True to Form – Natural Oak Flooring by Tongue & Groove

Since the launch of the flagship Sydney showroom in 2007, Tongue & Groove has proven its worth in the engineered flooring space with triple-layered solid oak products. Delivering the quintessential warm look and granular texture expected from European oak, along with a high level of stability and strength, the extensive Tongue & Groove product range is marked by a versatility that is further enhanced by the newest grade to be added to the range, Natural.

Three grades of timber are available in the Tongue & Groove range of engineered timber floorboards, from the refined Prime grade delivering a clean look with minimal natural blemishes, and Classic with a varied range of grain patterning and some characteristic knots, to the latest addition – Natural, which celebrates the quintessential aesthetic of true oak complete with rich grains and knotty textures. This new understated grade helps to create the raw, organic looks favoured for beachside homes and those sited in wilderness areas, as well as fitting well with biophilic designs in any location.

Furthering the options available, all timbers can be either a machine finished for a smooth surface underfoot, or hand-scraped, which gives the boards a pleasingly distressed look, adding visual character and surface texture.

A first for Australia, the triple-layered construction of Tongue & Groove oak floorboards was developed by Founder Richard Karsay, who drew upon nearly two decades of experience installing and crafting flooring products. In place of the usual plywood layers in standard engineered flooring, which are generally only topped with solid wood, Tongue & Groove uses three layers of solid oak to gain a greater level of structural stability. The layers are bonded together with a non-toxic, low emission adhesive, resulting in a product that remains consistent over a lifetime of impact, through any level of traffic and in any climate.

As well as its three grade options, Tongue & Groove also offers a wide range of formats and finishes to fit with many design aesthetics, as well as an extensive palette of 16 colours spanning from a whitewashed, driftwood shade to a deep, solid black. Notably for up-to-the-minute interiors, a wide format range, at 400 millimetres by five metres, helps to fulfill a contemporary classic interior design style. Similarly, parquet patterning in the form of chevron and herringbone are available across the extensive Tongue & Groove range, for a grooved look that harks back to European design and New York style lofts. Furthering the options available, all timbers can be either Textured – machine finished for a smoother surface underfoot – or hand-scraped, which gives the boards a pleasingly distressed look, adding visual character and surface tactility.

Derived from FSC-certified plantation forests and with a construction process that enables the use of a wider range of timber grades, some of which might otherwise become waste products, Tongue & Groove comes down to a love of oak and the essential charm and character that comes from this timeless timber. Now, with the latest addition of the Natural grade, the Tongue & Groove collection has become even more versatile.