What developers get from Timbo
Developers use Timbo to put genuine solid European oak parquet into premium projects: luxury townhouses, boutique apartments, custom-home estates and display suites. Timbo supplies the oak under a trade account and your builder or flooring contractor installs it. One grade and fixed sizes make it easier to deliver the same floor across many dwellings.
Where the market is heading
New supply is shifting. In August 2026, Australian private house approvals rose 3.7% while unit approvals fell 21.2%; South Australia was up 24% and Victoria up 8.9%, while Queensland and New South Wales fell (ABS, Westpac IQ). New Zealand consents rose 21% to 41,268 in the year to August 2026, with Auckland at 17,097 in the year to June (Stats NZ).
In a competitive sales market, a named, specifiable floor is a selling feature. "Prime grade European oak herringbone" means something to buyers who've walked through a dozen display homes with the same hybrid plank.
Developer pain points, and how Timbo helps
| Pain point | How Timbo helps |
|---|---|
| Consistent finish across many dwellings | A single Prime grade with fixed herringbone block sizes |
| Specification changes when a product is discontinued | A focused range with published specifications |
| Buyers expect a premium story | European oak, solid 18mm, classic patterns, plus product content for sales material |
| Importing for one project is risky | No container minimums; order by stage |
| Compliance questions from purchasers or certifiers | Ask Timbo which documents are available per product and batch |
Solid or engineered for your project?
Be honest about the building type. Engineered oak is often preferred for apartments, renovations and slab work (ArchiPro). Solid 18mm parquet works best where:
- the dwelling is a house or townhouse on a well-prepared slab or suitable timber subfloor;
- the floor is a key feature of the sales pitch and long life (re-sanding over decades) matters;
- the acoustic design for any separating floors has been checked by your acoustic engineer with the chosen floor build-up.
Our solid vs engineered oak comparison sets out the trade-offs, and commercial oak flooring covers higher-traffic areas.
Budgeting the floor
Use market benchmarks for feasibility, then replace them with your builder's or flooring contractor's quote. All figures are AUD per m² including GST.
| Item | Market range | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Raw solid French oak herringbone, supply (retail) | about $94.99 | SET Timber Supplies |
| Engineered oak herringbone, supply | about $79–$160 | Skov |
| Engineered oak herringbone, installed | about $160–$320 | Artafloor |
| Herringbone labour only | $60–$100 standard; $90–$120+ complex | The Flooring Guys |
| Sanding and coating | $30–$70 | WhatsTheDamage |
Trade pricing through a partner account sits below retail. Timbo shares it once the partner terms are accepted.
Compliance and documentation
Purchasers, financiers and certifiers increasingly ask where timber comes from.
- Australia: importers must run a due-diligence system under the Illegal Logging Prohibition Act, as reformed with rules in force from 3 March 2025 (DAFF).
- Europe: the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) applies to EU timber operators from 30 December 2026 (Council of the EU).
- Product performance: European parquet is covered by EN 13226 and CE marking/Declaration of Performance under EN 14342 (dataholz).
Ask Timbo which certificates and declarations are available for the product you're specifying. Our guides on illegal logging compliance and FSC and PEFC certification explain what each document proves.
Working with Timbo on a development
- Early conversation: share the dwelling count, approximate m², staging and target dates.
- Samples for the design team and display suite.
- Specification: lock product, size, pattern and finish into the schedule of finishes.
- Partner terms accepted by the purchasing entity, then orders by purchase order per stage.
- Delivery per stage, with freight quoted per order and lead times confirmed at order.
If your project is mainly houses, our builders page covers programming and slab drying in more detail.
Frequently asked questions
Is solid oak parquet suitable for apartments?
Sometimes. Engineered oak is often preferred for apartments because of slab conditions and acoustic systems. 18mm solid parquet suits premium townhouses, houses and selected apartments where the subfloor and acoustic design allow it. Get your acoustic engineer's advice early.
Can Timbo supply a staged development?
Supply is ordered by purchase order, so stages can be ordered separately. Talk to Timbo early about the total quantity and timing so availability can be checked for each stage.
Who installs the flooring on a development?
Your flooring contractor or builder's subcontractor. Timbo is a supplier only, and can connect you with installer partners.
Can I get samples for a display suite or sales office?
Yes. Request free samples through the samples page, and tell us it's for a display suite so we can talk about what's useful.
Does Timbo provide FSC or PEFC certificates?
Ask Timbo for the documentation available for the specific product and batch. Don't put a certification claim in marketing material until you have the certificate in hand.