Home / Services / Engineered Wood Installation
Install · Cape Town

Engineered Wood Installation

Real oak with a stable engineered core, laid floating over quality underlay or fully bonded with flexible wood adhesive. We also lay herringbone and chevron patterns and finish with matching trims.

Best for
Living areas, bedrooms, premium homes
Typical pace
20 to 40 m² a day, herringbone 10 to 15
Walk on it
Floating: immediately. Glued: after 24 h
Guarantee
12 months workmanship*

How it works

4 simple steps from first visit to handover.

  1. 1

    Site visit

    We test moisture and flatness and help you choose floating or glue-down. See the comparison below.

    1 hour
  2. 2

    Settle the boards

    The boards are delivered and left on site so they adjust to the room.

    48 hours
  3. 3

    Install

    Boards go down on underlay (floating) or in flexible wood adhesive (glue-down). Herringbone is always glued.

    2 to 4 days
  4. 4

    Finish

    Stair nosings and trims are fitted and the floor is cleaned, with a care guide. Skirting is optional.

    Same day

Floating or glue-down?

Both are good installs. The right one depends on your floor, your budget and the look you want.

Floating

Boards click together on underlay and are not fixed to the floor.

Pros
  • Quicker to install and lower cost
  • Walk on it immediately
  • Underlay adds sound insulation
  • Boards can be lifted and replaced
Cons
  • Can sound slightly hollow underfoot
  • Needs an expansion gap covered at the walls
  • Not suitable for herringbone
  • Large open areas may need expansion joints

Glue-down

Every board is bonded to the subfloor with flexible wood adhesive.

Pros
  • Solid, quiet feel like solid wood
  • Required for herringbone and chevron
  • No expansion joints in large open areas
  • Works best with underfloor heating
Cons
  • Higher cost for adhesive and labour
  • Light use only for the first 24 hours
  • Needs a flatter, drier subfloor
  • Harder to lift later

How long it takes

Typical time on site for our team. Your quote confirms exact dates.

Project sizeTime on site
Single room up to 20 m²1 to 2 days
20 to 60 m²2 to 4 days
Herringbone 30 m²3 to 4 days
60 m²+We schedule it with you

Allow extra time where screeding, moisture barriers or old floor removal are needed.

Before we start

A few things that keep the job on time and the result right.

  • Rooms cleared
  • Slab dry: wood is sensitive to moisture, so readings must be within limits
  • Painting and plastering finished before we start
  • Keep the home between 18 and 24 °C and 45 to 65% humidity

Questions

Can't see yours? Ask us.

Floating or glued down?

Floating is quicker and cheaper. Glued down feels more solid, sounds quieter and is required for herringbone and for large open areas.

Can it be sanded later?

Yes. Most of our engineered boards have a 3 to 4 mm oak top layer that can be sanded and re-sealed.

Products we install

Popular choices

View all
Other services

Ready when you are

Free on-site measure and a written quote, usually within 1 business day.

Get a free quote ↗See our work

*12-month workmanship guarantee from the date of completion. Where the subfloor was prepared by others, faults caused by that subfloor are excluded. See our guarantee. Timelines are typical and confirmed in your quote.