For this Beaumaris build, the builder was after a wide, natural coloured flooring that would give the home a clean, contemporary base. Beaumaris is known for its mix of established character homes and newer architectural builds, and flooring choices in this suburb often need to strike a balance between timeless and modern, especially on projects being built for resale or a broad range of future buyers. Engineered Oak Natural in a 190mm width fit the brief, offering a broader board than standard flooring for a more open, modern look.
The flooring
Engineered Oak Natural, 14/2 x 190 x 1900mm, was installed throughout. The 190mm width is wider than typical flooring boards, giving fewer joins across the floor and a more seamless, spacious feel. Builders often move toward wider board widths like this when they want a floor that reads as more premium without stepping up to a fully bespoke or made to order product. The natural colouring keeps the finish neutral and versatile, which is a practical choice for a new build where the interior styling, furniture and finishes have not yet been locked in.
The 14/2 construction refers to the engineered makeup of the board, a 2mm wear layer over a stable base, which is well suited to new homes expecting normal residential foot traffic over many years. It offers enough surface timber to allow for a light sand and refinish down the track if needed, while keeping the overall board more dimensionally stable than a solid timber equivalent.
Installation
The floor was glued down using HP Ultraset, a proven adhesive for engineered flooring that provides a strong, lasting bond suited to new builds. Glue down installation is a common specification on new build projects because it creates a solid, quiet floor with minimal movement, which is particularly important in open plan homes where flooring can run continuously through living, dining and kitchen areas. HP Ultraset is a well established product in the flooring trade, and builders often specify it for exactly this reason, it is dependable, well understood by installers, and performs consistently across different subfloor types.
Wide board flooring for builders
Wide format engineered oak flooring like this is a popular request from builders looking to give a new home a more premium finish without the cost of solid timber. It photographs well for real estate listings, appeals to a broad range of buyer tastes thanks to its natural colouring, and installs efficiently across larger floor areas thanks to the wider board width. The natural colouring keeps the floor versatile enough to suit a range of interior styles, from coastal and Hamptons inspired interiors through to more contemporary, minimalist fitouts.
For builders working on spec homes or renovations intended for sale, choosing a flooring product that balances quality, appearance and cost is an important part of getting the finished result right. This Beaumaris project is a good example of how a wide, natural engineered oak floor can lift the overall feel of a new build without adding unnecessary cost or complexity to the project.
Working on a new build? Talk to Quality Flooring about wide board engineered oak flooring options. Our team works with builders across Melbourne’s bayside suburbs to help specify flooring that suits the project, the budget and the buyer.