Why Choose Engineered Timber and Oak Flooring for a Durable, Beautiful Home
Nothing beats the look and feel of authentic timber when you want to give your home a premium and inviting feel.
But unfortunately, solid timber is often way too high-maintenance for busy families. We know this first-hand because we’ve helped hundreds of homes refresh and upgrade their flooring in the Albury-Wodonga region.
That’s why most homeowners are turning to the perfect alternative: engineered timber and oak flooring.
It’s real timber on the surface, with a smartly layered core that makes it perfect for everyday living. The best modern flooring solution that combines luxury and stress-free durability.
Why Engineered Timber and Oak Flooring are So Unique
If you want the rich, natural aesthetics of hardwood, you actually have quite a few flooring options beyond carpets.
First, of course, is solid timber—the original flooring that started it all.
But since that option tends to be high-maintenance and, frankly speaking, expensive, most homeowners look for smarter alternatives.
One category includes faux alternatives, such as vinyl planks, laminated flooring, and hybrid planks.
These look like they have a wooden surface, but actually use printed patterns or textured finishes to mimic real timber.
But then, there’s the other, more premium category—real wood, but engineered for modern living: engineered timber and oak flooring.
It actually uses a real hardwood veneer on its surface, letting you choose the specific timber species, whether that be oak or Australian natives like spotted gum. And just like solid timber, you can sand and refinish its surface over time to “renew” its natural beauty.
At its core, engineered timber and oak flooring still use genuine wood, but incorporate it in a multi-layered structure to promote stability and durability.
The core typically includes plywood, high-density fibreboard (HDF), or similar wood-based materials. However, other versions may also incorporate non-wood composites like PVC or stone polymer (SPC) for added strength and moisture resistance.
What Makes Engineered Timber and Oak Flooring So Popular?
Engineered timber and oak flooring typically have a higher price point. But here are the top reasons why so many homeowners across Australia nod in agreement and say: this floor is definitely worth the price.
Aesthetics
We’re not gonna lie—modern flooring alternatives like hybrid and vinyl, especially when purchased from reputable brands, can look incredibly convincing with their hyper-realistic prints and textured finishes.
However, even the best technology can’t truly replicate the feel, warmth, and natural variation of real wood veneer, which you’ll only find in solid timber planks or engineered timber and oak flooring.
That’s why most of our clients who prioritise a premium look, long-term value, and timeless style tend to lean toward engineered timber flooring.
You get to choose the specific wood species, colour tone, and surface finish, so unless you’re a flooring expert, it’s almost impossible to tell it apart from solid timber.
Durability
Engineered timber flooring is an exceptionally durable home investment. Especially compared to solid timber.
See, pure oak and timber planks are naturally more prone to movement from changes in moisture, heat or humidity.
In contrast, engineered timber and oak flooring have multiple engineered layers that prevent them from cupping, cracking or warping, even in Australia’s changing climate.
On top of being resilient to temperature and moisture changes, engineered timber and oak flooring also age gracefully, unlike cheaper alternatives like vinyl or hybrid flooring, which have printed grains, for example.
You can refinish engineered timber after several years to give it a brand-new look all over again.
Sustainability
Engineered timber flooring uses a thin layer of real, premium hardwood as its veneer. But certain brands, like the ones we source from, incorporate responsibly sourced wood or renewable wood for the rest of the core.
Essentially, every engineered plank produced uses 50% to 70% less hardwood than solid timber, making them a much more sustainable option.
How to Customise Engineered Timber and Oak Flooring for Your Space
We love helping our customers every step of their flooring journey. But our favourite part is undoubtedly the customisation process we go through once you finally decide to go with Engineered Timber and Oak Flooring.
Here are the features you can customise:
Timber Species
The process typically starts with you choosing the type of timber species you prefer your planks to have.
In our experience, this process is best done in an actual showroom instead of on a screen. After all, it’s way easier to compare and contrast samples and examine subtle details like texture or colour variations that way.
Each specific species has slightly unique patterns and grains, and they’ll vary in darkness or tone.
Surface Finish
This is where you decide whether to go with matte, gloss or satin finish. And you can even choose a brushed or textured surface to add character.
We recommend taking home samples of boards with different finishes so you can decide which finish to go with after taking your home’s lighting and overall furniture vibe into consideration.
Believe me, what’s around the floor has a huge impact on how the floor itself looks.
Plank Size and Placement Style
Next, you’ll select the plank size and placement style of your flooring. Most homeowners choose traditional, standard-size planks, but you can switch it up by choosing wider or longer planks to make your space look bigger or more open.
The placement style, or the pattern your floor is laid in, is also something that can affect how your home feels. Of course, most people opt for the classic straight lay, but there are also modern patterns like herringbone or chevron that add visual interest and sophistication.
Maintenance Tips for Engineered Timber and Oak Flooring
To ensure your engineered timber and oak flooring stays in its best condition for decades, here are some tips to maintain your floor.
Wipe spills immediately: Engineered timber and liquids aren’t the best of friends. So make sure to clean up any spills straight away before they soak in.
Clean regularly: This will help keep the surface scratch-free and looking fresh. When using a vacuum, check if there’s a hardwood setting, which will ensure that you’ll avoid scratching the surface.
Don’t use a wet or soaking mop: If you must mop, use a well-wrung, damp mop or cloth, as excess water can seep into the layers and cause damage.
Use hardwood-friendly cleaning detergents: Avoid random or harsh detergents or bleaches. It should be a hardwood-specific cleaning agent available at most grocery stores.
FAQs About Engineered Timber and Oak Flooring
1.How many times can engineered flooring be sanded & refinished?
It really depends on various factors such as the brand or quality of the flooring. But often, engineered flooring can be resanded 1 to 3 times over its lifetime. More than that, and you could risk sanding through the veneer. It’s best to ask your flooring agent for advice.
2. Will the engineered plank’s colour change over time?
Yes, engineered planks’ colour and shade can very subtly change over time. But this is simply a natural occurrence that happens with real wood, so even solid timber is prone to this. However, this change isn’t exactly viewed as a downside, but more as wood ageing with grace.
3. How do I know which timber species is best for me?
There’s no definite answer, as it really depends on your preference. If you’re worried about factors apart from aesthetics, like durability or maintenance, we recommend talking to a flooring expert about it.
4. Where can I find an engineered timber or oak flooring retailer?
As with finding any product, you can either do a search for one online or simply look within your area. If you’re in Albury Wodonga or nearby regions, though, we suggest you visit our showroom. Middleton’s Carpets has served the local community for over 40 years, and every single one of our team members is an expert in flooring through and through.
Enjoy the Luxury of Real Timber Without Its Downsides
Here at Middleton’s Carpets, we believe that the perfect flooring shouldn’t need you to adjust your lifestyle.
So, if you’re ready for the luxury of real timber without its downsides, give us a call or visit our showroom.
We’ll be more than happy to present our wide range of engineered timber and oak flooring that features both local and international brands. Regardless of your current interior and preferred aesthetics, you’ll be sure to find the perfect floor that suits your lifestyle.