Timber Flooring Installers in Christchurch

Timber flooring in New Zealand costs $100 to $250 per square metre for supply and installation of solid timber. Engineered timber costs $80 to $200 per square metre installed. NZ native timber (rimu, matai, kauri) reclaimed or recycled costs $150 to $350 per square metre. European oak engineered flooring costs $100 to $200 per square metre. Sanding and refinishing existing timber floors costs $40 to $80 per square metre. Installation labour alone costs $30 to $60 per square metre for solid timber.

Solid timber flooring is a single piece of timber, typically 19mm thick. It can be sanded and refinished multiple times (four to six times over its life) and lasts 50 to 100 years. However, it expands and contracts with humidity changes. Engineered timber has a real timber veneer (2 to 6mm) over a plywood or HDF core. It is more dimensionally stable, can go over concrete slabs, and is suitable for underfloor heating. Engineered floors can be sanded one to three times depending on veneer thickness.

New Zealand native timbers like rimu, matai, kauri, and totara make beautiful and distinctive floors. New native timber is largely unavailable due to conservation restrictions, but recycled and reclaimed native timber is widely used. Recycled native timber has character, warmth, and often interesting grain patterns and nail holes. Sources include demolished buildings, old warehouses, and reclaimed bridge timber. A recycled rimu or matai floor costs $150 to $350 per square metre installed and is a premium feature in any NZ home.

If your Christchurch home has existing timber floors under carpet or in need of restoration, sanding and refinishing is a cost-effective way to reveal beautiful floors. The process involves rough sanding to remove old finish and level the surface, medium and fine sanding for a smooth finish, applying stain if desired, and applying three to four coats of polyurethane (water-based or solvent-based). Water-based polyurethane is low-odour, dries fast, and keeps the timber's natural colour. Solvent-based polyurethane gives a warmer amber tone. Allow two to three days for a full sand and finish of a room.