1. Product cost – the boards per m²
This is the base cost of the engineered timber flooring itself.
What affects it:
Timber species & grade – Genuine Australian hardwood (like your range) sits above cheap imported oak or generic species.
Board thickness & wear layer – Thicker boards and a 3mm hardwood veneer cost more than thin, budget options.
Board width & finish – Wider boards, wire-brushed / matt finishes and premium coatings also push the price up.
So even before install, you’ll see a spread in price just based on whether you’re buying premium Australian hardwood engineered timber versus thin, entry-level stuff.
2. Installation cost – labour to lay the floor
On top of the boards, you’ve got the installer’s labour:
Floating engineered timber
Usually cheaper and quicker to install. Boards click together over underlay, with less mess and no sanding/finishing on site.
Glue-down engineered timber
More labour-intensive. The installer needs to trowel adhesive, work more slowly, and sometimes do extra prep on the slab or subfloor. Costs more, but gives a more solid, “timber underfoot” feel.
Installers generally price per m², but will adjust up for small, chopped-up areas and down for big, open spaces.
3. Underlay, trims and stair nosings
These are the extras that people forget about until the quote lands:
Underlay – Required for floating engineered timber flooring. Acoustic underlay or moisture-barrier underlay will cost more than basic foam.
Scotia / trims – Around skirting boards, doorways and where the engineered timber meets tiles or carpet.
Stair nosings & stairs – Stairs are always more labour and more material per m². Matching nosings and custom work push the price up.
All of this is still part of your “flooring cost”, even though it’s not just boards.
4. Subfloor preparation and removal of old flooring
Two big variables most people don’t factor in:
Subfloor prep – Levelling compounds, grinding high spots, moisture barriers on slabs, fixing squeaky subfloors. If the base isn’t right, your engineered timber won’t perform properly, and that prep isn’t free.
Removal and disposal – Ripping up tiles, old timber, carpet and taking it away adds time, tipping fees and labour.
A “clean slab, no prep, no demo” job is always cheaper than a full rip-out and level.
5. Ballpark expectations
You’ll adjust this to fit your own pricing, but in simple terms:
Supply only: good quality engineered timber flooring (not rubbish) generally sits in a mid-to-premium price bracket compared to laminate and hybrid.
Supply + install: by the time you add labour, underlay, trims and basic prep, the installed cost per m² is significantly higher than hybrid/laminate, but still usually below a full traditional solid timber supply + sand + polish job.
How you should use this on-site:
Keep the wording about what affects cost (product, install method, prep, extras).
If you want to be more direct, you can add a line like:
“For an accurate price for your project, send us your plans or room sizes and we’ll give you a detailed quote on Australian hardwood engineered timber flooring, including underlay, trims and installation.”
That way you’re educating them on why the number is what it is, and pushing them to enquire instead of just price-shopping m² on Google.