Buying guides
Engineered vs solid timber flooring: an honest comparison
Both are real timber. The difference is what's underneath, how they're installed, and how many times you can sand them back.
By the Austt Flooring team · · 2 min read
If you want a real timber floor, you'll end up choosing between engineered boards and solid tongue-and-groove hardwood. Both have a genuine timber surface you can see and feel. The differences are in construction, installation, and how the floor ages.
How they're made
Solid timber is exactly that: each board is a single piece of hardwood, typically 14 to 19 mm thick. It's usually laid raw, then sanded and coated on site.
Engineered timber has a real hardwood wear layer — commonly 2 to 6 mm — bonded to a cross-laid core of plywood or softwood. The cross-laid core is what makes it stable. Most engineered boards arrive pre-finished from the factory.
Stability in Sydney's climate
Timber moves with humidity. Sydney's humid summers and drier winters mean solid boards expand and contract noticeably, which is why they need correct acclimatisation, expansion gaps and experienced laying. Engineered boards move far less, which is why they're the common choice for slabs, apartments, underfloor heating and wide boards.
Installation: slab or joists
| Engineered | Solid | |
|---|---|---|
| Over a concrete slab | Direct-stick or floating — ideal | Needs battens or plywood, plus moisture control |
| Over timber joists | Possible on a sheet subfloor | Traditional, nailed to joists |
| Finish | Usually factory pre-finished | Sanded and coated on site |
| Time on site | Shorter | Longer, including curing time |
| Board widths | Wide boards common (180 mm+) | Usually 80–180 mm |
Refinishing over the years
Solid timber can be sanded many times over its life, which is why a 60-year-old hardwood floor can still look new after sanding and polishing. Engineered boards can be resanded only as many times as the wear layer allows — often once or twice for a 3–4 mm layer. For most families that's plenty, but if you plan to stay forever and want the option to change colour every decade, solid has the edge.
Which should you choose?
- New build or renovation on slab, or an apartment: engineered timber.
- Period home on joists, or you want to choose the stain on site: solid timber.
- You want wide, long boards for a modern look: engineered.
- You want the floor to outlast several refurbishments: solid.
Not sure which timber species to pick? Read our guide to the best timber species for Sydney floors.
Frequently asked questions
Is engineered timber real wood?
Yes. The surface you walk on is a genuine hardwood layer. Only the core underneath is a different construction.
Which is more expensive?
It depends on species and grade, but solid timber installed, sanded and coated on site usually costs more than a pre-finished engineered floor of similar appearance.
