Solid timber is wood cut directly in length-form from fully grown and matured trees. Because of its natural, unaltered state, it still contains the types of knots, grains and imperfections that you would expect to see. The most popular and common types of solid timbers are Oak, Maple and Walnut, plus Australian varieties such as Spotted Gum, Blackwood, Blackbutt, Jarrah and Hoop Pine.

Engineered timber (aka laminated timber) is made up of a few layers of wood, including thin hardwood and high-quality plywood, interlocked together for strength and stability. Unlike solid timbers, knots and imperfections are cut out so the appearance is much smoother and more uniform. It’s cheaper and less susceptible to warping than solid timber, however, it won’t last as long and can only be sanded and refinished once or twice before the top layer wears down.