Engineered Timber Flooring: Perth Homeowner’s Guide to Beauty, Stability & Incredible Investment Value
When it comes to your dream home…
Many homeowners and builders agree that choosing timber flooring is always one of the most important … and most difficult decisions you’ll ever make. Your floor plays a crucial role in defining the character of your house. It sets the vibe and takes the full impact of family living.
In this article, you’ll discover the benefits, beauty, and one-of-one uniqueness timber floors add to your dream home — and why Perth’s leading custom home builders are choosing the next evolution of engineered timber flooring for their upcoming projects.
What Is Engineered Timber Flooring?
Under the rich, natural colours and one-of-a-kind grain patterns that look and feel just like solid hardwood, you’ll find a multi-layered structure engineered to stay flat. Even with kids racing down the hallway, dogs skidding across your boards, and Perth’s hot summers. Engineered timber typically holds its form for 25 years.
How it’s made
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Top Layer: A thin board of natural timber glued to the top of the foundation and finished in satin or semi-gloss for a soft glow throughout your home.
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Foundation: Multiple layers, generally made of plywood, pressed in cross directions under the top layer to stay resistant to warping.
Benefits
- Signature Design: Your home becomes as unique as your fingerprints because each board holds its very own pattern and feature.
- Smooth Surface: Your floors are pre-finished in a smooth coating to let you glide over the surface without hitting any sharp nicks or bumps.
- Life-Proof Durability: The coating on your boards thin top layer prevents deep scratches so marks can be wiped straight off.
- Sustainable by Design: Have peace of mind knowing your floors timber is sustainably farmed.
Considerations
- Refinishing: The number of times you can sand and polish your floors to bring them back to new depends on the thickness of the wear layer. At Lifewood, we recommend a 3–4mm veneer so your floor has the flexibility to stay elegant for life.
- Cost: Engineered boards make smart use of every tree to lower waste and make them a more cost-effective way to enjoy the beauty of natural timber.
- Moisture Resistance: While no timber floor is completely waterproof, engineered timber is naturally more resistant to moisture than solid hardwood.
Stabilised Solid: The Next Evolution Of Engineered Timber
Exclusive to Lifewood and designed right here in Perth, Stabilised Solid® is the only timber flooring in the world that combines the authenticity of solid timber with the certainty of lifetime stability.
For almost 50 years, engineered timber flooring has been the go-to choice for homeowners, but in the last two decades, Stabilised Solid® has emerged as the next evolution because of its unbeatable strength, and design that utilizes the whole tree.
Since 2002, Lifewood has installed more than 10,000 Stabilised Solid® floors across Perth from Two Rocks to The Vines, from Dalkeith to Roleystone, all the way down to Mandurah. And with demand increasing, more than 30,000 homes are expected to own Stabilised Solid® by 2030.
Where traditional engineered floors rely on plywood or fibreboard foundations, Stabilised Solid® is crafted entirely from the same tree, top to bottom so nothing goes to waste.
How it’s made
- Top Layer: The best cut of the tree hand-selected to live on display in your home.
- Core Layer: Short pieces of timber layered in the opposite direction of the board to resist movement and keep your floor flat for life.
- Bottom Layer: A thick plank with too many knots or rough marks for the top layer, repurposed as the bottom layer to prevent your floor from shifting.
Benefits
- Authentic Timber: Every Stabilised Solid® board carries the raw, authentic character of the tree it came from and your floor becomes one of the last truly natural anchors in your home.
- Solid Strength: Stabilised Solid’s cross-laminated timber core locks your boards in place to resist swelling, shrinking, and twisting for a lifetime in your home.
- Thick Wear Layer: The 4-5mm thick veneer on Stabilised Solid boards can be resanded and polished up to four times to give your home a brand-new feel without ever needing to replace your floor.
- Zero Waste: Every part of the tree is utilized in the design and strength of your floorboards to eliminate unnecessary wastage of our planet’s natural resources.
Considerations
- Refinishing: Stabilised Solid floorboards can be sanded and polished up to four times so you can bring it back to brand new again and again for generations.
- Costs: Stabilised Solid® costs more than solid and engineered timber because it’s built to outlast them all. It’s a floor you’ll never have to replace.
- Moisture Resistance: Every Stabilised Solid® board is coated with a moisture barrier on the base and along the tongue and groove joints, giving extra protection against everyday splashes and spills. It’s still timber and it will absorb moisture if left wet too long.
- Care and Maintenance: For best care, recommend cleaning your timber floors with a slightly damp mop no more than twice per week.
|
Feature |
Solid Timber |
Engineered Timber |
Stabilised Solid® |
|
What it is |
Single cut of wood |
Timber wear layer + plywood core |
Three layers same species (5/5/5) |
|
Stability in Perth |
Prone to movement |
Stable |
Lifetime flatness |
|
Refinishing |
2-4 (typical) |
2–3 (typical) |
Up to 4 |
|
Uniqueness |
High |
High |
Highest (all-timber) |
|
Cost |
$$–$$$$ |
$$ |
$$$$ (investment) |
Timber Never Replicates
There is an estimate of over three trillion trees that cover this planet right now, and not one shares the exact same grain patterns and imperfections as another.
Most cabinetry, wall colours, furniture, appliances, decor, and functions are manufactured exactly the same, and would live in a dozen other homes just in your area.
When you buy engineered timber flooring, you mark your home with a signature feature no other house in the world will ever be able to replicate.
The dramatic contrasts of Australian gum veins and pinholes, the subtle knots of calm and classic European Oak, and the rich, luxurious texture of American Walnut give you a choice of timbers that make your dream home truly one-of-one.
You Can Bank On It
Beyond the sturdiness and unique design of engineered timber flooring, your home becomes a solid financial asset when installed.
Independent studies show homes with timber flooring can sell for up to 10–15% more than comparable homes with carpet or tile. And the effect only multiplies the more space you cover, because future buyers are willing to pay more for a consistent, premium feel.
Unlike carpet that wears out or tiles that fall out of fashion, timber has been the gold standard of prestige living for over 400 years. From Versailles palaces to modern dream homes, it continues to signal timeless luxury that buyers admire and compete for without hesitation.
Cover more of your home in timber and you’re compounding tomorrow’s value.
Before You Buy Engineered Timber Flooring
Timber flooring is one of the most rewarding investments you can make in your dream home and like any premium finish, there are a few things to consider before you buy:
- Subfloor Prep Matters: Timber floors need a flat, dry surface. If your concrete slab holds more than 5% moisture or is uneven by more than 3mm over 3m, floor prep is required before installation.
- Not Waterproof: Stabilised Solid® boards are coated with a moisture barrier on the base and along the tongue and groove, but all timber will absorb water if it’s left sitting too long. Spills are fine if cleaned quickly, but bathrooms and laundries aren’t recommended to have timber floors.
- Refinishing Potential: The lifespan of your floor depends on the wear layer. A 3-4mm veneer can be refinished 2-3 times and Stabilised Solid’s 5mm layer gives you up to 4 full resand and polishes.
- Upfront Cost vs Long-Term Value: Engineered timber is more expensive than laminate or hybrid flooring. Stabilised Solid® costs more again, but it’s built to last a lifetime and adds 10–15% resale value to your home.
- Natural Variation: Every board carries its own unique pattern, tone, and grain. This character is what makes timber so special so it won’t look as uniform as laminate prints.
- Care and Maintenance: A quick vacuum or sweep most days and a damp mop once a week with a citrus spray cleaner is all your timber floor will need. Daily wet mopping is not recommended.
- Sustainability: Engineered boards already make smart use of timber. Stabilised Solid® goes further by repurposing every part of the tree, so you enjoy the beauty of solid timber with zero waste.
FAQs
1. How much does engineered timber flooring cost per m² in Perth?
Prices in Perth generally start from $150–$200 per m² for supply only, with professional installation adding another $50–$100 per m² depending on floor prep, adhesives, and finish. At Lifewood, we provide a detailed quote and downloadable price guide so you know exactly what’s included before you buy.
2. Is engineered timber as good as solid timber?
Yes! In many ways, it’s better. Engineered timber uses a natural timber top layer, so you still get the same authentic look and feel as solid timber. But thanks to its cross-layered core, it’s far more stable in Perth’s climate and less likely to warp or cup.
3. Will engineered timber floors last in Perth’s climate?
Yes. Engineered timber floors are crafted to withstand hot, dry summers and cool winters. Its cross-laminated foundation resists expansion and contraction to keep your floor flat and level for decades … something that solid timber struggles with in Perth’s climate.
4. Can engineered timber handle kids, pets, and daily living?
Yes. Modern engineered boards can handle an active family life. Their coated surfaces resist scratches from kids and pets, while the genuine timber wear layer lets you sand and refinish your floor to keep it looking new even after decades of life.
5. Can engineered timber floors be sanded and refinished? How many times?
That depends on the thickness of the top veneer layer. Standard engineered boards have a 3-4mm wear layer and can be sanded and repolished 2 or 3 times before reaching the core. Your floor gets a fresh start every couple of decades if needed.
6. What’s the difference between engineered timber, hybrid flooring, and laminate?
Stabilised Solid®: Three layers of natural timber with a cross-laminated core.
Engineered timber: Natural timber on top with a stable plywood core.
Hybrid flooring: Vinyl-rigid core with a printed timber look.
Laminate: MDF board with a printed image of timber.
7. Is engineered timber flooring waterproof?
Timber is not a waterproof product. Stabilised Solid® and engineered timber is more resistant to moisture than solid wood, but spills should be wiped up immediately. Kitchens and living areas are fine to have timber flooring, but bathrooms and laundries are not recommended.
8. Does it add value to my home?
Yes. Timber flooring has been the gold standard of home design for centuries. Homes with timber floors consistently sell for more, as buyers see them as a premium, long-lasting feature. It’s one of the few finishes that both improves your lifestyle and increases resale value.
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Author Profile
Matthew Barker, Lifewood’s Master Copywriter, crafts the voice behind the world’s most revolutionary timber floor — Stabilised Solid. His intense curiosity guides readers through a clear, purposeful journey with stories that fuel their minds. Matthew studies human nature with a scientific eye to understand exactly what drives people to decide, and has developed a commitment to showing them the best of the world.
Beauty meets longevity
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