Timber Flooring

We supply recycled timber flooring to Canberra and the surrounding region, and we can ship throughout Australia.

Every floor has a story.

At Thor’s Hammer we create recycled timber flooring that brings warmth, character and authenticity to your space. Every board has lived a previous life, whether re-milled from beams in century-old homes or purlins and joists from factories and schools - we give them new life underfoot. Our timber flooring is crafted from dense, durable Australian hardwoods with rich colour and grain. It adds timeless charm and real value to your home, a floor that can be sanded back and restored for generations.

We offer two options for recycled timber flooring:

Re-milled Flooring is produced in our Canberra workshop from recycled structural timbers. The freshly milled tongue and groove makes for precise, snug fitting boards and quick installation. Like new boards, but with a rich character and story to tell.

Salvaged Flooring was once a floor in an old house, church, factory or school. It has regular nail holes where it was previously fixed down and a unique patina depending on the building’s history and previous use. Salvaged flooring has had protruding nails removed, defects docked and the tongue and groove cleaned to make it easier to lay.

We supply recycled timber flooring to Canberra and the surrounding region, and can ship Australia-wide. Re-milled recycled timber flooring is made to order in our Canberra workshop.

Re-milled Flooring

Our Re-milled Flooring is produced from structural timbers reclaimed from demolished houses and factories. These dense, seasoned timbers are given a second life as premium tongue and groove flooring.

Each board is de-nailed, sawn, kiln dried and machined in our Canberra workshop for a precise fit and a smooth install. The result is a clean, consistent product just like new flooring, but with far more character.

• Available in clean dressed or lightly dressed rustic finishes

• Occasional nail holes and markings add subtle charm

• Offered in a variety of Australian hardwoods and in recycled Oregon

Many customers choose re-milled flooring for its balance of character and reliability. It is easier to install and offers a more predictable result compared to salvaged flooring. For knock-down rebuilds, we can often re-mill structural timbers from your old home and turn it into flooring for your new one, preserving your home’s story in a truly personal way.

The Re-milled Flooring Process

Rescuing timber is not the easiest way to make flooring, but it is the most rewarding.

We begin by sourcing old timbers from demolitions and building sites, carefully selecting pieces that can be remilled or salvaged. Every piece is de-nailed, metal detected, sawn, solar kiln dried and profiled to precise specifications in our workshop.

Our tongue and groove (T&G) profiles ensure a snug, seamless fit. The interlocking design allows for natural timber movement and creates a strong and stable floor.

Because our re-milled flooring is made to order, there is usually a lead time for production. Lead times vary between species of timber and can range from 3-10 weeks. We recommend contacting us early in your project to avoid any last-minute delays.

WATCH: How We Turn Salvaged Roof Timbers Into Re-Milled Flooring

How to purchase re-milled flooring:

1. You choose a size and timber species.

2. Let us know the total quantity (usually in m2) and timeframe. Remember to include approximately 10% extra for wastage when laying.

3. We provide a quote.

4. Once accepted, a 50% deposit starts production.

5. Timber is sawn and solar kiln dried and then we machine the timber to your order. We wrap the packs carefully before storing them in order to maintain the low moisture content. We contact you when your order is ready for pickup or delivery.

Our timber flooring is kiln dried, meaning it can be installed straight away. Acclimatisation is only needed when shipping to significantly different climates outside Canberra.

SALVAGED FLOORING

Salvaged flooring comes from old buildings, including schools, churches, factories and homes, where it has already lived a full life underfoot.

Floor boards are lifted, sorted, de-nailed and cleaned. Our founder, Thor Diesendorf, designed a unique brushing and scraping machine that removes built-up dirt from the tongue and groove, making installation easier.

These floor boards carry regular nail holes from their previous installation, often every 450mm, and a natural patina that reflects their age. You can choose to keep the aged surface for a rustic look or sand it back to reveal a cleaner surface.

Many customers are drawn to salvaged flooring for its authenticity and the connection to where it came from. Each batch is different, and availability depends on the buildings we are currently salvaging from.

For knock-down rebuilds, old floor boards can sometimes be saved for reuse in the new house. You will need to check if there is enough wear left in the boards. The best way is to slip a thin steel ruler down into a gap between the boards until it hits the tongue and take a measurement. At least 6mm of timber above the tongue is preferred.

Recycled Flooring Dimensions

Each demolition gives us timber in random lengths, boards cut to suit their original building rather than mass-produced uniform sizes. 

We offer both narrow and wide floor boards, with widths dependent on the available timber. Really wide boards are more scarce in recycled hardwoods and also less stable, so some natural movement or gapping may occur.

Please note: Thor’s Hammer supplies recycled flooring only - we do not install. If you don’t have an installer lined up, we can recommend one of our preferred suppliers.

Narrow Floor Boards vs Wide Floor Boards

Historically the most common width for hardwood flooring has been from 80-88mm wide, so most of our salvaged flooring comes in that range. 

Our remilled flooring comes in a standard width of 78mm, but is also available wider with stocks being more limited.

Narrow floor boards (boards 75mm or lower) offer a traditional, refined look. They are less prone to seasonal movement than wider boards, and the narrower divisions make a room feel wider. Historically, narrow boards were used for dance halls, basketball and squash courts where a tight, even floor is especially important. Salvaged flooring is sometimes available in 45 - 60mm narrow boards.

Wide floor boards (boards wider than 100mm) highlight the natural grain and history of the timber. They create a more contemporary feel but will move more with changes in humidity. 

In recycled timber flooring, wide boards are harder to source and more expensive to produce, so they carry a price premium. Standard width 78-90mm boards carry the same beauty and heritage, are less prone to movement over time and are more readily available.

PARQUETRY FLOORING

Parquetry flooring is a type of wooden flooring made from small, pre-cut wooden blocks arranged in decorative geometric patterns, such as herringbone, chevron, or basketweave.

We can make parquetry flooring as a special order and occasionally we will have salvaged parquetry flooring. Contact us if you’re interested in recycled timber parquetry flooring.

Chris Explains Our Recycled Timber Flooring

Chris from the design team is a wealth of knowledge - having done most jobs in the business over the years, he’s now front of house helping customers choosing the flooring option that’s best for them.

Watch this quick video for an explanation of our two types of flooring:

FLOORING FAQ’s