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OUR PROJECTS

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Adelaide Hills

Polished pine boards.

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Polished pine floorboards emerged as a practical, good-looking solution wherever softwood was plentiful and affordable. In the 18th and 19th centuries across Britain, Europe, and the colonies, builders laid pine—typically Scots pine and other “Baltic pine” species—because it milled easily into wide, straight boards and transported well by ship. In Australia, especially South Australia and Victoria, imported Baltic pine became the default floor in Victorian villas and Federation cottages; local kauri and other pines were also used where available.

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Early finishes were simple: hand-scrubbed boards periodically treated with oils, waxes, or soap. By the late 19th century, varnishes and spirit finishes offered deeper colour and protection, while tongue-and-groove profiles improved stability and reduced draughts.

 

The 1920s–30s saw powered drum sanders standardise “polished” floors, but post-war fashion favoured wall-to-wall carpet, hiding many pine boards for decades.

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From the 1970s onward, clear polyurethane and moisture-cure coatings popularised the glossy, amber “polished pine” look familiar today. Later, water-borne polyurethanes and hardwax oils provided lower-odour, lower-VOC, and more repairable options, including matte finishes that keep pine’s pale brightness.

 

Contemporary renovations often celebrate the character marks, nail holes, and warm grain of original pine, balancing heritage charm with modern coatings, better subfloor insulation, and careful restoration techniques.

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Flooring Adelaide can create any finish you desire from rustic through to polished.

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McLaren Vale

A classic Herringbone Parquet floor in McLaren Vale

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Herringbone parquet traces its roots to ancient Rome, where builders laid bricks in opus spicatum—a “fishbone” pattern that locked surfaces together for strength.

 

The motif leapt from roads to interiors during the Renaissance, especially in 16th-century France and Italy, when timber blocks replaced stone and brick for warmer, more refined rooms. By the 1600s, European palaces favored intricate parquetry; Versailles popularised geometric wood floors and helped cement herringbone and its close cousin, chevron, as symbols of elegance.

 

Through the 19th century, herringbone spread across Europe’s grand townhouses and civic buildings, prized for dimensional stability and the way its alternating grain disperses wear.

 

The 20th century brought a dip—carpet, linoleum, and later vinyl overshadowed labor-intensive parquet. Yet from the 1980s onward, engineered boards, reliable adhesives, and factory finishes revived interest.

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Today, herringbone thrives in both heritage restorations and contemporary spaces. Pre-finished blocks, click-systems, and compatible underlays make installation faster and more consistent, while sustainable timbers and textured finishes broaden aesthetic options.

 

The pattern endures because it marries engineering logic—short boards resisting movement in opposing directions—with timeless visual rhythm, creating floors that feel simultaneously classic, crafted, and modern.

Norwood

Laminate floor boards

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Laminate floorboards emerged in Sweden in the late 1970s, when manufacturers fused a printed décor layer to high-density fibreboard (HDF) and sealed it under a clear, melamine wear layer.

 

This created the look of wood without using thick timber. Through the 1980s–90s, European brands refined abrasion resistance (AC ratings) and surface textures. A pivotal shift came in the mid-1990s with click-together tongue-and-groove systems

 

The 2000s added synchronised embossing (EIR), bevelled edges, wider planks, and improved UV stability. More recently, water-resistant cores, integrated acoustic underlays, and lower-VOC resins broadened where laminate can be used and improved indoor air quality. Today’s best laminates closely mimic timber and stone at a fraction of the cost, with predictable performance in busy households.

 

Pros

  • Cost-effective and fast to install (floating systems).

  • Highly scratch and wear resistant (good for pets/kids).

  • Consistent appearance with vast colour/texture options.

  • Stable under temperature swings; minimal maintenance.

 

Cons

  • Traditional HDF cores are moisture-sensitive; standing water can cause swelling (choose water-resistant models and manage spills).

  • Cannot be sanded/refinished; damaged boards must be replaced.

  • Underfoot feel and acoustic profile differ from real timber (quality underlay helps).

  • Cheap products can look artificial and have weaker locks or coatings.

Adelaide

Spotted Gum Hardwood

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Hardwood floors trace back centuries, from hand-hewn planks in European cottages to finely milled boards in Georgian and Victorian homes. Early floors were scrubbed, waxed, or oil-soaped; the late 19th century introduced varnishes, while tongue-and-groove profiles reduced drafts and movement.

 

In the 20th century, drum sanders and clear coatings delivered the polished timber aesthetic we recognise today. Post-war carpets briefly hid many boards, but the late-20th-century revival—driven by polyurethane finishes, better adhesives, and engineered substrates—returned hardwood to pride of place.

 

Modern options balance tradition with performance, offering pre-finished coatings, wider boards, and sustainably certified species.

 

Modern Spotted Gum (Pros)

  • Exceptionally durable: a very hard Australian eucalyptus suited to busy households.

  • Dimensional stability: interlocked grain helps limit movement when acclimated and installed correctly.

  • Striking character: rich colour variation from pale brown to deep chocolate; suits contemporary and heritage interiors.

  • Re-finishable & long-life: can be re-sanded and recoated over decades.

  • Outdoor-adjacent resilience: dense timber handles knocks better than many softwoods.

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Modern Spotted Gum (Cons)

  • Higher upfront cost than laminate, hybrid, or many vinyls.

  • Colour variation can complicate matching; some prefer more uniform looks.

  • Requires maintenance: periodic recoating and routine care to prevent wear and UV fade.

  • Professional installation recommended: weight, hardness, and movement demand experienced fitters.

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