Flooring Comparison

Thinking of updating your flooring? We outline the pros and cons for each of the most popular types of flooring in Australia.

Vinyl Flooring

Gone are the days of your grandmother's vinyl flooring! Innovative technology has created luxury vinyl planks that mimic the look of real timber.

Pros

  • Less expensive than many other flooring types
  • DIY-friendly installation options
  • Endless variety of patterns and colours
  • Low maintenance
  • Warm and comfortable
  • Waterproof

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

Hybrid Flooring

Hybrid flooring offers the look of timber without the commitment to maintenance. With its many benefits, hybrid flooring is fast becoming the top flooring choice.

Pros

  • 100% waterproof
  • Intended for use in any rooms in your home or business (bathrooms, kitchen, laundries, living rooms)
  • Multi-layered construction suited to extreme temperature changes, harsh sunlight, and very warm areas
  • Offers the appearance of timber with less investment and maintenance
  • Stands up well to wear and tear
  • Beautiful range of style and colour options
  • Comes with a built-in underlay
  • Truly DIY-friendly installation

Cons

  • 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.

Bamboo Flooring

Compare to many other flooring solutions, bamboo flooring is extremely hard-wearing. Its durability can match or surpass traditional hardwood or engineered timber flooring.

Pros

  • 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.
  • Cost effective

Cons

  • Susceptible to scratches
  • Can crack when exposed to rapidly changing levels of humidity
  • You should avoid certain cheap flooring options that are constructed with the use of potentially toxic adhesives (we don't stock these)

Engineered Timber Flooring

Engineered timber -- a pure timber veneer on top of a multilayered plywood core -- has become a go-to flooring option for homeowners seeking the look and feel of timber with increased versatility.

Pros

  • Compatible with radiant heating systems
  • Less susceptible to moisture and humidity damage than solid timber flooring
  • Can usually be refinished three times in its lifespan
  • 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 greater areas than solid timber before expansion breaks are required

Cons

  • 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

Solid Timber Flooring

Solid timber flooring shows no signs of slowing down as one of the top choices of all time, and for good reason.

Pros

  • 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 generations

Cons

  • Higher investment and installation cost
  • Susceptible to wear, sun bleaching, and scratches
  • Susceptible to moisture damage

Laminate Flooring

Laminate is a versatile flooring material that has been popular for years due to its many benefits.

Pros

  • 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

Cons

  • 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

Carpet

Carpets have long been a staple in apartment buildings, bedrooms, living rooms, and playrooms.

Pros

  • 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

  • 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
WPC Waterproof Hybrid SPC Waterproof Hybrid Porcelain or Ceramic Tiles Waterproof Laminate Rigid Core Engineered Timber Viny Plank
Flooring
Composition 100% Wood Polymer Composite (WPC) Core, Printed picture film, Polyurethane PVC Wear Layer, Foam or Rubber underlay 100% Stone Polymer Composite (SPC) Core, Printed picture film, Polyurethane PVC Wear Layer, Foam or Rubber underlay Solid waterproof Porcelain or Ceramic with many textures and colours. Water Proof Fibreboard core, High Definition Printed resin impregnated picture film, melamine wear layer 100% Stone Polymer Composite (SPC) Core, Natural timber wear layer with polyurethane coatings, Foam or Rubber Underlay Polyvinyl Chlodire (PVC) core, Printed picture film, Polyurethane PVC Wear Layer,
Cost $$ $$ $$$ $$ $$$ $$
DIY Friendly Yes Yes No Yes Yes Yes/No
Durabililty XXX XXX XXXX XXXXX XX XXX
Pros
  • Wood Look Visuals
  • Easy Installation
  • Durable Waterproof Core
  • Wood Look and Stone Look Visuals
  • Easy Installation
  • Durable Waterproof Core
  • Stone Look Visuals
  • Install Anywhere
  • More affordable than real stone
  • Wood Look Visuals
  • Easy Inatallation
  • Most Scratch Stain and Burn Resistance Option
  • Natural Timber Veneer
  • Easy Installation
  • Rigid, Waterproof Core
  • Wood Look Visuals
  • *Waterproof Core
Cons
  • Less Stable in Extreme Temperature
  • Must deal with Fall in Bathroom Floor
  • Requries additional Waterproofing Steps
  • Must deal with Fall in Bathroom Floor
  • Requries additional Waterproofing Steps
  • Difficult to Install
  • Colder underfoot
  • *Must deal with Fall in Bathroom Floor
  • *Requries additional Waterproofing Steps
  • Must deal with Fall in Bathroom Floor
  • Requries additional Waterproofing Steps
  • Much higher price
  • Not as Realistic Looking
We deliver to all areas in Australia

We Deliver to All Areas in Australia

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

ENQUIRE ABOUT DISCOUNTED PRICING

  • Hidden
  • Hidden
  • Hidden
  • Max. file size: 2 MB.

  • Please prove you are human by selecting the tree.