Which floor is best

People often ask us "Which floor is best?"

Like us, flooring isn't just one size or one type. We have several different types of flooring, something to suit everyone's budget and requirements.

Laminate

Laminate is available in a huge variety of colours and styles. They come in long boards, short boards, single plank, multi plank, 8mm, 12mm, you name it, we’ve got it! We have over 190 laminates to choose from and no two are the same. From black to white, blonde to grey, imitation Australian species - there is something that will suit everyone’s budget and lifestyle whilst also looking fantastic.

Laminate is harder wearing than timber, so it won’t scratch and dent as easily. It is also more water resistant than timber. For these reasons, laminate flooring is often a good choice if you have children and/or pets, and for rental properties. It’s also usually the cheapest option.

Laminate is also much more uniform in colour than natural timber making it a good choice if you don’t like a lot of variation in your flooring. With the trend of DIY, laminate is the perfect choice due to the relatively simple installation process.

Vinyl

The vinyl plank has had a recent surge in popularity with the introduction of the hybrid plank, and believe us when we tell you, this isn’t your grandmother’s vinyl! This has a sophisticated timber look and is available in a huge range of colours and styles. Vinyl flooring is often more expensive than laminate, but it’s very hard wearing and its waterproof which makes it suitable for use through the whole house, including bathrooms, laundries, and toilets.

Like laminate, today’s vinyl has a much more uniform appearance than natural timber and it comes with different installation systems including glue down, loose lay (in most cases this will also need to be glued down) and click lock.

Timber Veneer

Timber veneer, also known as engineered timber, is a great option if you love the look and feel of real timber. This floor has a veneer of timber on the top, so you have natural timber without the drawbacks of solid flooring!

Engineered floating flooring is available in a huge variety of timbers including Australian hardwoods such as blackbutt and spotted gum and designer European oaks. Natural timber will be much more varied in colour and grain than laminate and vinyl. Real timber is softer and will scratch and dent more easily than laminate. Some people consider these to be the beautiful characteristics of a real timber, while others prefer the uniformity of a laminate product. Like everything in life, this all comes down to personal preference. There’s no better or worse, just different!

Engineered timber comes in both click installation systems and the traditional tongue and groove installation systems. Some of these products can also be installed using the “direct stick” method.

Bamboo

Bamboo flooring combines a lot of the great qualities of other types of flooring. It is a natural product that comes with a click installation system and it is harder wearing than other timbers. It is available in a range of colours and falls between laminate and engineered timbers in terms of cost.