When considering flooring options, it’s important to understand the differences between engineered timber flooring, laminate flooring, and hybrid flooring.
Here's a breakdown of their unique features:
Engineered Timber Flooring: Real timber veneer with a ply substrate
- Material Composition: Engineered timber flooring is made from real wood, featuring real wood veneers over a sturdy plywood base, providing an authentic appearance. Meaning, no two planks are the same, they will all show a completely different grain.
- Stability and Durability: Enhanced stability and durability, less prone to expansion and contraction caused by humidity, making it suitable for areas with fluctuating moisture levels.
- Maintenance and Longevity: Known for its durability and longevity, it can withstand heavy foot traffic and resist warping or cupping over time. It can be sanded and refinished if needed.
- Cost and Maintenance: Generally, comes with a higher upfront cost. Between $60 – $140 sqm Requires special timber-appropriate products for cleaning and regular maintenance.
Hybrid Flooring: SPC- Stone Plastic Composite
- Material Composition: Hybrid flooring combines the best features of laminate and luxury vinyl flooring, offering a versatile and resilient flooring solution.
- Waterproof and Scratch Resistance: Highly resistant to moisture, scratches, stains, and fading, making it suitable for high-traffic areas and households with children or pets.
- Easy Installation and Maintenance: Features click-lock installation systems, enabling easy DIY installation without the need for adhesives. Requires simple sweeping, vacuuming, or damp mopping for maintenance.
- Cost and Value: Generally, offers a more cost-effective option compared to engineered wood flooring. You can expect to pay between $30 – $70 sqm
In summary, engineered timber flooring provides an authentic wood appearance with enhanced stability and durability, while laminate flooring offers cost-effectiveness and scratch resistance but with specific moisture and maintenance requirements. On the other hand, hybrid flooring provides waterproof and scratch-resistant properties, easy flooring installation, and low maintenance requirements, making it a versatile and resilient option for various living spaces.
Laminate Flooring: WPC- Wood Plastic Composite
- Material Composition: Laminate flooring is composed of high-density MDF fibreboard with a photographic applique layer under a clear protective layer, providing a wide range of designs.
- Moisture Resistance: Cannot get wet, as any water used in cleaning must dry within a short period. Requires a level floor and has a lower tolerance for moisture compared to hybrid flooring. In saying this, there are now laminate floors with new technology that are water resistant but not waterproof.
- Scratch Resistance: Offers scratch resistance but may vary based on the thickness of the product.
- Cost and Maintenance: Provides a cost-effective option between $25 – $80 sqm and usually requires less maintenance. Thin laminate products may feel cheap and less sturdy.
