Solid vs Engineered Timber Flooring: Differences and Costs

Solid timber is cut from one piece and can be sanded back repeatedly. Engineered boards have a hardwood veneer, typically 2 to 6 mm thick, over a stable multi-layer core. Over a concrete slab or in humid areas, sources lean towards engineered. Check the wear-layer thickness before you plan to sand an engineered floor.

The differences

Factor	Solid timber	Engineered timber
Construction	One piece of timber	Hardwood veneer (wear layer) of about 2 to 6 mm over a multi-layer core
Movement	Expands and contracts, so needs careful moisture management over a slab or it can cup and gap	More stable, and handles humid air better, according to a supplier
Installation	Usually supplied raw, fixed to joists or slab, then sanded and finished on site	Often click-lock or glue-down and often pre-finished
Sanding	Can be sanded back repeatedly, within the limit of the boards	Limited by the wear layer. Sources do not say how many times
Cost (Brisbane guide)	$120 to $280 per m2	$90 to $200 per m2

The cost figures are from one Brisbane guide dated July 2026, so they are indicative and not NSW prices. Suppliers describe engineered boards as the safer choice over a slab, especially in humid areas, and solid timber as suiting drier conditions, timber-joist subfloors and owners who want to sand repeatedly. These are retailer views.

Two things the sources do not settle

First, they say engineered flooring may not last as long as solid timber because of the thinner veneer, but they give no number of years. Second, they do not say how many times an engineered floor can be sanded. Ask the supplier for the wear-layer thickness and the manufacturer's sanding guidance before you buy. Also note that a floating engineered floor over concrete can feel slightly more hollow, which a good underlay narrows.

Test the slab first

Both types need a dry slab. See how a concrete slab is moisture tested. For care and refinishing intervals, read how often to sand and polish timber floors and timber floor sanding cost.

Find contractors

NSW Flooring lists 262 businesses with a confirmed timber flooring service, from Google Maps, retrieved 22 October 2026. Examples: timber flooring western sydney, timber flooring eastern suburbs and timber flooring north shore & ryde, or browse timber flooring contractors in NSW. The listing does not say which timber products a business installs. See the NSW Flooring methodology page.

Quick answers

Which is better over concrete? Engineered, in most of the supplier sources, but a moisture test decides it.

Can I sand engineered timber? Possibly, within its wear layer. Ask the manufacturer.