Should I choose solid or engineered timber flooring?

Both can give you a real timber surface. Solid boards are timber throughout; engineered boards have a timber surface bonded to a supporting layered base. After more than 20 years installing and repairing floors, my starting point is still the same: what suits this home, the people living in it and the floor underneath?

I first ask whether you are matching an older floor or choosing a completely new look. Species, grain, board width and finish all matter. An engineered board is not the same as laminate simply because both have layers. Equally, choosing solid timber does not remove the need to consider moisture, fixing and room conditions.

For a renovation, I also look at the available height, adjoining tiles, doors and proposed installation method. The layered construction of engineered flooring can improve dimensional stability, but it still needs a suitable base. I would check the actual product's instructions before deciding whether floating or adhesive fixing makes sense.

If future sanding is important, ask about usable timber thickness rather than overall board thickness alone. Some engineered surfaces can be refinished; very thin veneers may not allow it. A solid floor also has limits once it has been sanded previously or its joints are close to the surface.

Bring a sample into the room and look at it beside your walls and furniture in daylight and evening light. Send me the product details, a few room photos and your Melbourne suburb. We can compare the practical differences before you commit to materials.