Wood flooring is a sought-after solution for many residential homes as well as multi-use buildings such as schools, hospitality settings and commercial interiors. Not only is timber flooring admired for its natural beauty, but it can also be updated regularly to keep it contemporary in terms of colour and finish.

Solid timber flooring

Solid timber is often more expensive than other flooring options, but it is distinctive visually and in texture and feel underfoot. One of the best things about solid timber flooring is that it can continually be updated and changed with a simple sand and restain or oil, keeping it contemporary without replacing the flooring over the decades.

There is a huge range of local and imported timber used for flooring including European oak, beech, pine, walnut, and rosewood, with natives such as kauri and rimu hard to come by. 

What is engineered timber flooring?

Engineered timber planks are made of solid timber but are manufactured by gluing different layers of wood together to create a stronger more durable flooring plank. Engineered timber is around the same cost as solid timber, and it looks and feels like solid timber flooring. Like solid timber, it is more susceptible to scratches and dents than other flooring, but it can also be sanded and restained or oiled numerous times. 

Engineered timber flooring is generally offered in both pre-finished and unfinished options, with the former ready to use as soon as it is laid and the later requiring an oil, stain or paint once installed. 

Both solid timber flooring and engineered timber flooring offer a traditional aesthetic, favoured for its timeless appeal and softness underfoot, as well as its ability to bring the beauty of the natural world indoors, highlighting the unique grains and textures of different timbers.

View more about Solid timber vs engineered

What are the benefits of bamboo flooring?

Bamboo is generally considered to be one of the most sustainable materials, due to its fast-growing nature and lack of water required for the plants to flourish. It’s also a very hardy material for flooring - also commonly used for decking - and is easy to maintain and has high levels of water resistance - on par with a range of hardwoods.

Parquet flooring

Parquet has come in and out of popularity over the years, with contemporary offerings influenced by classic fashions and more modernist forms. Modern parquet flooring can create stunning visual appeal in a space with a range of geometric wood pieces used to create alluring patterns covering everything from herringbone to more contemporary takes on traditional designs. Engineered parquet flooring has the same benefits as engineered timber flooring planks in terms of stability and durability. 

Cork flooring in New Zealand

Cork flooring is a widely used material around the globe, although is still in its infancy in New Zealand in terms of its ultimate potential. As a flooring material, compressed cork can be incredibly effective in terms of insulation and acoustic values, as well as providing a cost efficient, lightweight, durable option, and is available in a range of wood-like profiles to mimic solid timber, as well as in parquet styles. Cork is also used as a thermal and acoustic flooring underlay. 

As a sustainable flooring choice, cork is among the best performers.

View more options: carpets, concrete floors, laminate flooring, vinyl flooring, flooring