Ask A Flooring Expert. Flooring Xtra Store Winners Share Their Top Tips

Trevor from Gladstone Flooring Xtra says there are a lot of things to think about when making flooring selections. He says; “When planning new flooring, think about the style and look you want to achieve, along with practical factors like children, pets, and how much traffic the area gets, especially in hallways, stairs, or upper floors where acoustics matter.” From a practical point of view he also mentions thinking about how much you want to spend. “ Having a clear budget helps narrow down the best options to suit your vision”

Pets are very popular in Australia and many homes feature a furry friend or two! If you’re looking for new flooring and own pets, it’s definitely something that can impact your decision if they are “inside” animals. Eltham Flooring Xtra (and pet) owner, Saaed imparts his wisdom. “Depending on the size of the dog, being scratch resistant is a good consideration, resilient laminate flooring (preferably water-resistant ones) or Hybrid flooring. Consider a floor with more gripping as some dogs (including mine!) are not a fan of shiny and glossy finish given they don’t feel safe walking on them. Paws can also catch on loop pile carpets, so it’s best to avoid those styles.”

Looking at flooring samples in a showroom compared to your own home can be very different. The lighting, the other materials in the home and the room scale can impact how a material looks. Sue from Flooring Xtra Yamba has some tips for viewing samples at home. “I recommend comparing under different lighting sources at different times of the day (daylight and artificial light) to get a true sense of how it will look in your home. Place samples next to your furniture, walls, or paint colours to ensure everything complements well. Also, walk on the sample barefoot to test how it feels underfoot, especially if comfort is important to you!”

Every home is different and one of the reasons it’s important to consider how you want it to look and feel. While you might love a particular style you have seen, it might not lend itself to what you’re trying to achieve. If you have a darker home, for example that you’re wanting to brighten, consideration should be made to styles and colours. “Focus on the colour of the flooring as light colour flooring can make a room look bigger or brighter. There are lots of options across all the flooring categories that will work.” Says Faizan from Gawler Flooring Xtra. From modern vinyl plants to wool loop carpet, there’s a range of colours and timber styles that will fit the bill.

Trevor also mentions tools which can help you understand how something might look in your own space. “Floor visualiser is a great product available at FX to help with selections and get some ideas before coming in to the shop.” Ashleigh from O’Connor Flooring Xtra in Western Australia also suggests viewing samples at home. “I encourage clients to borrow samples and take them over night to see who the samples work in their space both during the day and at night in artificial light.”

“For a busy family household, durability, ease of maintenance, and comfort are important.”  Says Sue. Luckily there are excellent options across the range of flooring. “Triexta is a fantastic choice if you’re looking for carpet. It’s soft underfoot, highly durable, easy to clean, and pet friendly. Perfect for family living spaces where comfort meets practicality. In terms of hard Flooring, there’s a wide range of options to suit various budgets, from vinyl planks to engineered or hardened timber flooring. Look for surfaces that are water resistant, scratch resistant, and easy to clean.” Much of this also applies to high-traffic areas regardless of who lives in the home. “Luxury Vinyl Plank (LVP) is a great option. Resilient, waterproof and softer than tiles. Perfect for hallways and other high-traffic areas.” Says Faizan.

There are excellent options across the board and the Flooring Xtra price guide is a good place to start to understand what might fit within your budget. “Budget conscious customers can select from a wide range of entry level products we offer. From our affordable carpet ranges in both loop pile and soft touch cut piles. We also offer a wide range of entry level products in hard flooring from sheet vinyl to European made laminate and hybrid. There’s something for everyone and their budget.” Says Sue.

Why not make the most of your local store’s knowledge and let them help you find the best possible solution for your home? Use our Store Finder to locate your closest expert.

What is a hybrid flooring?

Hybrid flooring combines the attributes of vinyl and laminate flooring. It features the rigidity of laminate flooring (meaning it can be installed in a floating system) and the wear layer performance characteristics of vinyl planks (very resilient!). It’s a great option for busy family homes.

Is hybrid flooring easy to install?

Hybrid flooring can be installed as a floating system. It’s recommended that hybrid flooring be installed by a flooring installation professional, this way you can sit back and relax on your new flooring without worry. Flooring Xtra has installation teams across each store.

How should you care for your engineered boards?

All flooring requires some level of maintenance and care to ensure it’s longevity. Regular sweeping or vacuuming to remove grit and sand means it’s less likely to scratch flooring. Encourage a “shoes off” mantra at home to avoid traipsing in dirt. There are some great hard flooring care tips on our website.