Choosing flooring for your home is an important process, but can be confusing. Which material is best suited to the needs of each room, while looking great and sitting at the right price?
In this article, we’ll explain the key things to consider when choosing flooring for your home, to help you make an informed decision.
Choosing flooring material
Picking the right material for your flooring is paramount, and includes various considerations such as aesthetics, usability, and cost. Here are the most common materials used for flooring.
Carpet
Carpet is a comfortable choice of flooring that can look and feel luxurious. There’s a wide range of colours to choose from, giving you freedom to create the exact look that you want. It also provides natural sound and heat insulation. Pricing for carpet varies depending on the quality of the material.
It goes without saying, but carpet is a bad choice for rooms that have a lot of moisture such as kitchens or bathrooms, as damp can form easily.
Average cost = $50 per square metre2.
Vinyl (lino)
Vinyl is resistant to water, which makes it a good choice for rooms that are liable to get wet such as kitchens and bathrooms, or for the entire living area of a seaside-home. The material tends to be a little cheaper, so is a good choice if you have a tight budget. It’s fairly easy to install too, which can save even more.
Average cost = $34 per square metre1.
Laminate
Laminate flooring is another great choice if you’re trying to cut costs, with the material itself being cheaper than other types of flooring, and able to be laid without the help of a professional. This type of flooring comes with a protective layer that protects against fading, scrapes, and stains, making it a good choice if you have kids or pets running around.
Laminate also comes in a huge range of styles, allowing you to easily create your desired look.
Average cost = $19.50 per square metre1.
Solid timber
Solid timber flooring looks beautiful, is sound-proof, and because it includes a protective finish, is easy to clean and maintain. This material tends to offer a wide variety of choice too, from colour to texture.
 Costs start at $59 per square metre1.
Bamboo
Bamboo is another hardy type of flooring that works well for families with kids and pets, and looks great too. Unfortunately, bamboo isn’t as effective an insulator as solid timber, and tends to be a little more expensive than other flooring options.
Average cost = $72 per square metre1.
Multilayer hybrid
Multilayer hybrid flooring is made up of multiple types of material, to create a timber look combined with the protective attributes of laminate and vinyl. As a waterproof material, it’s perfect for rooms such as the kitchen and bathroom, but works well throughout the entire house.
 Costs start at $50 per square metre1.
Questions to consider
When choosing a flooring for your home, you’ll need to consider the following key questions:
Will the area have a lot of moisture? Are you choosing kitchen flooring? Or bathroom flooring? If so, you’ll need to pick an option that is water-resistant.
Do you have kids? Kids are zesty, and will stomp all over your precious timber flooring without restraint. If you have kids, you might want to pick a hardier option like laminate or bamboo.
Do you have pets? The claws of cats and dogs will wreak havoc on certain types of flooring, so you’re better off getting something hardier.
What’s your budget? Choice of flooring often comes down to cost. If you want a cheaper option, you’ll probably find a charming laminate design that suits. If your wallet is nice and full, solid timber flooring is a stunning material that lasts for years.
Who will be installing the flooring? If you’re handy and want to save costs by installing the flooring yourself, laminate or vinyl are the two easiest materials to work with.
With a thorough examination of your requirements for each room, you should have no trouble picking flooring that suits the needs of your family, looks great, and sits at the right price.
References
Carly Jacobs, 2019, How To Choose The Right Flooring For Your Home, realestate.com.au
Rob Schneider, 2020, 2020 Cost Guide – Carpet and Flooring, hipages.com.au
