Timber flooring installation in Melbourne
Pacific Edge Homes installs solid and engineered timber floors in Melbourne homes, as a flooring job on its own or as part of a wider renovation. We check the subfloor, help you choose boards that suit the room, and manage the job through to the last skirting board.
A timber floor is only as good as what sits under it
Timber is a natural material. It takes on and gives off moisture with the seasons, so boards expand and shrink a little through the year. A floor that is laid over a damp slab, an uneven base or without room to move can cup, gap or squeak.
That is why our timber flooring work starts below the boards. We look at the slab or joists, the levels and the moisture before recommending a product or an installation method. Then we coordinate the delivery, preparation, laying and finishing details, so you have one point of contact for the whole floor.
You don’t need to be renovating to book us. A timber flooring job can be exactly that: new boards through the living areas, hallway or bedrooms, with nothing else changing. If you are also renovating the kitchen, we can plan the floor and the new room together so heights, thresholds and finishes line up.
Solid timber or engineered timber?
Both are real timber. The difference is in how the board is made, and that affects how it can be installed, how thick it is and how many times it can be sanded in future.
Solid timber
Each board is one piece of timber, usually tongue and groove. Solid boards are commonly nailed to joists or battens, or glued directly to a prepared slab. Because the whole board is timber, it can be sanded and recoated several times over its life.
Engineered timber
A real timber top layer bonded to a stable core. Engineered boards move less than solid timber, come pre-finished, and are often floated over an underlay or glued down. They suit apartments and slabs where a thinner, more stable floor makes sense.
Comparing with hybrid or laminate
Hybrid and laminate floors can look like timber but are not made from it. If you are weighing these up against real timber, we can explain the practical differences in feel, repairability and water tolerance before you decide.
Timber flooring jobs we take on
- New timber floors for living, dining and hallway areas
- Replacing tired carpet with timber boards
- Continuing one floor through an open-plan kitchen and living area
- Timber floors for upstairs bedrooms and landings
- Subfloor checks and levelling before new boards go down
- Skirting boards, scotia and threshold trims
- Transitions to tiled bathrooms, laundries and entries
- Removal of existing floor coverings where required
Your written quote confirms the products, preparation and finishing details included for your home.
Three things we check first
Most timber floor problems trace back to one of these. Getting them right is the unglamorous part of the job, and the part that matters most.
Slab moisture and flatness
New and older concrete slabs can hold moisture. We test before laying and flag when a moisture barrier, levelling compound or grinding is needed, because boards glued or floated over a damp or uneven slab are likely to move.
Joists, battens and ventilation
On a suspended floor, the boards are only as steady as the frame under them. Loose or undersized joists cause bounce and squeaks, and a poorly ventilated subfloor can push moisture up into the timber.
Acclimatisation and expansion gaps
Boards are left in the home for the period the supplier recommends so they can adjust to its conditions. A small gap is left around the edges, hidden by skirting or scotia, so the floor can expand in humid weather without lifting.
Popular timbers in Melbourne homes
Species affects colour, grain and hardness. Harder timbers resist dents from furniture and heels better; softer timbers are lighter in tone and take stains well. Colour also shifts over time as timber is exposed to light.
- Spotted gum
- A hard Australian hardwood with a wide colour range, from pale browns to deep chocolate, and a lively grain.
- Blackbutt
- A hard, pale golden-brown hardwood with a fairly even look. It suits both modern and traditional homes.
- Victorian ash
- A lighter, softer Australian timber, often sold alongside Tasmanian oak. It has a straight grain and takes stain well.
- European oak
- Common as the top layer of engineered boards, often in wide planks with brushed or oiled finishes.
Our timber flooring process
Measure and assess
We measure the rooms and check the subfloor, levels and existing coverings.
Choose the floor
We talk through species, board width, finish and installation method, then quote.
Prepare the base
Old coverings come up and the slab or joists are repaired, levelled or sealed as needed.
Lay and detail
Boards are installed with expansion gaps, then skirting, scotia and thresholds are fitted.
Clean and hand over
We walk the floor with you and pass on the care guidance for your product.
Where timber works, and where it doesn’t
Timber is a good fit for living areas, hallways, bedrooms and most kitchens. In a kitchen it handles everyday use well if spills are wiped up promptly, and a mat at the sink helps.
Bathrooms and laundries are a different story. Water on the floor is routine in those rooms, so they are usually better finished in tiles over a waterproofing membrane. We can plan floor tiling for those rooms and a neat transition where the tiles meet the timber.
For bedrooms where you would rather have something softer underfoot, carpet can sit alongside timber in the rest of the house.
Timber flooring: questions we are often asked
Should I choose solid or engineered timber flooring?
It depends on the subfloor, the room and how long you plan to keep the floor. Solid timber can be sanded more times over its life. Engineered timber is more stable, thinner and often quicker to install, which makes it a common choice over concrete slabs and in apartments.
Can timber flooring be laid over a concrete slab?
Yes. Engineered boards are usually floated over an underlay or glued to the slab, and solid boards can be glued down or fixed to battens. The slab needs to be tested for moisture and checked for flatness first.
Why do timber boards need time to acclimatise?
Timber absorbs and releases moisture. Leaving the boards in the home for the period the supplier recommends lets them adjust to its conditions, which reduces gapping or cupping after installation.
Is timber flooring suitable for a kitchen?
Yes, timber is widely used in kitchens and open-plan living areas. Wipe up spills promptly and use a mat near the sink. For bathrooms and laundries, tiles are usually the better choice.
Can I book timber flooring without renovating anything else?
Yes. We install timber floors as a standalone job, whether that is one room or the whole house. If you are planning a kitchen or other renovation, we can also include the flooring in that project.
What do you need from me to quote a timber floor?
The rooms you want covered, rough sizes or a floor plan, photos of the current floor, and whether the house is on a slab or has a suspended timber floor. We confirm measurements and subfloor condition on site.
Related services
Kitchen renovations
Plan a new kitchen and the floor that runs through it as one project.
Explore kitchen renovationsFloor and wall tiling
Tiled floors for the rooms where timber is not the right fit.
Explore tilingCarpet installation
Soft flooring for bedrooms, stairs and quieter living spaces.
Explore carpet installationWe work across Melbourne and surrounding areas of Victoria. See the areas we service
Planning a larger renovation around the new floor? View all renovation services
Get a quote for your timber floor
Tell us which rooms you want to cover and what is on the floor now. We will come back to you to arrange a measure.
Prefer to talk? Call (03) 7065 0017 or email info@pacificedgehomes.com.au.