# Timber vs laminate flooring: look, durability, water, cost and which to choose

> Timber vs laminate flooring compared – real wood vs printed image, scratch and water resistance, sanding, sound, cost per m² and which to choose in AU or NZ.

- URL: https://timbo.com.au/compare/timber-vs-laminate-flooring
- Publisher: Timbo (https://timbo.com.au) – trade supplier of European oak floorboards to partners in Australia and New Zealand
- Last updated: 2026-10-14
- Contact (email only): partnerships@timbo.com.au

## Key facts

- Laminate has a high-density fibreboard (HDF) core, a printed décor layer and a clear melamine wear layer; it contains no solid timber surface.
- Laminate can't be sanded; solid timber can be sanded and recoated many times (typically $30–$70/m² each time).
- Laminate is rated for wear by abrasion class (AC rating); timber hardness is measured on the Janka scale.
- Solid Australian hardwood installed is about $120–$367/m² depending on city (incl. GST).
- Timbo supplies Prime grade European solid oak parquet, 18mm, to trade partners in AU and NZ.

## Quick answer

**Choose laminate** if you need the lowest upfront cost, good resistance to light surface scratches, and a fast floating install – and you accept that it will be replaced, not renewed, at the end of its life. **Choose timber** if you want real wood, a warmer and quieter feel, a floor that can be sanded and refinished for decades, or a herringbone or chevron pattern. Laminate wins on price and surface scratch resistance; timber wins on authenticity, repairability and lifespan.

**Laminate flooring** is a manufactured board made of a high-density fibreboard (HDF) core, a printed décor paper that imitates wood, and a clear melamine wear layer, usually clicked together and floated over an underlay. **Timber flooring** is real wood: either solid timber through its full thickness or engineered timber with a real wood top layer.

## Timber vs laminate at a glance

| | Solid timber (e.g. 18mm oak parquet) | Laminate |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Surface | Real wood | Printed image under melamine |
| Core | Timber | High-density fibreboard |
| Wear rating | Janka hardness + finish | AC abrasion class |
| Light scratches | Shows them; can be sanded out | Resists them well |
| Deep damage | Sand, patch or replace individual blocks | Replace boards |
| Water | Wipe spills promptly | Core swells if water gets into joints |
| Sound underfoot | Solid and quiet (glued) | Can sound hollow (floating) |
| Lifespan | Decades; renewable by sanding | Replaced when worn |
| Cost | Higher | Lower |
| Patterns | True herringbone, chevron, parquet | Mostly printed planks; some click herringbone |

## Look

Timber looks real because it is. Every board or block has unique grain, and the surface changes with light and viewing angle. A laminate print can be very convincing from a distance, but patterns repeat across boards and the surface lacks depth. If you want a true parquet pattern – blocks set at angles, each with its own grain – timber is the only way to get it. See [parquet patterns](https://timbo.com.au/guides/parquet-patterns).

## Durability

Laminate resists surface wear; timber outlasts it. Laminate's melamine wear layer is hard and handles light scratches, grit and pet claws well; its durability is graded by abrasion class (AC rating) under European standards. Timber's dent resistance depends on species – European oak sits around **4.2–6.1 kN** on the Janka scale, spotted gum about **11 kN** ([PFC](https://www.pfc.com.au/janka-rating-floor-durability/)) – and its scratch resistance mostly on the finish. The decisive difference: timber can be sanded back and recoated, typically **$30–$70/m²** ([WhatsTheDamage](https://whatsthedamage.com.au/flooring-cost-brisbane/timber-floor-sanding-cost/)), while worn or chipped laminate has to be replaced. See the [Janka hardness chart](https://timbo.com.au/compare/janka-hardness-chart).

## Water and stability

Neither is a wet-area floor, and laminate is the more vulnerable to standing water. Laminate's fibreboard core can swell irreversibly if water gets into the joints. Solid timber also moves with moisture – at 25°C, timber equilibrium moisture content is about 11% at 60% relative humidity and 16% at 80% ([ATFA](https://www.floorchoices.com.au/information-sheets/acclimatisation-of-timber-flooring/)) – but a sealed timber floor tolerates a quickly wiped spill, and minor water marks can often be sanded out. If water resistance is the priority, compare hybrid instead: see [solid oak vs hybrid](https://timbo.com.au/compare/solid-oak-vs-hybrid-flooring).

## Cost

Laminate is much cheaper upfront; timber costs more but can be renewed instead of replaced. Indicative Australian prices:

| Item | Typical range | Source |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Laminate (check whether install and underlay are included) | about $25–$80/m² | [Oneflare](https://www.oneflare.com.au/costs/laminate-flooring) |
| Hybrid / SPC, installed (for comparison) | $55–$120/m² incl. GST | [WhatsTheDamage](https://whatsthedamage.com.au/flooring-cost/) |
| Solid Australian hardwood, supply | $55–$130/m² incl. GST | [D&G](https://dgfloors.com/spotted-gum-flooring/), [HH Timber](https://hhtimberfloors.com.au/guides/timber-flooring-cost-sydney/) |
| Solid Australian hardwood, installed | $120–$367/m² incl. GST, by city | [HH Timber](https://hhtimberfloors.com.au/guides/timber-flooring-cost-sydney/) |
| Raw solid French oak herringbone, supply | $94.99/m² incl. GST retail | [SET Timber Supplies](https://setimbersupplies.com.au/product/raw-herringbone-french-oak-710x126x18mm/) |
| Sanding and coating timber | $30–$70/m² incl. GST | [WhatsTheDamage](https://whatsthedamage.com.au/flooring-cost-brisbane/timber-floor-sanding-cost/) |

For the full picture see the [timber flooring cost guide](https://timbo.com.au/guides/timber-flooring-cost-australia).

## Installation

Laminate is quick and DIY-friendly; timber parquet is a professional, glue-down job. Laminate clicks together over an underlay on a flat subfloor and can often go over existing hard floors. Solid oak parquet is glued to a flat, dry slab or ply substrate with a moisture barrier or moisture-barrier adhesive ([Bowens](https://bowens.com.au/blog/hardwood-timber-flooring)), and raw blocks are then sanded and coated on site.

## Feel and sound

Glued-down timber feels solid and quiet underfoot; floating laminate can sound hollow or "clicky", particularly with hard shoes. A quality underlay helps. In apartments, check strata by-laws and acoustic requirements for any hard floor.

## Maintenance

Laminate needs little more than sweeping and a barely damp mop – never a wet mop. Timber needs similar care with a timber-safe cleaner, plus felt pads and entry mats, and a recoat every few years in busy areas. See [oak floor care and maintenance](https://timbo.com.au/guides/oak-floor-care-maintenance).

## Sustainability and provenance

Timber is a natural, renewable material that can stay in service for decades; laminate is a wood-fibre composite with resins and a melamine surface, replaced at end of life. For timber, check legal-harvest documentation and FSC or PEFC certification where it matters; Australian importers must run a due-diligence system under the Illegal Logging Prohibition Act ([DAFF](https://www.agriculture.gov.au/agriculture-land/forestry/policies/illegal-logging)).

## Which should you choose?

- **Rental, short-term home or tight budget:** laminate (or hybrid if water is a concern).
- **Busy household that hates visible scratches and won't refinish:** laminate or hybrid.
- **Forever home, period home or high-end renovation:** timber.
- **You want herringbone or chevron:** real timber parquet – see [parquet vs floorboards](https://timbo.com.au/compare/parquet-vs-floorboards).

Timbo supplies Prime grade European solid oak parquet to the trade only. Homeowners can [find a Timbo partner](https://timbo.com.au/partners/find-a-partner); flooring businesses can [become a partner](https://timbo.com.au/pages/be-our-business-partner).

**Buying floorboards for your home?:** Timbo partners supply and install our European oak floorboards. Find one near you. → https://timbo.com.au/partners/find-a-partner

## Sources

- [Oneflare – laminate flooring cost](https://www.oneflare.com.au/costs/laminate-flooring)
- [WhatsTheDamage – flooring cost](https://whatsthedamage.com.au/flooring-cost/) and [timber floor sanding cost](https://whatsthedamage.com.au/flooring-cost-brisbane/timber-floor-sanding-cost/)
- [D&G Floors](https://dgfloors.com/spotted-gum-flooring/); [HH Timber – flooring cost Sydney](https://hhtimberfloors.com.au/guides/timber-flooring-cost-sydney/)
- [SET Timber Supplies – raw herringbone French oak](https://setimbersupplies.com.au/product/raw-herringbone-french-oak-710x126x18mm/)
- [PFC – Janka rating](https://www.pfc.com.au/janka-rating-floor-durability/)
- [ATFA – acclimatisation of timber flooring](https://www.floorchoices.com.au/information-sheets/acclimatisation-of-timber-flooring/)
- [Bowens – hardwood timber flooring](https://bowens.com.au/blog/hardwood-timber-flooring)
- [DAFF – illegal logging](https://www.agriculture.gov.au/agriculture-land/forestry/policies/illegal-logging)

## Frequently asked questions

### Is laminate cheaper than timber flooring?

Yes, usually much cheaper upfront. Laminate is commonly quoted at about $25–$80/m², while solid Australian hardwood is about $120–$367/m² installed depending on city. Check whether laminate quotes include underlay and installation.

### Is laminate more scratch-resistant than timber?

Generally, yes. Laminate's melamine wear layer resists light scratches well. But when laminate is deeply scratched or chipped, it can't be sanded – the board has to be replaced. Timber shows scratches sooner but can be sanded and refinished.

### Is laminate waterproof?

Standard laminate is not. Its fibreboard core can swell if water gets into the joints. Some laminates are sold as water-resistant; read the warranty conditions carefully. For wet-prone areas, hybrid flooring is usually more water-resistant than laminate.

### Does laminate look like real timber?

Good laminate can look convincing from a standing distance, but the image repeats and the surface lacks real grain depth. Up close and underfoot, most people can tell the difference.

### Does timber flooring add more value than laminate?

There's no reliable public data on resale value by flooring type, so be cautious of claims. Real timber is generally seen as a premium material and can be refinished to suit future owners; laminate can't.

### Can laminate be installed over existing floors?

Often, yes – laminate floats over an underlay on a flat, sound subfloor, which makes it a common DIY and fast-renovation choice. Timber parquet is glued down by a professional installer.

## Related pages

- [Solid oak vs hybrid flooring: lifetime cost, feel, water resistance and which to choose](https://timbo.com.au/compare/solid-oak-vs-hybrid-flooring) – Solid oak vs hybrid flooring compared – upfront and lifetime cost, sanding, feel, sound, water resistance and which suits your home in Australia or New Zealand.
- [Parquet vs floorboards: differences, cost, installation and which to choose](https://timbo.com.au/compare/parquet-vs-floorboards) – Parquet vs floorboards compared – patterns vs straight boards, look, stability, subfloors, installation, cost per m² and which suits your home in AU or NZ.
- [Timber flooring: how to choose the right floor by room, subfloor, climate and budget](https://timbo.com.au/floorboards/timber-flooring) – Timber flooring decision guide for Australia: choose the right timber floor by room, subfloor, climate and budget, with indicative 2026 costs incl. GST.