Flooring Comparison

Updating your flooring but not sure which type will best suit your needs? We can help! Below, you’ll find a list of the pros and cons of each type of flooring. If you’re still unsure, contact our friendly team and we’ll be happy to provide some recommendations.

Flooring Comparison

FeaturesTypes	Vinyl	Hybrid	Bamboo	Engineered Timber	Solid Timber	Laminate	Carpet
Cost	Low - Medium	Low - Medium	Medium - High	Medium - Very High	High - Very High	Low - Medium	Low - Very High
DIY Friendly
Durability	Low - Medium	Medium	Medium	Medium	Medium	High	Low
Waterproof						-
Eco Friendly
Pros	100% waterproof Less expensive than many other flooring types DIY-friendly installation options Endless variety of patterns and colours Low maintenance Warm and comfortable Suitable for large scale commercial projects	100% waterproof Intended for use in any rooms in your home or business (bathrooms, kitchen, laundries, living rooms) Multi-layered construction suited to temperature changes and very warm areas Offers the appearance of timber with less investment and maintenance Stands up well to wear and tear Great range of style and colour options Comes with a built- in underlay Truly DIY-friendly installation	Durable and hard wearing Termites hate bamboo, because it contains indigestible fibres More water- resistant than other natural flooring solutions Bamboo is a natural, renewable resource. This allows you to purchase responsibly- harvested floors. More cost effective than timber	Can be sanded and refinished like a solid timber floor Multiple installation methods and more DIY-friendly than solid timber More environmentally friendly than solid timber, as only a small portion of slow growing hard wood is used. Other layers of faster growing, purpose grown plantation timbers, are used throughout each plank. Can be installed in larger areas than solid timber before expansion breaks are required	Stunning appearance with ample character and a totally unique appeal Damaged planks can be sanded or refinished, sometimes as much as 7 times Can improve the resale value of a home When cared for properly, timber can last for generation	Low maintenance Eco-friendly nature Wide range of colours and styles to choose from Relatively low investment price Wood fibers combined with resins in several layers come together to make laminate planks flexible and strong The most scratch, stain and burn resistant floor covering type DIY-friendly Can mimic the look of timber without the maintenance and investment	Imparts an inviting, cosy atmosphere Comfortable Wide range of price options Available in endless colour options, patterns, designs, and styles Installation typically costs less than other types of flooring materials Easier and faster to install than most other flooring options Great acoustic properties With carpet tiles, damaged tiles can easily be replaced
Cons	Will not increase a home's resale value Temperature sensitive. Can grow and shrink, leaving gaps between planks unless hard stuck to the floor with adhesive. Cheaper brands can be susceptible to fading in excessive sunlight	Uses the same wear layer as vinyl plank flooring, so is still susceptible to scratches from moving furniture Many styles suffer from the same plastic look as vinyl planks due to the same picture film and wear layer being used. However, there are now several options that are embossed in register (EIR) in the same way as high- end laminate flooring, which is much more true to life.	Susceptible to scratches You should avoid certain cheap flooring options that are constructed with the use of potentially toxic adhesives (we don't stock these)	Pricier than other flooring options Although it is better able to stand up to moisture than timber, it is not waterproof Initial colour will change after exposure to sunlight and oxygen, but will stabilise and take on its ‘true’ colour within 6-12 months Requires more care be taken in everyday life than other flooring options to avoid damage to the floor	Higher investment and installation cost Susceptible to wear, sun bleaching, and scratches Susceptible to moisture damage Initial colour will change after exposure to sunlight and oxygen, but will stabilise and take on its ‘true’ colour within 6-12 months Requires more care be taken in everyday life than other flooring options to avoid damage to the floor	Unlike timber, damaged planks cannot be sanded or refinished Most laminate flooring is not waterproof, making it imperative to wipe up any spills immediately. There are, however, many highly water resistant options available. Can have a ‘click clack’ sound when walked on with hard shoes	Can show signs of wear and tear, especially in high traffic areas Although it generally just needs regular vacuuming to stay clean, carpet does occasionally need to be professionally cleaned Some argue that carpet traps dirt and allergens, making it a poor choice for individuals with allergy issues. However, this may be a good thing as the allergens stay trapped in the carpet fibers until you vacuum them up. Needs to be replaced more frequently than other types of flooring

General

How do I choose the colour and style of flooring?

Once you decide on your preferred flooring material, now is the time to decide on a colour, design, and style! The flooring you select will have a significant impact on the atmosphere and appearance of your home, making it important to select a style that is an expression of your home and personality.

Sometimes, customers can get overwhelmed by the seemingly endless options, so here are some questions we like to ask to help guide our customers:

Do you have a particular design style you are going for (i.e. contemporary, rustic, nautical, classic, farmhouse, etc.)?
What room is it going on (this helps us determine the amount of traffic and sun and moisture exposure the flooring will see)
Do you gravitate toward any certain flooring types (i.e. darker, lighter, reclaimed, worn, whitewashed, wood, etc.)
What are your furniture, paint, and accent colours?
Is there a particular feeling you would like the room to evoke (i.e. cosy, inviting, relaxing, calming, tropical, airy, bold, etc.)

As you consider and answer these questions, you might find that your ideas really come alive and give you a better direction as to what type of style and design you want your flooring to have.

For more design inspiration, feel free to browse the Design and Decor section of our blogs, browse our favourite Pinterest accounts, or check out our guide to understanding the different design styles.

Information to know before ordering flooring

Once you decide on the type of flooring material you want and choose a colour and style, it is time to order. Knowing the following information will help speed up the ordering process.

1. Square Footage

Knowing the square footage of your project is a key piece of information for the ordering process and helps us calculate how many boxes your project will require.

Remember to add approximately 5 to 10% to account for any mistakes.

Need help calculating your square footage prior to ordering? We’d be happy to help!

2. Sub-Floor Type

To determine the type of underlayment your project needs, we need to know if your flooring will be installed over a wood or concrete subfloor.

To determine your subfloor, pull up a section of tile, carpet, or other flooring and see what is underneath. Generally, most above-ground floors are wood and below-grade floors are concrete.

3. Transition Mouldings

This can be a tricky question to answer, and it has two parts:

Which transition mouldings do you need?
What is the linear footage for the transition mouldings you need?

For the first question, you need to know what kind of floor you will be transitioning to: different height floors, same height floors, steps, or carpet. Each of these circumstances require different mouldings.

For the second question, the majority of mouldings come in 96″ linear feet pieces. You will need to measure out the total linear feet needed to cover the transition areas.

Please do not hesitate to contact us for further help with either of these questions.

Need some help choosing the perfect flooring for your home or office?

We understand you probably still have some questions when it comes to choosing and ordering flooring and our team is here to help. It is one of our goals to help our customers make informed decisions about their flooring so they can feel confident in their choices.

Contact us today with any and all of your flooring questions and we’ll be sure to help you on your way to choosing the perfect flooring for your space.

We Deliver to All Areas in Australia

For more information on shipping rates and delivery timeframes, click here.

Online Flooring Store is a family business that is wholly Australian owned and operated. We provide industry leading service and the highest quality products.

E: [email protected]

P: 1300 702 201

A: 7/13-17 Enterprise St, Cleveland QLD 4163

O: 17 Needlewood Road, Churchlands, WA 6018

Both the showroom and office are by appointment only.

ABN: 68625139068

Shop category

Flooring Comparison