How To Budget For Hard Flooring

Heather Nette King is a Melbourne-based interiors stylist and writer for many leading interior titles and newspapers. The hallmarks of her styling are colour and vibrancy, and she writes passionately about peoples’ homes and how they live in them.

From high-end to happy-medium,

how to budget for the hard flooring for your project.

For centuries, hard flooring has captured our hearts for its beauty, durability, and its natural good looks. Whether stained, oiled, or painted; smooth or knotted; laid wide, narrow or in parquetry style, there is a timber (or timber-look) to suit all tastes, requirements and budgets.

Timber floors will last a lifetime with good care and come in a range of dark and light tones, creating versatility, and adding warmth to any home.

My favourite from Carpet Court’s collection of beautiful hard wood floors is Carpet Court’s GrandOak Chevron. A more affordable timber floor is Carpet Court’s Woodland Collection from $85m2, made from Timber hardwood. Or, for a stunning dark floor, look at Fresno from this range.

So, what are the different types of ‘timber floors’ - because it can get a little confusing – and how do I budget for the best flooring to suit me?

ENGINEERED OR FLOATING TIMBER FLOORS

An engineered timber floor, or ‘floating floor’, is made from real timber, but it refers to the installation process as it ‘floats’ over your existing floor. The installation is easier, with no need for nails, therefore it is a budget-friendly option compared to hardwood or wooden flooring costs.

The top layer of natural hardwood sits on a layered base of floorboards. Boasting superior durability, engineered timber flooring is perfect for high traffic areas, and because it comes prefinished, installation is more affordable than solid timber boards.

LAMINATE FLOORS

Laminated flooring uses a photograph of timber which is applied to the top of a base. Then, it is coated with a hardwearing layer, making it look just like real timber. Laminate flooring costs are much more affordable than a traditional hardwood timber or engineered timber floor, and its easy installation makes it ideal for a DIY project.

Laminate flooring prices are much less than hardwood or engineered timber prices and come in a range of colours that mimic timber. For a beachy look, I love the Sandy Bay laminate from Carpet Court’s Enchantment range from $32m2. If you’re after a Scandi-inspired look, check out the Ghost Oak from the Carpet Court’s Florence XL Range from $56m2.

VINYL FLOORS

Vinyl plank flooring is a practical solution, and vinyl flooring prices are very affordable. They are durable, easy to care for and provide an authentic timber look for a fraction of the price. As an example of vinyl plank flooring prices, I’ve used Carpet Court’s Laneway range in White Oak from $49m2 for a bright, poppy living space and have plans to use the beautifully warm Marri colourway from the Carpet Court’s Native Collection from $34m2 in an upcoming project.

HYBRID FLOORS

Hybrid flooring is an incredible innovation as it combines the best attributes of laminate and vinyl. It is uniquely water-resistant, which means it’s the first rigid floating floor product that can be safely installed throughout Australian homes, including wet areas. What I love most is that it isn’t restricted to a timber-look finish. Instead, you can achieve the look of a concrete, marble, stone or terrazzo floor. I used the Elements Hybrid Tile Volcanic colourway in a recent Carpet Court photo shoot and have just ordered the Quartz colourway, both colourways are from $56m2. Also, the hybrid flooring price is considerably less than the finishes it mimics!

ESTIMATING HARD FLOORING COSTS

Next to each hard flooring option on the Carpet Court website, you will find a pricing guide for three standard room sizes (small, medium, or large). If you want a tailored hard flooring cost, plus an installation cost, then simply book one of the Carpet Court consultants to come to your home or project. Then, it’s time for the fun part – selecting the perfect flooring for your home, family or investment.

Please note that Carpet Court’s listed RRPs refer to product only, installation or other services required will be at an additional cost.