Tokai Arauco

Running the same floor from the living room out onto a covered verandah is the main reason to look at an outdoor rated plank, and Tokai Arauco is the pale one in that group. Golden honey puts it in blackbutt territory, which suits a Queenslander or a weatherboard front. The deep matt texture gives the grip and the low glare you want where rain blows in under the roof. Three random faces is low, so mix cartons before laying. Planks are 200 x 1200 mm glazed ceramic at 9 to 9.5 mm, 5 per box, 1.20 m2, 25 kg.

• What does a carton of Tokai Arauco cover?

  Each carton holds 5 planks of 20 x 120 cm and covers 1.20 m², at about 25 kg. Tokai Arauco is a timber look tile with a matte textured face.

• How many cartons of Tokai Arauco for a 28 m² open plan kitchen and dining area?

  Add 10 percent to 28 m² for cuts and breakage, which gives 30.8 m². At 1.20 m² a carton that is 26 cartons.

• Can Tokai Arauco go in an alfresco area?

  Yes. Tokai Arauco is rated for outdoor use, so a covered alfresco, verandah or balcony can have a timber deck look that never needs oiling or re-staining.

• What grout joint should Tokai Arauco be laid with?

  Tokai Arauco is a curve-edge plank rather than a rectified one, so lay it with a 3 to 5 mm joint. That spacing takes up the small natural variation along the plank and reads like the gap between real boards.