Engineered wood flooring gives you a real hardwood surface on a stable, layered core. The top layer is genuine oak or another timber, so it looks and feels like solid wood, while the ply beneath keeps the board flat through hot summers, dry winters and underfloor heating. It can be floated, glued or nailed. Send one request and local suppliers and fitters quote you directly for the boards and the laying. It is free, and you are under no obligation to accept a quote.
Wear layer, core and finish
Look closely at how the board is built:
- Wear layer: the real timber on top. A thicker layer, around 3 to 6 mm, can be sanded and refinished more than once. A thin layer may take only a light sand.
- Core: cross-layered ply moves less with humidity than solid timber, which is why it suits screeds and heated floors.
- Finish: factory-oiled or lacquered boards are ready the day they go down. Brushed, smoked or white-oiled looks are common.
Overall thickness is usually 14 to 20 mm. Thicker boards feel more solid.
Floated, glued or nailed
Floated boards click or glue at the tongue and sit on underlay, which suits flats and quick jobs. Fully glued boards bond to the screed, feel firmer and work well over underfloor heating, but the slab must be flat and dry. Nailing suits timber battens or a ply subfloor. A fitter picks the method from your subfloor, which needs a moisture reading before anything goes down. Ask about the right adhesive and underlay for your room.
What drives the cost
Engineered oak boards run about R1,025 to R1,670 per m² supply only. Fitting, underlay or adhesive, preparation of the slab, skirting and trims are priced separately, so ask each supplier to spell out what is in the quote. Wider planks, longer lengths and thicker wear layers cost more. Allow 5 to 10 percent extra boards for cuts and waste, and a bit more for herringbone or diagonal layouts.
Looking after the floor
Sweep or vacuum often, wipe spills fast and use a cleaner made for wood, not a wet mop. Keep indoor humidity steady and fit felt pads under furniture. A worn oiled floor can be freshened with a maintenance coat, and a thick wear layer can be sanded back like hardwood flooring. Compare it with laminate flooring if budget is tight, or see wooden floors for the full range.
What to include in your request
- The rooms and their size in square metres
- Subfloor: screed, tiles or timber
- Underfloor heating, yes or no
- Timber, plank width and finish you like
- Supply only, or supplied and fitted
Engineered Wood Flooring for different clients
- Homeowners: wide oak boards through living and dining areas, with the warmth of real timber
- Flats and townhouses: floated engineered boards on acoustic underlay that keep within the body corporate's noise rules
- Builders, developers and renovators: glued or floated oak boards across whole houses, laid once the screed has fully dried
- Landlords and letting agents: a real timber floor for a premium let, that can be refreshed between tenants
- Offices, practices and showrooms: oak boards for boardrooms, reception areas and executive offices that need a warm look
- Guesthouses, lodges and restaurants: oak or smoked oak floors for lodges, restaurants and guest suites that need character
- Shops, salons and cafés: wide-plank oak for boutiques and showrooms that want the look of solid timber
- Schools, halls, gyms and studios: engineered boards for libraries, chapels and meeting rooms where a warm, quiet floor matters
Frequently asked questions
Is engineered wood real wood?
Can engineered wood flooring be sanded?
Does engineered wood suit underfloor heating?
Do you supply engineered wood flooring?
Engineered Wood Flooring by province and city
- Johannesburg
- Pretoria
- Centurion
- Midrand
- Sandton
- Randburg
- Roodepoort
- Krugersdorp
- Randfontein
- Germiston
- Boksburg
- Benoni
- Kempton Park
- Alberton
- Vanderbijlpark
- Vereeniging
- Durban
- Pinetown
- Pietermaritzburg
- Richards Bay
- Newcastle
- Ladysmith
- Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth)
- East London
- Kariega (Uitenhage)
- Mthatha
- Cape Town
- Bellville
- Paarl
- Stellenbosch
- George
- Worcester
- eMalahleni (Witbank)
- Middelburg
- Secunda
- Mbombela (Nelspruit)
- Rustenburg
- Brits
- Klerksdorp
- Potchefstroom
- Mahikeng
- Polokwane
- Tzaneen
- Kimberley
- Upington
- Bloemfontein
- Welkom
- Sasolburg