# Oak floorboards & herringbone flooring in Perth

> Solid European oak floorboards and herringbone parquet for Perth's double-brick slab homes, with dry-summer advice and how to buy through Timbo partners.

- URL: https://timbo.com.au/locations/perth
- 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

- Most Perth houses are double-brick on a concrete slab, so solid parquet is usually glued directly to the slab.
- Perth's hot, dry summers and easterly winds pull moisture out of timber; acclimatise oak to the home's normal conditions.
- Timbo is appointing partners in Perth; homeowners can email partnerships@timbo.com.au to be connected.
- Freight from Timbo's Melbourne warehouse to Perth is quoted per order.

## 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](https://timbo.com.au/pages/be-our-business-partner).

Perth is the longest domestic freight run from our Melbourne warehouse. Freight is quoted per order; see [delivery and lead times](https://timbo.com.au/partners/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:

1. **Test the slab for moisture.** New slabs hold construction water for months. Follow the adhesive manufacturer's limits.
2. **Check flatness.** Glued parquet needs a flat substrate, roughly within 3mm over 3m ([Bowens](https://bowens.com.au/blog/hardwood-timber-flooring)).
3. **Seal where required.** Use a moisture barrier or a moisture-barrier adhesive.
4. **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](https://timbo.com.au/guides/installing-parquet-over-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](https://www.woodsolutions.com.au/timber-wiki/moisture-guide)). 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](https://timbo.com.au/guides/acclimatising-oak-flooring) 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](https://www.woodsolutions.com.au/system/files/Designinginbushfireareas.pdf)). For hills homes on suspended floors, read [timber flooring in bushfire areas](https://timbo.com.au/guides/timber-flooring-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](https://www.pfc.com.au/janka-rating-floor-durability/)), 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](https://timbo.com.au/guides/how-many-boxes-of-flooring) 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.

**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

## 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.

**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

## 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](https://timbo.com.au/compare/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.

## Related pages

- [European oak vs jarrah flooring: colour, hardness, supply and which to choose](https://timbo.com.au/compare/european-oak-vs-jarrah) – European oak vs jarrah floorboards compared – red vs honey tones, Janka hardness, supply since WA native logging ended, cost and which suits your home.
- [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.
- [Delivery, pick-up and lead times for Timbo partners](https://timbo.com.au/partners/delivery-and-lead-times) – How Timbo delivers oak parquet to partners – dispatch from Altona North, pick-up by appointment, freight quoted per order to Australia and NZ, and receiving.