What we do and who it is for
We supply and install timber floors in villas, apartments, majlis rooms, offices and showrooms. Most work is bedrooms, living areas, dining rooms and hallways. We cover the full job: advice on construction, species and finish, subfloor preparation, supply, fitting, skirting and thresholds. Clients are homeowners, landlords and fit-out contractors who want one team accountable for the floor.
Solid or engineered
- Solid wood is one piece of timber through its full thickness. It can be sanded and re-sealed several times, so scratches and wear are recoverable. It expands and contracts with humidity, and cool air conditioning against humid outdoor air can open gaps or cause cupping if the floor is not acclimatised and installed correctly.
- Engineered wood has a genuine hardwood wear layer bonded over a cross-laminated plywood or HDF core. The core resists seasonal movement, which makes it the more stable choice for most Dubai homes that run air conditioning all year. A thicker wear layer can be sanded back once or twice, while thin veneers usually cannot.
Species and finishes
- Oak is hard-wearing, takes almost any stain and is the most requested species.
- Walnut has deep, warm tones.
- Maple, ash and cherry are also available.
- Finishes range from matte and brushed natural oils to lacquered and smoked oak. Lighter, brushed finishes hide dust better in a desert climate, and oiled finishes are easier to spot-repair than lacquer.
For a renewable alternative, see bamboo flooring. For patterned layouts, see parquet flooring.
Subfloor, underlay and installation
Good timber floors fail at the subfloor, not the surface. Before any board goes down we check that the screed is level and dry and lay the moisture barrier and underlay to the right specification.
- Glue-down bonds boards fully to the screed. It is solid, quiet and dimensionally controlled, and our usual choice for engineered wood over concrete.
- Secret-nailing suits solid boards over a timber subfloor or battens.
- Floating clicks boards together over an underlay. It is fast and clean, and better for lighter-use rooms.
Dubai considerations
Humidity and air conditioning are the main issues. Outdoors is humid for much of the year and indoors is cooled and dry, so timber moves. Acclimatising the boards on site until they match your interior climate is the step that most often prevents gapping and cupping, and skipping it is a common cause of failures here. Keeping indoor humidity reasonably steady helps the floor afterwards.
Wood belongs in bedrooms, living rooms, majlis and dining spaces, not in bathrooms, wet kitchens or laundry rooms. For wet areas, compare vinyl flooring and LVT flooring. Our guide to the best flooring for Dubai homes compares the options room by room.
How the job runs
- Site visit. We look at the rooms, the subfloor and how the space is used, and talk through construction, species and finish.
- Quote. You receive a fixed quote covering supply, subfloor preparation and fitting.
- Subfloor preparation. We level where needed, check dryness and lay the moisture barrier and underlay.
- Acclimatisation. The boards sit in the rooms until they have adjusted.
- Fitting. Boards are laid by the method chosen, with expansion gaps and neat thresholds.
- Handover. We clean up and explain care: soft vacuum, a barely damp mop, no soaking or steam, and felt pads under furniture.
What drives the cost
Timber floors are priced by the project, and the range is wide. The main factors are:
- the species and grade;
- solid or engineered construction, and the wear-layer thickness;
- the finish, whether oiled, lacquered or specialist;
- the floor area and layout;
- the state of the subfloor and the preparation it needs;
- the fitting method, and removal of any old floor.
The quote itemises these, with VAT shown separately.
Related services
Wood often sits within wider works. See parquet flooring for patterns, bamboo flooring as a renewable option, vinyl flooring for wet areas, interior fit-out works and the interior design hub.
Book a free site visit. We will measure, advise on solid or engineered for your home, and send you a fixed quote. Call +971 50 928 5264.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is solid or engineered wood flooring better for Dubai?
For most Dubai homes running air-conditioning year round, engineered wood is the better choice because its cross-laminated core resists the expansion and contraction caused by humidity swings. Solid wood is excellent where you want the floor to be refinished many times over decades, but it must be acclimatised and installed carefully to avoid gapping or cupping.
Does wooden flooring warp in Dubai's heat and humidity?
It can, if the wrong product is chosen or it is installed badly. Real timber moves with moisture. We reduce that risk by recommending engineered construction where appropriate, fitting a correct moisture barrier, and acclimatising the boards on site before installation so they have already adjusted to your interior climate.
Can wooden flooring be installed in bathrooms or kitchens?
We do not recommend natural wood in bathrooms, laundry rooms or wet kitchen zones where standing water is likely. For those areas a waterproof option such as SPC vinyl is far safer. Wood is ideal for bedrooms, living rooms, majlis and dining areas.
Can wooden floors be sanded and refinished?
Solid wood can be sanded and refinished several times across its life. Engineered wood with a thicker real-wood wear layer can usually be refinished once or twice. Thin-veneer engineered boards generally cannot be sanded.
How much does wooden flooring cost in Dubai?
Wooden flooring is priced per square metre and varies widely with species, grade, construction and finish. Rather than quote a misleading figure, we measure your space on a free site visit and return a fixed, itemised quote including supply, subfloor preparation and installation, with 5% VAT shown separately.