Browse Forums General Discussion 1 Apr 25, 2008 6:08 pm Hi everyone,
Has anyone used an outside supplier to put in timber flooring in your house? Our builder has quoted $20000 for the whole house (excluding wet areas). We have 4 bedrooms, pantry, living areas, sitting room. Is this very expensive? Would we save much by getting someone else to do it? Can this be done or it is preferable to get the builder to do it so it all fits well together? A friend of ours bought the timber and did it himself but we were not impressed, it did not look professional at all.. Your thoughts will be much appreciated. Re: Timber flooring from outside supplier - not builder? 2Apr 25, 2008 7:24 pm I'm a newbie at this too, but I'm getting a flooring company to install all the flooring post hand-over. The only flooring the builder is doing will be the tiling for wet areas. I think I'll get a much better deal this way.
Judie Re: Timber flooring from outside supplier - not builder? 3Apr 25, 2008 7:49 pm Hi Dreamhome,
From what I read in your post, you have decided you want timber throughout, but want to save a dollar (but get a quality floor installation). Hmmm I think this comes down to any buying exercise..... look into the specs of your prospective purchase (ie, what are you getting for your $$$)? You can always get things done cheaper, but are you comparing apples with apples? You've seen that a DIY job can be cheaper but not look to great. Isn't that to be expected, unless the DIYer is an expert in the field? So, take your floorplan to different suppliers, and get quotes, ask lots of questions, and get references from their customers if you can. This is NOT a go at you, but the general community here....... Far too often, there is too much energy put into saving a dollar, than there is in ensuring the quality of the product or service will be good (a positive buying experience). So do your homework and be discerning in who supplies & lays your flooring. Cost should be a secondary consideration. Then here's another consideration..... Quality timber floors are NOT cheap. Why have timber throughout? Why not have carpets in selected areas? (maybe bedrooms and a loungeroom). Decent quality carpets are still much cheaper than timber, and have many other benefits too. Worth thinking about?! Ash. Re: Timber flooring from outside supplier - not builder? 4Apr 25, 2008 11:39 pm Judie I'm a newbie at this too, but I'm getting a flooring company to install all the flooring post hand-over. The only flooring the builder is doing will be the tiling for wet areas. I think I'll get a much better deal this way. Judie Hi Judie, Do you mind me asking which builder u r building with? Also, which company r u using for your timber flooring? Thanks and good luck Re: Timber flooring from outside supplier - not builder? 5Apr 25, 2008 11:44 pm royalblue Hi Dreamhome, From what I read in your post, you have decided you want timber throughout, but want to save a dollar (but get a quality floor installation). Hmmm I think this comes down to any buying exercise..... look into the specs of your prospective purchase (ie, what are you getting for your $$$)? You can always get things done cheaper, but are you comparing apples with apples? You've seen that a DIY job can be cheaper but not look to great. Isn't that to be expected, unless the DIYer is an expert in the field? So, take your floorplan to different suppliers, and get quotes, ask lots of questions, and get references from their customers if you can. This is NOT a go at you, but the general community here....... Far too often, there is too much energy put into saving a dollar, than there is in ensuring the quality of the product or service will be good (a positive buying experience). So do your homework and be discerning in who supplies & lays your flooring. Cost should be a secondary consideration. Then here's another consideration..... Quality timber floors are NOT cheap. Why have timber throughout? Why not have carpets in selected areas? (maybe bedrooms and a loungeroom). Decent quality carpets are still much cheaper than timber, and have many other benefits too. Worth thinking about?! Ash. Hi Ash, Thanks for your advice. Will visit a supplier and compare their prices if we buy direct. The company Builder is using is TriLoc True Grid Flooring 6000 series. I had a look at their website and the one they are offering seem of good quality since there is 25 year guarantee on wear. I guess this is what we are paying for. In regards to carpets, the apartment we live in now has carpet in all rooms and living area and we find it harder to keep clean compared to one of our previous houses where we had timber flooring. Anyway, it's worth thinking about again but we really like the look of timber floors. What advantages are there to having carpets? Re: Timber flooring from outside supplier - not builder? 6Apr 25, 2008 11:55 pm Many!
Thermal insulation qualities Acoustic insulation qualities Softness & comfort under under foot (more forgiving & kind on your back, feet, and in the case of falls or dropping anything fragile) Positive indoor air quality benefits (despite nonsensical contrary beliefs) Easier to maintain (if you understand how) etc, etc. Re: Timber flooring from outside supplier - not builder? 7Apr 26, 2008 12:15 am royalblue Many! Thermal insulation qualities Acoustic insulation qualities Softness & comfort under under foot (more forgiving & kind on your back, feet, and in the case of falls or dropping anything fragile) Positive indoor air quality benefits (despite nonsensical contrary beliefs) Easier to maintain (if you understand how) etc, etc. I agree with the thermal and acoustic insulation and especially the 'Softness & comfort under foot' . Not sure about being easier to maintain though.. Re: Timber flooring from outside supplier - not builder? 8Apr 26, 2008 1:12 am The other thing to consider is logistics.
If you have them done afterwards what will you do about skirting boards? We're currently thinking about this ourselves. We know we can arrange the floors cheaper ourselves but then we'll have to either install and paint the skirtings ourselves, or have the builder install the skirtings and have to have an additional edge around the timber floor - we don't like either of these options so we're thinking about paying the extra to have the builder do the floors. Re: Timber flooring from outside supplier - not builder? 10Apr 26, 2008 10:16 am Rachelle The other thing to consider is logistics. If you have them done afterwards what will you do about skirting boards? We're currently thinking about this ourselves. We know we can arrange the floors cheaper ourselves but then we'll have to either install and paint the skirtings ourselves, or have the builder install the skirtings and have to have an additional edge around the timber floor - we don't like either of these options so we're thinking about paying the extra to have the builder do the floors. Hi Rachelle, I probably sound ignorant but what are skirting boards? Re: Timber flooring from outside supplier - not builder? 11Apr 26, 2008 10:56 am dreamhome
If you do a search on timber floors you should get a number of hits on various options re: timber flooring including pros and cons of carpets, tiles and wood floors. But to answer your question skirtings come in various sizes, are made from mdf or wood (usually painted) and sit on top of the floor and nailed to the wall. I would definitely get the wood supplied and installed by yourself. It will be much cheaper. Ask the builder to tack on the skirtings so the floors can be installed underneath the skirtings. Or do what we are doing which is to install the floors before painting and sand/polish afterward. Our builder is charging us $100 to come back later and put on the skirtings so we have that option as well. Basically you want your timber floors to sit underneath the skirtings and will need to negotiate with the builder about how this is achieved. If you're heart is set on wood (and I can understand why given it is lovely material) then make sure you understand what your builder is offering e.g. is it solid timber timber veneer(sometimes called engineered hard wood) Solid timber is arguably better and lasts longer. It can also be more expensive although engineered hard wood is up there in price. Even those of us that love wood (and I am one ) will still put carpet in bedrooms and tiles in wet areas. I've lived with wood in both previous houses and it can be gratifying to get to the carpet at times. Our rental had hardwood on the bedroom floor and we were constantly tracking bits of lint etc into the bed . I would never put hardwood into the bedroom again. So in short: my recommendation is hardwood flooring and carpet in bedrooms. Then next thing to consider is which type of wood you want. Have a look at the wood websites and decide which type takes your fancy. We are having 100 sqm supplied and installed, solid hardwood spotted gum for around 14K. Carpet is cheaper - even the good quality stuff. edit I forgot to add that 14K includes cladding our staircase in the same wood 17 treads and a landing) Hardwood floors. 12May 01, 2008 3:48 pm Hi there Dreamhome,
I am such a believer in 3 things: 1- That real bargains are always out there, 2- Buyer beware! 3- You get what you pay for. Between all of the above, there is such a fine line, that sometimes that line is invisible! So, do your due diligence, but do not cut corners! The thing is, at tops, you may say $1000 or $2000, that could go to something else (i totally understand), but if the job isn't 110%, you will have to look at a bad floor job for as long as you live there, and be always thinking ... i should have paid that extra $1000. I wish you luck, and we are all here to help! Re: Timber flooring from outside supplier - not builder? 13May 01, 2008 10:08 pm Hi there,
We used Truegrid flooring on our last house. My first point is that we decided to go directly to Truegrid rather than get it through our builder (we thought we could get it cheaper). Big mistake. Truegrid stuffed us around completely (long story) and from the time we paid our deposit to the time we got our floor laid was 11 months. We lived on concrete floors that whole time. So from my experience it is cheaper and quicker to get it done through your builder. Secondly, Truegrid floors are gorgeous, quiet, soft on your feet, etc. BUT they are a complete pain in the *** to keep clean. We could not take one step outside our door and then step back inside without leaving a big footprint mark. I was a slave to those floors. Don't go with their matt look - leaves the worst marks of all and don't get Makore or dark colours - gorgeous, but impossible to keep clean. Impossible! Engineering timber is certainly a less fuss option, times cheaper to supply and install and better withstands humidity. 1 15884 1000000% definitely add insulation. I have in my home and it makes a big difference minimising sound transfer. Insulation is pretty cheap and definitely worth it 2 6173 The HIA contract, in the term & conditions section states that "Commencment" is deemed when the drainage is started or the piers are dug or the slab is formed up (incase… 2 6150 |