Take The Floor Get down on it.
It pays to pick wisely when you’re choosing flooring – after all, you’ll be living with it for a long time. Here’s what’s new, popular and good value, writes Sarah Pickette.
CARPET
What’s new Molecular Enhanced Polyester is shaking up the world of carpet. So what is it? “It’s a revolutionary new fibre that’s honed at the molecular level, making it more durable and resistant to staining while still having a super-soft feel,” says Jason Verstak, group manager of marketing for Choices Flooring.
Trending now “Twist is the most popular style of carpet, however the chunkier loop style in both wool and solution-dyed nylon is currently selling really well,” says Verstak. “So are carpets in neutral colours, particularly those with a grey undertone.”
Eco cred Manufacturers are embracing sustainability and eco-friendly products, says Brett Talbot, national merchandise manager of hard flooring for Carpet Court. “There’s been a lot of investment in ways to turn waste materials into carpet and carpet tiles.”
Love the look Add movement and visual interest to your floor with a carpet where varying pile height creates a subtle pattern.
ENGINEERED TIMBER
The lowdown Everyone loves the warmth of a timber floor, but solid timber can be expensive and may warp. Engineered timber, however, is constructed from multiple layers of wood joined with their grains perpendicular to each other. The top layer is made from solid timber, generally a hardwood.
Easy as Engineered timber is faster to install than solid-timber flooring. “It’s pre-finished there’s no sanding or coating – you can move straight in,” says Talbot.
Trending now “We’ve noticed our Peppercorn Grey engineered flooring is becoming increasingly popular,” says Anne Plumb, general manager of Royal Oak Floors. “This is a great neutral that works well with most colour palettes.” And go extra-wide – everyone else is. “Our boards are available in widths of up to 26cm and the larger sizes have proved a hit with architects and homeowners for their ability to bring a little drama to a room.” Herringbone or chevron-laid floors are also hot right now. “They look both classic and fresh at once,” says Plumb.
Good to know If you want to sand your engineered timber floors back in the future you need to allow for this when you select your boards. You should get at least 15 refinish sands out of an engineered timber board with a 6mm-thick top layer. But if you change the whole colour of the board by staining it, you might only get three resands because the top layer of timber absorbs the stain.
LAMINATES
The lowdown Laminate floors give you the look of timber or tiles but are comprised of a printed (and protected) top layer on a high-density fibreboard core. “Laminates have changed a lot in recent years, thanks to the introduction of water-resistance technology,” says Verstak. “So long as you clean them up within 72 hours, water spills or splashes won’t permeate the surface.”
Good to know Good-quality laminates look so much like timber that even flooring experts can be fooled, adds Talbot. “Embossing techniques mean they look and feel like the real deal.”
Trending now Longer and wider laminate planks are selling well. “A wider board can also feature greater variety in the woodgrain, which gives you a more natural and unique look. Wider planks also make a room feel larger – the fewer lines in the floor, the more space the eye perceives,” he says.
“Carpets in neutral colours are strong sellers, particularly those with a grey undertone. Natural fibres are doing well too.” Jason Verstak, Choices Flooring
LUXURY VINYL
The lowdown Luxury vinyl flooring usually comes in plank or tile form (rather than in rolls). There has been a transformation in the design aesthetics of luxury vinyl, with photographic technology enabling great replication of timber and stone.
Good to know There’s a lot of diversity in vinyl. You can replicate a distressed or whitewashed timber or get the look of stone or marble. The price is great, too – from about $25/m2.
Love the look Vinyl can be used anywhere in your home, including wet areas. Take a look at the Genero range from Choices Flooring, which includes five Australian-timber styles.
HYBRIDS
The lowdown Hybrid (or rigid) flooring combines the best attributes of both laminate and vinyl to create a rigid floating floor that’s waterproof and can be installed anywhere.
Tough as Resistant to scuffing, scratching and staining, hybrids are a great choice for family homes and high-traffic areas. Plus there’s minimal to no subfloor preparation.
Trending now “We’ve seen a boom in sales of hybrid flooring,” says Talbot. “Hybrid is considered ‘the future of flooring’ – because even if you have a stampede of kids or pets running through your house every day it’s unlikely to be damaged.”
Love the look Check out the Aqua Tuf range of hybrids from Carpet Court – you’d be hard pressed to tell they’re not timber. The material cost to put them in a 3x3m bathroom is about $600.
NATURAL FLOORING
The lowdown “You might think of sisal, but natural flooring can take in coir, seagrass, paper and sisal-wool blends,” says John McGhee, principal of The Natural Floorcovering Centres. “Woven natural fibres have an honesty to them; they’re durable and down to earth, and also lovely to look at and walk on.”
Trending now Sisal – Australians can’t get enough of it.
“It’s made from leaves of the agave plant and is inherently antimicrobial, which means it repels dustmites,” says David Crook, founder of International Floorcoverings Australia. “This makes it a good floorcovering for some allergy sufferers.”
Easy as Many people believe natural fibres, in particular sisal, are hard to clean – but that doesn’t have to be the case, says McGhee. “Some new lines are manufactured with a stainresistance solution that makes them easy to look after.”
Eco cred “Natural fibres are environmentally friendly,” says McGhee. “Sisal fibres are drawn from a plant so hardy that it can be grown without fertilisers and chemicals. It usually features a natural latex backing, giving you have a product that comes from nature and will one day return to nature – unlike nylons or polyesters that don’t readily break down.”
Love the look Natural floors bring texture and warmth to a room. A chunky sisal always looks good but there are chevrons, jacquards and all manner of patterns to choose from.
TILES
Trending now Larger-format tiles are popular, says Tina Di Lorenzo, marketing manager at Di Lorenzo Tiles. “We love using 1200x1200mm tiles. Matt or neutral finishes are still the most popular but we’re seeing the return of a satin finish.” Terrazzo and terracotta are enjoying a revival, too.
Good to know Ceramic and porcelain tiles might look alike, there are differences: porcelain is in fact denser and less porous than ceramic.
Love the look “Warmer coloured floor tiles are growing in popularity, although cool grey is and probably always will be a staple,” says Di Lorenzo.
Australians have an enduring love for native species, with blackbutt and spotted gum among the best-selling engineered timbers.