Laminate Flooring, Hybrid Flooring Or Engineered Timber Flooring
Laminate flooring, hybrid flooring or engineered timber flooring - what hard flooring is right for you?
If you’re looking to install hard flooring in your home there’s a lot of products on the market, it can be confusing to make heads or tails of all the options so let’s look at what’s available and the characteristics of each.
Laminate, Hybrid and Engineered Timber all share the same installation method whereby the individual planks lock together to form a single robust floor covering. This locking system is ideal for New Zealand conditions where our homes typically experience large fluctuations in temperature over the year, it prevents gaps forming between the planks as they expand and contract through the seasons.
If you’re looking to install hard flooring in your home there’s a lot of products on the market, it can be confusing to make heads or tails of all the options so let’s look at what’s available and the characteristics of each.
Laminate, Hybrid and Engineered Timber all share the same installation method whereby the individual planks lock together to form a single robust floor covering. This locking system is ideal for New Zealand conditions where our homes typically experience large fluctuations in temperature over the year, it prevents gaps forming between the planks as they expand and contract through the seasons.
Laminate
Laminate is currently the most popular of the 3 hard flooring products we offer, the planks are comprised of an HDF (high density fibreboard) base with a laminated veneer on top which usually mimics the look and feel of real timber. It’s installed as a floating product which means it sits on a thin (2mm) foam underlay.
A high-quality laminate will appear like real timber flooring to the untrained eye and it’s surprisingly affordable when compared to alternatives like sheet vinyl. You will need to be mindful to clean up any spills or water as some laminate will swell if liquid is left for too long on the surface and penetrates the joints. Some newer laminate products feature water resistant technology to combat this issue and are rated for wet areas like kitchens & bathrooms. Laminate requires very little maintenance beyond sweeping and vacuuming making it ideal for living areas.
Key characteristics:
– Most affordable of the 3 options.
– Installed over underlay it making it suitable for apartments & multi-level houses where noise can be an issue.
– Easy to maintain and clean.
– Huge range of colours and finishes available.
Hybrid
Hybrid flooring, known also as SPC (stone-plastic-composite), is a relatively new product to the market, it’s very affordable, durable & looks fantastic once it’s laid. Hybrid planks look very similar to laminate but will usually have an underlay or soft backing built in allowing them to be glued directly to the subfloor. The non-porous construction material and locking system creates a waterproof surface making hybrid solutions great for areas like kitchens, bathrooms and living areas which experience high use and are prone to spills. In addition to the standard timber look it’s available in concrete & stone design, the range of designs is great for adding variation between different areas of your home whilst maintaining a highly functional finish.
Key characteristics:
– Pricing sits between laminate & engineered timber, however, as suppliers introduce new products to the market it is becoming competitive with laminate.
– Installed via glue down method to subfloor (can be floated if manufacturer guidelines permit).
– Extremely durable + waterproof ranges available.
– Available in timber, stone & concrete designs.
Engineered Timber
If you love the look and feel of real timber floors but not the price tag, then engineered timber is a fantastic option. Engineered planks are constructed from a 2-4mm veneer of a genuine hardwood like French Oak or European Ash over a hevea or pine core. The natural variations in appearance and texture of timber guarantee your floor will be an individual centrepiece to behold, with the huge range of finishes available on the market you can find something to match any décor. Engineered Timber is usually glued down when installing but can be floated on underlay making it a great addition to your family home, workspace or apartment.
An often-overlooked feature of engineered timber is the ability to sand and refinish the boards multiple times over their lifetime; if you’re looking to sell, renovate or redecorate the cost of refinishing can achieve a practically brand-new floor.
Key characteristics:
– Typically costs more than laminate and hybrid.
– Authentic timber texture & grain.
– Can be sanded and refinished multiple times.
– Made from renewable resources: most manufacturers use sustainably sourced timber.
Measuring for Hard Flooring
When measuring for hard flooring we calculate the square meterage of the floor then to calculate the required amount of product we generally add 5-10% on to the net measurement to allow for wastage. Wastage mainly occurs around the perimeter where boards are cut down to the correct width and where planks are cut to length in a ‘randomised’ staggered installation pattern like below.
When measuring we consider the condition of the subfloor (the subfloor is what the flooring will be laid over, usually comprised of concrete, chipboard or tongue and groove timber) Identifying the necessary preparation required is key when it comes to getting the best performance out of any flooring, this is especially pertinent with hard flooring systems as the planks interlock together, if one fails, the whole floor is compromised. Our assessors will advise you of any issues in the subfloor and what additional preparation work is required to get it ready for hard flooring.
If you need more information about the above or any flooring questions, give us a call or send an email and we’ll happily answer any technical questions you have. Alternatively, we can come to you with flooring samples to provide a free quote and explore what hard flooring solutions are right for you, just click the link below to request a quote.
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