STRUCTApanel® Smooth Leading Residential Flooring Performance

Building Confidence from the Ground Up

When planning a new 350 square metre home in Melbourne, the homeowner set a clear intention: invest in the best possible flooring system. Timber strip flooring would feature throughout the property, and they understood that the quality of the underlay would determine the performance, appearance and longevity of the entire installation.

Rather than accepting a standard solution, they carried out extensive research into underlay materials used across the industry. Their search led them to STRUCTApanel® Smooth H2 12mm, a high-performance panel recognised for its stability, consistency and reliability in timber flooring systems.

To ensure a faultless installation, the homeowner engaged Grant Ferris Flooring, an ATFA award-winning contractor known for his precision and experience with STRUCTApanel® Smooth H2 12mm in residential settings. Together, they set a new benchmark for flooring performance in modern home construction.

Understanding the Challenge

The homeowner knew the underlay was not just another component in the build. It was the foundation upon which every board, finish and detail would depend. Their priorities included:

• Perfect flatness to avoid lips or uneven sections in the finished floor.
• Uniform thickness for consistent adhesion and alignment.
• A stable panel resistant to movement under changing humidity.
• Termite protection suitable for long-term conditions.
• A smooth, bond-ready surface requiring no sanding.
• Compliance with environmental, air-quality and fire ratings.
• Industry endorsement to ensure best-practice installation.

The underlay needed to deliver strength and confidence without unnecessary preparation work. The homeowner wanted a product that installers could rely on straight from the pack, ensuring a stable and long-lasting base for their timber strip flooring.

The Solution: STRUCTApanel® Smooth H2 12mm

After a detailed consultation, Grant Ferris Flooring recommended STRUCTApanel® Smooth H2 12mm. A total of 110 sheets were installed across the home, forming an exceptionally smooth and stable underlay for the timber flooring to be glued directly to.

STRUCTApanel® Smooth H2 12mm provided a consistent, flat substrate that allowed adhesive to spread cleanly and evenly. With its uniform density and smooth surface, installers were able to achieve a flawless bond without sanding or extensive preparation.

Made in Australia from plantation-grown timber, STRUCTApanel® Smooth H2 12mm also delivered the long-term termite protection and environmental performance required for modern residential construction.

The outcome was a flooring system that not only looked exceptional but performed with long-term reliability.

Why STRUCTApanel® Smooth H2 12mm Performed Exceptionally Well?

STRUCTApanel® Smooth H2 12mm is engineered to meet the needs of installers who require predictability and precision. Key benefits include:

• High-density construction: Provides a strong, stable foundation for glue-down timber flooring.
• Flat and consistent sheets: Manufactured to tight tolerances for seamless installation.
• Smooth, uniform surface: Ideal for adhesives, requiring no surface preparation.
• Strong fixing capacity: Supports secure fastening where required.
• H2 termite treatment: Ensures long-term protection across Australian conditions.
• Australian-made: Manufactured at Porta’s facility using sustainably certified plantation pine.
• Reliable supply: Readily available through Porta’s national distribution network.

These capabilities made STRUCTApanel® Smooth H2 12mm the ideal choice for a project where quality, performance and consistency were non-negotiable.

On-Site Performance and Installation

Grant Ferris Flooring reported exceptional performance from STRUCTApanel® Smooth H2 12mm during installation. The panels cut cleanly, sat perfectly flat and aligned effortlessly across the slab.

The absence of voids or inconsistent grain meant that each sheet behaved predictably, which is critical for glue-down flooring methods. The installers were able to work efficiently without needing to correct imperfections or level out inconsistencies.

As Grant notes, “STRUCTApanel® always performs. It gives us a reliable foundation that stays stable over time. It saves us time and gives the homeowner confidence in the result.”

The completed flooring installation was smooth, seamless and highly stable, with the timber strip boards bonding perfectly across the entire floor area.

A Strong Result for Modern Home Construction

This project demonstrates how STRUCTApanel® Smooth H2 12mm supports the standard of excellence expected in contemporary residential builds. With an increasing preference for premium timber flooring, homeowners and builders require an underlay that delivers strength, longevity and stability without unnecessary preparation.

STRUCTApanel® meets that demand with Australian-made reliability, consistent sheet quality and the peace of mind that comes from long-term termite protection.

By choosing STRUCTApanel® Smooth H2 12mm, this Melbourne homeowner secured an outstanding flooring foundation that will support the beauty and performance of their timber floors for decades.

STRUCTApanel®. Built for strength. Ready for performance.