# Timber flooring guides > Practical floorboard and oak parquet guides for Australia and NZ: buying, installation over slabs, moisture, finishing, compliance and costs per m². - URL: https://timbo.com.au/guides - 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 - Guides are grouped into buying, installation, finishing and care, compliance, and costs. - Figures for standards, moisture and prices are cited inline to their published sources. - Australian interiors typically sit at about 8–14% equilibrium moisture content, and timber should be installed within about ±2% of it. - Timbo is a Melbourne-based trade supplier of Prime grade European solid oak parquet; homeowners buy through a Timbo partner. ## Start here **New to timber flooring? Start with the [floorboards buying guide for Australia](https://timbo.com.au/guides/floorboards-buying-guide-australia), which covers construction types, species, grades, patterns, subfloors, finishes and costs in one place.** The guides below go deeper on each topic. Every guide follows the same approach: a direct answer first, then tables, steps and sources. Where a detail depends on a specific adhesive, finish, heating system or product, we say so – the manufacturer's instructions govern. Timbo is a **trade supplier** of Prime grade European solid oak parquet; homeowners buy and install through a [Timbo partner](https://timbo.com.au/partners/find-a-partner), and flooring businesses can [become a partner](https://timbo.com.au/pages/be-our-business-partner). ## Buying **Choosing the right floor: construction, species, grade and pattern.** - [Floorboards buying guide Australia 2026](https://timbo.com.au/guides/floorboards-buying-guide-australia) – Floorboards buying guide for Australia 2026: solid, engineered, hybrid or laminate, plus species, grades, patterns, subfloors, finishes and costs per m². - [Oak flooring grades explained](https://timbo.com.au/guides/oak-flooring-grades) – Oak flooring grades explained: what Prime, Select, Natur and Rustic mean, why grade names vary by mill, and how EN 13226 and AS 2796 fit in. - [Herringbone flooring guide](https://timbo.com.au/guides/herringbone-flooring-guide) – Herringbone flooring guide for Australia and NZ: how the pattern works, block sizes, solid vs engineered, installation over slab, finishes and 2026 costs. - [Chevron flooring guide](https://timbo.com.au/guides/chevron-flooring-guide) – Chevron flooring guide: how the continuous V pattern works, block angles, solid vs engineered chevron, layout, installation, finishes and costs in Australia. - [Parquet patterns explained](https://timbo.com.au/guides/parquet-patterns) – Parquet patterns explained: herringbone, chevron, basket weave, Versailles panels, borders and double or triple herringbone – how each looks, suits and is laid. - [Oak flooring trends for 2026](https://timbo.com.au/guides/oak-flooring-trends-2026) – Oak flooring design trends for 2026 in Australia and NZ: herringbone and chevron, larger blocks, natural matt finishes, warm tones, borders and provenance. - [Oak flooring in kitchens – what to know](https://timbo.com.au/guides/oak-flooring-kitchens) – Can you put oak floorboards or herringbone in a kitchen? Water, finishes, cabinetry, islands, appliances and care – a practical guide for homes and installers. - [Timber floors and pets – choosing and caring for oak](https://timbo.com.au/guides/timber-floors-and-pets) – Are oak floorboards good with dogs and cats? Scratches, accidents, finishes, grades and care tips for pet owners, plus why solid oak can be sanded back. - [Specifying oak flooring – a checklist for architects and designers](https://timbo.com.au/guides/specifying-oak-flooring-architects) – A spec checklist for European oak flooring: species, grade, size, construction, EN 14342 DoP, fire class, slip, acoustics, moisture, substrate and finish. - [Floorboard & timber flooring glossary](https://timbo.com.au/guides/floorboard-glossary) – A–Z glossary of floorboard and timber flooring terms: acclimatisation, AS 2796, BAL, chevron, EMC, engineered, Janka, parquetry, Prime grade, T&G and more. ## Installation **Getting the subfloor, moisture and layout right – the foundations of a floor that lasts.** - [Installing parquet over a concrete slab](https://timbo.com.au/guides/installing-parquet-over-concrete-slab) – How to install solid oak parquet over a concrete slab in Australia: flatness (~3mm/3m), moisture testing, barriers and adhesives, setout, gluing and finishing. - [Timber flooring over a concrete slab in New Zealand](https://timbo.com.au/guides/timber-flooring-over-slab-nz) – Laying wood flooring over a concrete slab in NZ: BRANZ BU644, the 75% RH benchmark, slab drying times, damp-proofing and installing solid oak parquet. - [Acclimatising oak flooring](https://timbo.com.au/guides/acclimatising-oak-flooring) – How to acclimatise oak flooring in Australia and NZ: equilibrium moisture content (EMC), ATFA figures, the ±2% rule, climate examples and a step-by-step method. - [Moisture content in timber flooring](https://timbo.com.au/guides/moisture-content-timber-flooring) – Moisture content in timber flooring explained: MC vs EMC, the 8–14% Australian interior range, the ±2% rule, and how to measure oak and slab moisture. - [Adhesives and moisture barriers for timber flooring](https://timbo.com.au/guides/adhesives-and-moisture-barriers) – Adhesives and moisture barriers for solid oak parquet on slabs: adhesive types, moisture-barrier adhesives, separate barriers and why maker limits govern. - [Underfloor heating and oak flooring](https://timbo.com.au/guides/underfloor-heating-oak-flooring) – Can oak flooring go over underfloor heating? Surface temperature limits (~27°C), floor sensors, engineered vs 18mm solid oak and commissioning steps. - [Herringbone layout and waste allowance](https://timbo.com.au/guides/herringbone-layout-and-waste) – How to set out herringbone flooring – centre line, borders, left and right blocks – with waste allowance and a worked box calculation for 710mm blocks. - [Expansion gaps for solid parquet](https://timbo.com.au/guides/expansion-gaps-solid-parquet) – Expansion gaps for solid oak parquet: why glued floors still need them, where to leave them, what sets their size and the signs a floor is too tight. ## Finishing and care **Sanding, choosing a finish and keeping the floor looking good.** - [Sanding and finishing oak floors](https://timbo.com.au/guides/sanding-and-finishing-oak) – How raw oak floorboards and parquet are sanded and finished: sanding sequence for herringbone and chevron, finish options, costs and common mistakes. - [Oil vs polyurethane finish for oak floors](https://timbo.com.au/guides/oil-vs-polyurethane-finish) – Oil vs polyurethane for oak floors: look, durability, repairs, maintenance, slip resistance and cost compared, with advice for kitchens, pets and stairs. - [Oak floor care and maintenance guide](https://timbo.com.au/guides/oak-floor-care-maintenance) – How to clean and care for solid oak floorboards and parquet: daily cleaning, oiled vs polyurethane finishes, scratches, spills and when to recoat or sand. ## Compliance **Standards and regulations that affect timber flooring in Australia and New Zealand – from slip resistance and bushfire zones to legal timber sourcing and import rules.** - [Slip resistance for timber stairs (NCC & AS 4586)](https://timbo.com.au/guides/slip-resistance-timber-stairs) – How NCC slip-resistance rules apply to timber stair treads: P3 dry and P4 wet ratings under AS 4586, why the coating decides the result, and how to comply. - [Timber flooring in bushfire-prone areas (AS 3959)](https://timbo.com.au/guides/timber-flooring-bushfire-areas) – Does AS 3959 restrict timber floorboards in bushfire-prone areas? What BAL rules cover, why internal floors over a slab are usually unaffected, what to check. - [Illegal logging laws and timber flooring in Australia](https://timbo.com.au/guides/illegal-logging-compliance) – What Australia's Illegal Logging Prohibition Act 2012 and the 2025 reforms mean for imported oak flooring: due diligence, who is responsible, what to ask. - [EUDR and European oak flooring – what changes from December 2026](https://timbo.com.au/guides/eudr-european-oak) – The EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) applies from 30 December 2026. What it covers, how it affects European oak flooring and what it means in AU and NZ. - [FSC and PEFC certification for timber flooring explained](https://timbo.com.au/guides/fsc-pefc-certification) – What FSC and PEFC certification mean for oak flooring, how chain of custody works, how to check a claim, and what to ask your supplier for each order. - [Importing timber flooring into New Zealand (MPI, ISPM 15 & legal harvest)](https://timbo.com.au/guides/nz-timber-flooring-import-mpi) – A trade guide to importing oak flooring into New Zealand: MPI import health standards, ISPM 15 packaging, clearance, GST and the legal harvest redesign. ## Costs **What timber flooring costs per square metre, and how much to order.** All prices are cited, and GST treatment is stated. - [Timber flooring cost in Australia (2026)](https://timbo.com.au/guides/timber-flooring-cost-australia) – Timber flooring and floorboard costs in Australia for 2026: supply and installed prices per m² for hardwood, engineered oak, parquet and hybrid, plus GST. - [Herringbone flooring cost in Australia (2026)](https://timbo.com.au/guides/herringbone-flooring-cost-australia) – What herringbone flooring costs in Australia in 2026: supply, labour and installed prices per m² for solid and engineered oak, what drives cost, and GST. - [Parquet installation cost – a quoting guide for flooring businesses](https://timbo.com.au/guides/parquet-installation-cost) – How to quote parquet installation in Australia line by line: removal, slab prep, levelling, adhesive, labour, borders, sanding and coating, with cited ranges. - [Oak flooring cost in New Zealand (2026, NZD)](https://timbo.com.au/guides/oak-flooring-cost-nz) – What oak wood flooring costs in New Zealand in 2026: supply and installation per m² in NZD, GST at 15%, slab and freight factors, and how to get a price. - [How many boxes of flooring do I need?](https://timbo.com.au/guides/how-many-boxes-of-flooring) – Work out how many boxes of floorboards or herringbone parquet to order: measure m², add a waste allowance, divide by box coverage. Worked examples and a table. ## Comparisons and FAQs **Weighing up two options?** Our [flooring comparisons](https://timbo.com.au/compare) cover solid vs engineered, European oak vs Australian hardwoods, herringbone vs chevron and more. For quick answers about Timbo, ordering and partners, see the [FAQ](https://timbo.com.au/faq). **Become a Timbo partner:** Wholesale pricing, free samples and marketing support for flooring businesses in Australia and New Zealand. → https://timbo.com.au/pages/be-our-business-partner ## How we write these guides - **Answer first** – each section starts with the direct answer. - **Sourced numbers** – standards, moisture figures and prices link to their published source, such as ATFA, WoodSolutions, BRANZ and Australian and New Zealand retailers. For example, typical Australian interiors sit at about 8–14% equilibrium moisture content ([WoodSolutions](https://www.woodsolutions.com.au/timber-wiki/moisture-guide)). - **Honest about limits** – where a figure depends on a product or site, we say so rather than guess. - **Kept current** – each guide shows the date it was last updated. ## Sources - [WoodSolutions – Moisture guide](https://www.woodsolutions.com.au/timber-wiki/moisture-guide) ## Frequently asked questions ### Who are Timbo's flooring guides written for? Both trade and homeowners. Retailers and installers can use them as a reference and share them with clients; homeowners can use them to understand options before talking to a Timbo partner. ### Are the prices in these guides Timbo's prices? No. Price ranges are published figures from Australian and New Zealand retailers and installers, cited with links. Timbo is a trade supplier and doesn't publish retail prices – partners quote the finished job. ### Do the guides replace manufacturer instructions? No. Adhesive, moisture-barrier, finish and heating manufacturers' instructions, and relevant standards, always govern. The guides explain common practice and the questions to ask. ### Where should I start if I'm new to timber flooring? Start with the [floorboards buying guide](https://timbo.com.au/guides/floorboards-buying-guide-australia), then read the guide for your subfloor – usually a concrete slab – and the finishing guides. ### Can I suggest a topic for a new guide? Yes. Email partnerships@timbo.com.au or use the [contact page](https://timbo.com.au/pages/contact-us) with the question you'd like answered. ## Related pages - [Floorboards buying guide Australia 2026](https://timbo.com.au/guides/floorboards-buying-guide-australia) – Floorboards buying guide for Australia 2026: solid, engineered, hybrid or laminate, plus species, grades, patterns, subfloors, finishes and costs per m². - [Flooring comparisons: oak vs Australian hardwoods, solid vs engineered, parquet vs boards](https://timbo.com.au/compare) – Honest flooring comparisons for AU and NZ – European oak vs spotted gum, blackbutt and jarrah, solid vs engineered, herringbone vs chevron, hybrid and laminate. - [Floorboards FAQ: answers for homeowners, builders and flooring businesses](https://timbo.com.au/faq) – Answers about Timbo floorboards: buying through partners, the partner program, sizes, installation, finishes, costs, compliance and New Zealand supply.