Choosing the Right Timber Species for Your Flooring

Discover Quality Timber Floor Solutions

The timber species you choose has a significant impact on your timber flooring’s appearance, feel, and lifespan. Each species offers unique characteristics, from grain patterns to janka ratings, making some better suited to high-traffic areas or specific design aesthetics.

In this blog we discuss popular timber flooring species, and considerations when choosing a timber flooring product for your next project.

Popular Timber Flooring Choices:

• Tasmanian Oak is known for its durability and light brown colour, suitable for contemporary homes
• American Oak is a popular choice due to its clean, attractive grain and hard, durable finish
• Spotted Gum is known for its rich hues and high durability, perfect for heavy foot traffic
• Blackbutt is a light-toned timber offering a versatile finish for modern homes
• Merbau is popular for its rich, red tones which deepen with age, ideal for a traditional home.

Visual Considerations

Timber species can vary greatly in grain, colour, and texture, providing customers with more options when it comes to the interior style for new builds or matching the existing home in renovations.

• Rustic Styles: Select species with pronounced grain, like Spotted Gum
• Modern Spaces: Light-coloured timbers like Tasmanian Oak create an airy, clean look
• Traditional Homes: Rich tones like Jarrah or Merbau complement classic interiors

Of course, timber finishes can change the look and feel of the flooring. Whether a polish, stain, oil, or tint is used, these all effect the finished product.

Timber Durability and Hardness

Durability is key, especially for timber flooring in high-traffic areas. The Janka hardness rating measures a timber’s resistance to wear and denting. The higher the Janka rating, the more robust the flooring will be. Just keep in mind, the hard and dense timbers will often be difficult to work with and may require predrilling.

Hardwearing options include Spotted Gum and Blackbutt, ideal for busy households or commercial settings. Softer timbers such as Pine are budget-friendly but less resistant to dents and scratches, making them better for low-traffic areas.

Cost and Availability of Timber Flooring

Timber flooring costs vary by species and by visual grades. Generally, imported timbers are more expensive than local species such as Blackbutt. Local species are often more readily available too, making them a great choice. Balancing budget with visual appeal and durability can be tricky, however, remember the more durable a timber species is, the longer its lifespan.

Maintenance Requirements

To a certain extent, timber species influence how much care your flooring will require. Some dense hardwoods like Brush Box are more resistant to scratches so will not need to be resurfaced as often as softer timbers. Species such as Merbau perform better in humid environments causing less movement and less prone to warping.

As a general rule to maintain your timber flooring you should;

• Sweep regularly to remove any dirt and debris that may contribute to scratches
• Wipe spills immediately
• Mop no more than weekly, with a damp mop.

Avoid wearing high heels indoors, dragging furniture, or over wetting the floors. Ensure you trim pets’ nails and use only a mild cleaning product when mopping. These practices will prolong the life of your timber flooring.

Making the Right Choice for Your Flooring Project

Bowens provides a wide range of solid timber flooring suitable for residential and commercial properties. Browse our timber flooring products online or drop into our Circa Showroom in Port Melbourne for more information, flooring samples and expert advice.

Want to know more about timber flooring? Read our blog, “Timber Flooring Acclimatisation: How Important is it?” prior to installing your timber floors.