A Seamless Union of New and Old: Custom European Oak Flooring at 201 Elizabeth Street, Sydney

Project Overview

Location: 201 Elizabeth St, Sydney
Client: Mongo Project
Flooring Type: Custom European Oak, 260mm wide boards
Finish: Commercial grade water-based coating
Scope: Full-floor upgrade, timber restoration, custom stair finishing

A Showcase of Elegance and Craftsmanship

At Madera Floors, we pride ourselves on delivering tailored timber flooring solutions that blend timeless design with contemporary functionality. Our recent collaboration at 201 Elizabeth Street, in the heart of Sydney’s CBD, exemplifies this philosophy.

The brief was to supply and install a custom-dimension European Oak timber floor, meticulously integrated with sections of the existing timber that the client wished to retain. With an architecturally led design and a heritage-conscious approach, this project demanded both creative and technical finesse.

The Flooring: Wide, Refined, and Built to Last

The hero of this space is undoubtedly the 260mm wide European Oak, precision-milled to 2200mm lengths and a robust 21/6mm profile. Sourced in ABC grade, these boards offer the perfect balance of natural charm and uniformity — featuring subtle knots and clean grain that exude sophistication.

Our team finished the timber with a commercial-grade water-based coating, offering excellent durability while enhancing the oak’s natural tones. This finish also aligns with sustainable practices by reducing VOC emissions

Technical Excellence in Installation

A key challenge was marrying the new flooring seamlessly into the retained original timber, ensuring continuity in both level and appearance. Here’s how we achieved it:

  • Concrete subfloors were primed and levelled, forming the foundation for long-term performance.
  • The oak boards were installed via full trowel glue application using a high-performance, flexible adhesive—ensuring a stable, creak-free finish.
  • Transitional sanding and polishing were carried out to unify old and new sections, resulting in a visually continuous floor surface.

The staircase was treated as a focal feature, receiving the same European Oak finish and topped with a satin anti-slip coating to meet both aesthetic and safety requirements.