Getting Timbo oak in Perth
Timbo is appointing partners in Perth. Homeowners can email partnerships@timbo.com.au to be connected with a flooring business that can supply and install our Prime grade European solid oak floorboards and parquet. Perth flooring retailers, installers and builders can apply to become a partner.
Perth is the longest domestic freight run from our Melbourne warehouse. Freight is quoted per order; see delivery and lead times and ask Timbo to confirm timing for your job.
Double brick on slab: Perth's standard
Perth builds differently from the east coast. The typical Perth house – from 1970s brick-and-tile homes to new project builds in Baldivis, Ellenbrook or Alkimos – is double-brick on a concrete slab-on-ground. Very few suburban homes have suspended timber floors, apart from older character houses in suburbs like Subiaco, Mount Lawley and Fremantle.
That makes slab preparation the main technical job for a Perth parquet floor:
- Test the slab for moisture. New slabs hold construction water for months. Follow the adhesive manufacturer's limits.
- Check flatness. Glued parquet needs a flat substrate, roughly within 3mm over 3m (Bowens).
- Seal where required. Use a moisture barrier or a moisture-barrier adhesive.
- Remove old coverings properly. Tile adhesive and old glue residue must come off for a sound bond.
Read the full guide: installing parquet over a concrete slab.
Hot, dry summers and the easterly
Perth has a Mediterranean climate: long, hot, dry summers with dry easterly winds, and mild, wetter winters. Indoor air can get very dry in summer, especially with evaporative or refrigerated cooling running for weeks.
Australian interiors typically sit between 8% and 14% equilibrium moisture content, and flooring should be installed within about ±2% of the expected in-service figure (WoodSolutions). Perth homes often sit at the drier end of that range in summer. In practice:
| Season | What happens to oak | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Summer (dry, hot) | Gives up moisture; fine gaps may appear | Acclimatise in the home with normal cooling running |
| Winter (cooler, damper) | Takes moisture back; gaps close | Leave correct perimeter expansion gaps |
| Evaporative cooling | Adds humidity to the house | Acclimatise with it running as normal |
Our acclimatising guide explains the process step by step.
Perth hills and bushfire areas
Kalamunda, Mundaring, Roleystone and the Darling Range fringe are bushfire prone. Bushfire construction rules under AS 3959 mainly target elevated subfloors and decks exposed to radiant heat, not internal floors over a slab (WoodSolutions). For hills homes on suspended floors, read timber flooring in bushfire areas and confirm the BAL with your builder.
Oak alongside WA's own hardwoods
Western Australians know jarrah and marri well. European oak is a different look rather than a tougher one: paler, calmer grain and suited to pattern parquet. Janka hardness for jarrah is about 8.5 kN, versus roughly 4.2–6.1 kN for European oak (PFC), so oak benefits from a durable finish in busy homes.
Ordering from the other side of the country
Perth is a long way from Melbourne stock, so it pays to order once and order right.
- Order the full quantity, including waste. A second freight run across the Nullarbor costs time and money. Use our how many boxes guide and let your installer confirm the waste allowance for the pattern.
- Inspect on arrival. Your Timbo partner checks the delivery as soon as it arrives – partners must report any defects to Timbo within 3 days of receipt, so problems are caught before installation.
- Allow for time zones. Timbo works 9am–5pm Melbourne time; email partnerships@timbo.com.au outside those hours.
Perth trade businesses
Timbo partners order from Melbourne stock with no container minimums, at wholesale pricing, with free samples and marketing support. It's non-exclusive and free to join.
Frequently asked questions
Is solid oak suitable for Perth's dry climate?
Yes, if it's installed at the right moisture content. In long dry spells oak gives up moisture and may show fine gaps; that's normal seasonal movement. Measuring moisture and acclimatising before installation keeps it within a small range.
Can parquet go straight onto my Perth slab?
Usually yes. Solid 18mm herringbone is glued directly to a slab that is dry, flat and sealed with a moisture barrier or moisture-barrier adhesive where required. Your installer will test the slab first.
How does European oak compare with jarrah?
Jarrah is harder (about 8.5 kN Janka against roughly 4.2–6.1 kN for European oak) and has a deep red tone. Oak is paler and more even, takes lime and stain finishes, and suits herringbone and chevron patterns. See European oak vs jarrah.
When will Timbo reply to an email from Perth?
Timbo works Monday to Friday, 9am–5pm Melbourne time, which is two or three hours ahead of Perth depending on daylight saving. Email partnerships@timbo.com.au any time and we reply during those hours.
Is there a Timbo partner in Perth?
Timbo is appointing partners in Perth. Email partnerships@timbo.com.au to be connected with a flooring business that can quote your job.