixing which allows some room for movement and expansion given changes in humidity. The floor can be removed easily too, making it ideal for commercial applications where the flooring is more likely to be changed within the foreseeable future.

Oiled wood floors are very easy to care for. For everyday cleaning to remove dust or loose debris a broom, vacuum cleaner with a wood floor setting or dry mop is all that is required.

For more thorough cleaning, damp mop using a diluted oiled wood floor cleaner. In public places where the footfall is greater, oiled wood floors may be damp mopped on a daily basis and should be treated regularly with a maintenance wax. This may be applied to the most heavily used areas or to the whole floor, spreading it with an electric, single-disc buffing machine with a beige pad.

Maintenance wax needs only be applied to residential flooring when the wood begins to look a little lifeless.

Wooden floors contribute to a healthy living environment for all of the family, including pets. It is important to keep pet claws trimmed to reduce any abrasion that these can cause. Maintenance products can be applied to all of our floors to reduce the appearance of minor scratches over time.

This depends largely on the product you have selected. Products with a thicker wear layer may be sanded and refinished, however, very few engineered timber floors are ever resanded due to modern durability. Resanding will also likely remove any finish, texturing and coloring your flooring had which means you will need to refinish the flooring on site and it may be difficult to return it to the original look after sanding.

Contact us if you have questions about sanding and refinishing an existing floor and we will be happy to help discover your options with you.

Dents and scratches may occur over time these can be fixed with the application of maintenance products or easy-to-use repair. 

There are also preventative measures you can take such as rugs or felt pads under furniture and mats at entranceways.

We recommend keeping some additional leftover planks in the event your flooring receives damage that is not able to be spot repaired. The damaged planks may be able to be replaced by the leftover boards.

We offer repair services as well, feel free to give us an inquiry about your floors at home and we will send our crew for services. 

If you are unsure or have questions about damage received to your existing Timbervilla flooring, please get in touch.

We stock the majority of our products in our warehouse and, providing product is in stock, can ship to anywhere in Australia in 1-2 business days after payment has been received in full.

If a product is not in stock, lead times may vary from a few weeks to a few months depending on the project needs. If you would like a more information on lead-times for your project, please get in touch.

We also offer flexible payment terms in order to help you enjoy your new timber flooring sooner - learn more about our payment options here.

We deliver to all of Australia, New Zealand and Pacific regions. If you live outside these areas, you can find a Timbervilla International partners.