Blackbutt
Janka hardness: 9.1 kN | Colour: Pale gold to light brown
The most popular hardwood for new builds in NSW. Clean, even grain with minimal feature. Takes water-based finishes well -- stays light and clean under Traffic HD Extra Matt. Doesn't amber much with solvent.
Good choice for contemporary, open-plan spaces where you want the timber to feel quiet rather than dramatic. Stains evenly if you need to push the colour darker.
Spotted Gum
Janka hardness: 11.0 kN | Colour: Grey-brown to chocolate, wavy grain
High feature timber with dramatic grain movement. Colour varies significantly between boards -- this is the point. Under clear water-based finish, the colour range becomes a design feature. Under oil, the depth and richness intensifies.
Be aware that Spotted Gum can be difficult to stain evenly due to variable grain density. If the brief requires a uniform stained colour, Blackbutt or Tassie Oak are more predictable substrates.
Tallowwood
Janka hardness: 8.6 kN | Colour: Yellow-olive to brown, greasy feel
Naturally oily timber. The oils can interfere with water-based coating adhesion if the sanding prep isn't right. Needs thorough sanding and sometimes a solvent wipe before priming.
Common in older Central Coast and northern NSW homes. Beautiful under oil finishes -- the natural oils complement Craft Oil 2K well. Under poly, use Bona Prime Intense to enhance the grain.
Brushbox
Janka hardness: 9.5 kN | Colour: Pink-brown to red-brown
Warm, pinkish tone that darkens with age and UV exposure. Common in older Sydney and Newcastle homes. The pink undertone is distinctive -- it either works with your palette or it doesn't.
Takes finish well. Staining can shift the pink toward warmer brown tones. Under water-based, it stays closer to its natural colour. Under solvent, it ambers toward a deeper honey-red.
Tasmanian Oak
Janka hardness: 5.5 kN | Colour: Pale straw to reddish-brown (variable)
Softer than the hardwoods above but extremely popular for engineered flooring and new installations. Colour varies significantly -- "Tassie Oak" is actually a marketing name covering several eucalyptus species.
Takes stain beautifully and evenly. The consistent grain makes it one of the best substrates for achieving a uniform stained outcome. Good choice when the design calls for a specific colour rather than natural variation.
Cypress Pine
Janka hardness: 6.0 kN | Colour: Honey gold with distinctive knots
High character timber with lots of knots, gum veins, and colour variation. Common in older rural and coastal homes. The knots are the defining feature -- either you embrace them or you don't.
Cypress is termite-resistant and durable but softer than hardwoods. It moves with humidity -- expect seasonal gaps between boards. Under oil, it looks spectacular. Under poly, keep to matt or extra matt to let the character show.
Engineered Oak
Colour: Varies by species and pre-finish | Wear layer: Typically 3-6mm
Most engineered flooring comes pre-finished from the factory. If it needs sanding on site, the wear layer thickness determines how much material is available. A 3mm wear layer allows 1-2 sands maximum. A 6mm layer allows more.
European Oak (white oak) is the most common engineered species in design projects. It's stable, takes stain well, and works with both poly and oil systems. If specifying site-sanded engineered, ensure the contractor understands the wear layer limitation.
UV and colour shift
All timber changes colour with UV exposure. Some species darken (Blackbutt, Tassie Oak), some lighten or grey (Spotted Gum in extreme sun), and some shift tone (Brushbox goes deeper red).
This is not a defect -- it's the nature of real timber. Water-based finishes slow the change but don't prevent it. Solvent-based finishes accelerate ambering.
If the design relies on a specific timber colour, factor in how it will shift over the first 6-12 months of UV exposure. Move rugs and furniture periodically so the floor ages evenly.