Which hard flooring is right for you?

Floating boards are extraordinarily popular in Australia and for very good reasons. Floating boards are generally constructed using a timber veneer, which is bound to a timber substrate board. Given the thickness of the timber, the element is much finer than that of solid timber boards, floating flooring is considered to be more sustainable as much less timber is required to achieve a similar look and feel.

Floating boards are popular in many applications, such as new homes (more cost-effective than solid boards), units and apartments (for acoustic reasons) and family homes (low maintenance and hard-wearing). These boards are available in many different stains, sizes and looks, meaning there is definitely going to be an option for most properties. They are also quick to install with much of the preparation done within a factory prior to coming to site. They are pre-coated, meaning easy and prompt installation on the day.

Timber look laminate has come a long way and there are currently many great looking, quality brands and options available. The actual “look” of the new laminates is fantastic, with realistic timber grains, knots and stains replicated onto the product making for a convincing replica. This is generally constructed from fibreboard with a photo applied to the surface. These boards are clicked into place on site.

Laminate flooring comes with many benefits and features, such as low maintenance and hygienic surface to maintain. It is also easy to install, with the preparation of the surface being less stringent than that of timber or floating boards.

LVP too comes with similar low-maintenance benefits such as laminates. This cost-effective option is easy to maintain and is hard-wearing, even in high traffic areas. Vinyl planks come in individual pieces which look perhaps surprisingly, very much like timber boards. Perhaps the stand-out feature of the vinyl system is the ability to easily replace vinyl planks in the event of damage. Unlike click-together boards, vinyl planks easily pop out individually to be replaced, as opposed to replacing the entire area of flooring. This along with it’s resilience to water makes it a great option for wet areas, such as bathrooms and kitchens.

There are many different types of LVP but the most popular is the thicker “Drop Down Plank”. These planks have great acoustic properties and also have a high-quality coating for easy maintenance.

Pop into a Flooring Xtra showroom near you to check out all the ranges and ask one of our friendly team members if you have any questions! We look forward to helping you.