Engineered Timber Flooring with Havwoods International

Who: Brent and Simone
What: Havwoods International
Where: Global

We recently had a chat with Havwoods International’s Strategic Account Manager, Brent, and in-house Interior Designer, Simone, about engineered timber flooring.

Introducing Havwoods International

Described as “global yet fiercely local”, Havwoods International has over 40 years experience in sourcing the finest engineered timber flooring. Although located in every continent across the world (bar Antarctica), Havwoods is a family owned and operated business and is dedicated to providing quality expertise and service with local people on the ground to service clients requirements. 

Havwoods International prides itself on having a library of the best timber floors globally and bringing them locally. The high quality wood products are ‘fit-for-purpose and fit-for-budget’, making Havwoods the ‘leading supplier for residential, commercial, high-volume apartments, retails and hospitality projects across Australia and around the world.’

Why Engineered Timber?

Havwoods International has grown throughout its 40 odd year history in originally supplying solid timber to now being at the forefront of engineered timber flooring. So about 12 years ago, in Australia, Havwoods International made the switch entirely from 100% solid timber to 100% engineered.

The core reason for an engineered board is its stability as timber flooring in a solid format or in a solid manufactured state by definition is unstable whereas engineered timber is a flat, hard surface that does not warp, bow or cup. Engineered timber has increased durability as it is prefinished in the factory and it’s more sustainable and cost effective. So why would anyone pay more for a product less stable or durable? The only reason someone would still want solid timber flooring would be to tie in with existing solid timber flooring, for example, if it’s a heritage listing. With today’s technology and the expertise and the scale in which engineered timber is now produced in, there’s no real reason to choose solid.

Sustainability

For every square metre of solid timber flooring, you get four square metres of engineered timber flooring. According to Brent, Havwoods International has found that clients, as well as architects and designers, are more educated and have an increased knowledge base when it comes to the environment and sustainable forestry practices. This means clients are requesting to know where the product is made, how it is made and whether Havwoods have independent certification or ecolabels like FSC or PEFC. 

Sustainability is part of Havwoods corporate DNA with 75% of products now having independent sustainability certification, which is well in advance of what the local regulations call for. The president and CEO have signed a global charter stating they will never source a product that can’t be certified as being produced in a sustainable way.

Introducing Simone

When investing in timber flooring, not everyone has the eye for interior design. This is where Simone comes in. Simone recently joined the Havwoods team in their Sydney showroom as an in-house interior designer. Bringing a new layer to the company with her fresh insights and ideas, Simone helps clients with the decision making process through free design consultations. Working with residential clients on new builds and renovations, Simone offers insight into modern trends and can give advice and guidance through the use of mood boards and samples to pull visions together. 

Simone’s position within the company isn’t designed to replace Havwoods’ close relationships with architects and interior designers but to complement a growing residential client base that are wanting some guidance for home projects and renovations. Havwoods have showrooms in Sydney, Melbourne and Newcastle and are soon beginning free virtual interior design consultations too. 

When chatting about industry trends, commercial and residential, Simone said it’s all about the natural tones. Natural oaks paired with greens, greys and earthy tones to tie in with the overall natural feel. With people working from home during COVID, workplaces have been using natural, earthy tones and materials in the office to help give a more homely feel to entice workers to return to work, opposed to the workplace feeling clinical or sterile.

Lunch and Learn

If you work in the industry and want to learn more about engineered timber flooring, Havwoods offer a one hour learning session (can be shorter or longer) called the Lunch and Learn program to give a better understanding of the company, its products and to offer advice and provide solutions for any problems potential clients may have. They also offer CPD presentations for architects.

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