Who can request free samples?
Free samples are available to Timbo partners – flooring retailers, installers, builders, developers, interior designers and architects in Australia and New Zealand – for their showrooms and for their clients' projects. Homeowners receive samples through a Timbo partner, because Timbo doesn't sell direct to the public.
| You are… | How to get samples |
|---|---|
| A Timbo partner | Use the form below, or email partnerships@timbo.com.au |
| A flooring business that isn't a partner yet | Request samples below and tell us you're considering the program, or apply to become a partner |
| An interior designer or architect | Request samples for a project or your studio library |
| A homeowner | Find a Timbo partner, who can request samples for your project |
What you can sample
| Product | Specification |
|---|---|
| Solid Oak Herringbone Parquet – standard | Prime grade European oak, 710 × 123 × 18mm, tongue and groove, natural brown |
| Solid Oak Herringbone Parquet – large | Prime grade European oak, 820 × 123 × 18mm, tongue and groove |
| Solid Oak Chevron Parquet | Prime grade European oak, 18mm solid, continuous V |
| Pattern parquet | Including the Hybrid Oak Timeless Pattern Parquet – 15mm patterned oak squares, 450 × 450mm and 800 × 800mm |
Product details are in the herringbone collection, the chevron collection and the pattern parquet collection.
What to look at in a sample
A sample is a decision tool. Here's how to get the most from it.
- Grade. Timbo supplies Prime grade, the clean, even appearance grade of European oak with few and small knots. Check that the look matches what your client expects. If they want a rustic, knotty floor, Prime isn't the right grade. See oak flooring grades.
- Colour and tone. Look at the sample in the room where it will be laid, in daylight and under the room's own lighting, and next to joinery, benchtops and paint colours. Natural light changes oak considerably through the day.
- Grain. Oak shows straight grain and, depending on how it's cut, the silvery flecks known as medullary rays. Check both faces if you can.
- Finish. A raw (unfinished) sample looks paler and drier than the finished floor will. Oil and polyurethane both deepen and warm the colour. Ask Timbo whether the batch you'll order is raw or pre-finished, and if it's raw, ask your installer for a finish test on an offcut. See oil vs polyurethane finishes.
- Dimensions and machining. Measure the length, width and 18mm thickness, and check the tongue and groove. Installers often want to see the profile before quoting set-out.
- Pattern. One block can't show a pattern. Lay several samples together, or look at photos of a finished floor, to judge herringbone against chevron. See herringbone vs chevron.
A note on grade and natural variation
Oak is a natural material, and no two boards are identical. A sample represents the grade, species and general character of the product, but the boards in your delivery will vary in grain and tone within that grade. Across a whole floor, that variation is part of what makes solid oak look like real timber rather than a printed surface.
Some practical points:
- One sample can't show the full range of a grade. Ask for more than one if your client is particular about tone.
- Colour shifts after installation. Oak exposed to light mellows and warms over time, so a new sample won't match a floor that has been down for years.
- Partners should set expectations with clients before ordering, and installers should blend boxes during installation to spread natural variation evenly.
Tell us what you need
Use the form to tell us the products you'd like to see, the delivery address and a little about the project or showroom. Partners can request on behalf of a client. Just include the client's project details in the message.
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Frequently asked questions
Are Timbo samples really free?
Yes. Samples are free for trade partners and for their clients' projects.
Can a homeowner order a sample directly?
Timbo supplies through partners, so homeowners get samples through a Timbo partner. Find a partner near you, or email partnerships@timbo.com.au if there isn't one in your area and we'll connect you.
How long do samples take to arrive?
It depends on where they're going. Timbo will let you know when your request is confirmed. Allow extra time for New Zealand addresses.
Can I keep samples for my showroom?
Yes. Partners request samples for their showroom display as well as for individual client projects. Tell us which you need in the message.
Will my floor look exactly like the sample?
It will match the grade, species and character, not every individual board. Oak varies naturally in grain and tone, and a whole floor shows more variation than a single sample can.