Hybrid, laminate and engineered timber can look similar in a showroom, but they behave very differently once they’re down. The right choice depends on the rooms, who lives there and how long you want the floor to last.
Hybrid flooring
Hybrid planks have a rigid, waterproof core with a printed wear layer on top. Because the core doesn’t swell, hybrid suits kitchens, laundries and open-plan living areas where spills happen.
- Waterproof core, good for wet-prone areas
- Hard-wearing and easy to clean
- Can feel firmer and sound more hollow than timber
- Cannot be sanded or refinished
Laminate flooring
Laminate uses a high-density wood-fibre core with a photographic layer and a tough top coat. Modern laminates look convincing and resist scratches well, but standing water can swell the core at the joints.
- Very scratch resistant, good with pets
- Usually the most budget-friendly of the three
- Less tolerant of water than hybrid
- Cannot be sanded or refinished
Engineered timber
Engineered timber has a real hardwood top layer, such as European oak, bonded to a stable base. It looks and feels like solid timber because the surface is timber, while the layered construction moves less with Melbourne’s seasonal changes.
- Genuine timber look, feel and warmth
- Adds the most value to a home
- Thicker wear layers can be sanded and recoated
- Needs more care around water than hybrid
Which should you choose?
For a busy family home with an open-plan kitchen, hybrid is often the practical choice. For pets and high traffic on a tighter budget, laminate works well. For living areas where you want the real thing, and a floor that can be refreshed in years to come, engineered timber is worth it.
Whatever you choose, subfloor preparation matters as much as the product. A floor is only as flat as what’s underneath it, so we check and level the subfloor before anything is laid.