Premium Timber Flooring for New Zealand Homes

Authentic oak, engineered for NZ conditions, and backed for a generation.

Forté is a family-owned New Zealand brand with three generations of timber experience.

Every floor is authentic oak, independently tested for NZ conditions, FSC and PEFC certified, and backed by a 25-year residential Structural Warranty and 7-year residential Finish Warranty. Real wood flooring, built to last.

Why Forté for timber flooring

A Forté timber floor is real oak, engineered to stay beautiful through New Zealand's warm, humid summers and dry, cool winters. Every board is pre-finished with a seven-layer UV-cured water-based polyurethane finish, independently tested for dimensional stability, and built on a balanced multilayer core that keeps the floor flat for decades.

Forté is a family-owned NZ company with three generations of timber experience. Our collections are designed here, made to international manufacturing standards, and supported by a team you can actually reach.

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The Forté difference

Over a decade of testing, refined into five non-negotiables that define every Forté floor.

We only do engineered timber flooring

The main benefit of engineered wood flooring is the superior stability over solid wood due to its multi-layered core, which increases its resistance to higher and lower levels of moisture. This prevents warping, cupping and shrinkage, which are common issues of solid wood, especially in New Zealand's humid climate conditions.

We only do hardwood flooring (oak)

Oak is one of the most durable hardwood options for flooring due to its density, making it highly resistant to scratches and dents. It also offers an attractive grain pattern and takes well to staining and colouring, allowing for a variety of colour options to be achieved.

We only recommend glue-down installation

A glue-down installation method is the only method that we recommend. Not only does this allow the floor to be re-sanded, increasing its lifespan by decades, but it also eliminates the sound of creaking and cracking underfoot due to the planks being glued directly to the substrate.

We only offer prefinished timber flooring

When timber planks are prefinished in a factory, they undergo strict quality control processes when the coloured stain is applied, ensuring each batch is consistent. The final colour is exactly what you ordered.

We only use water-based polyurethane finishes

All our flooring collections use a low VOC water-based polyurethane, which gives the look of natural oil with better water resistance. Almost all our flooring products have a 7-layer polyurethane finish for ultimate durability.

Three ways to choose your floor

A timber floor is a decision you make once. We've made it easy to choose with confidence.

1. Order free samples
Hold the boards in your hand, view them in your home's light, and live with them for a few days before you decide.

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2. Visit an Experience Centre
Our Auckland, Christchurch and Queenstown Experience Centres let you see every collection in full plank lengths, alongside real installations.

Find Your Nearest Experience Centre


3. Book a consultation
Talk through your project with one of our specialists. Whether you're designing a new build or renovating, we'll help match the right floor to your home.

Book a Consultation
FAQs
Timber flooring
What is the difference between timber flooring and wood flooring?

The terms are used interchangeably. Both refer to flooring made from real hardwood. Forté specialises in prefinished engineered oak timber flooring, designed for the demands of modern NZ homes.

Is Forté timber flooring real wood?

Yes. Every Forté floor is authentic oak. We only work with real timber, never laminates or synthetic imitations. The top layer (the lamella) is solid oak, bonded to an engineered multilayer core for stability.

How long does Forté timber flooring last?

With proper care, decades. Forté flooring is backed by a 25-year residential structural warranty and a 7-year residential finish warranty, supported by a NZ-based team.

Can I see Forté timber flooring in person?

Yes. We have Experience Centres in Auckland, Christchurch and Queenstown where you can see the full range. You can also order free samples sent to your home.

Is Forté timber flooring sustainable?

Forté holds FSC and PEFC chain-of-custody certification, and participates in the Toitū CarbonReduce programme. Our finishes are low-VOC and independently verified.

Flooring basics
What is solid wood flooring?

Solid wood flooring is 100% solid timber all the way through. Find out more

What is engineered wood flooring?

Engineered wood flooring consists of a natural hardwood veneer (typically 2–6mm thick) bonded to one or more backing layers of timber. Once installed, it looks identical to a solid timber floor but offers greater stability and a range of additional benefits.

Engineered wood is sometimes mistaken for laminate flooring because its layers are ‘laminated’ together. However, unlike laminate— which is a synthetic product designed to imitate wood—engineered wood flooring is made from real hardwood, offering authentic beauty and performance. Find out more

What is laminate flooring?

The term laminate flooring often gets confused with engineered wood flooring, however the two are very different. Laminate is an entirely man-made product with a surface that imitates the look of timber, whereas engineered wood flooring has a real timber surface layer. Find out more

What does prefinished mean?

Prefinished is a term used to describe wood flooring which has had finishing coatings applied in the factory as a part of the manufacturing process. Prefinished wood flooring should not require any further finishing after installation. Learn more

What does unfinished mean?

Unfinished wood flooring refers to raw, natural timber flooring (whether solid or engineered) that is supplied without any finishing coatings applied. This type of wood flooring is usually finished on site after it has been installed. Learn more

Start with a sample

The best way to choose a timber floor is to see it in your home. Order free samples from the Forté range and live with them in your own light, alongside your own materials, before you commit. Or book a consultation and we'll walk through the options with you.

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