What flooring should I put in my new home?

HH FrankSt 20, Hamlan

Many of the interior design decisions you will face when building your new home will be tough to make—but one of the toughest by far will be your flooring.

There’s a reason why our Hamlan colour consultants encourage clients to choose flooring first above all else—flooring will set the tone for the rest of your dream home. When you meet with a Hamlan colour consultant in our Style Studio, flooring is the foundation of your colour appointment. Kitchen and bathroom colours all need to flow from the flooring selection to ensure consistency through your home. Flooring also helps determine your wall colour, as tones of the wall paint should be drawn from the tones from your flooring to create an aesthetically pleasing space.

In the past, the most popular and enduring flooring option was hardwood. However, things have changed—considering the cost of hardwood flooring, it is engineered flooring that is reigning supreme. But there’s also a growing number of other cost-effective options out there that can still give you the look and feel of timber.

We’ve broken down the options to help you discover the right flooring for your new home.

Vinyl flooring

Vinyl flooring is an excellent option for getting a timber-look without the price tag of hardwood flooring. If you have a specific look in mind for your home, vinyl flooring offers a wide range of colours and textures.

This composition means it’s durable for heavy foot traffic, scratch resistant, dent-proof and easy to maintain. The other bonus to vinyl flooring is if there is damage to a plank, you can simply lift up the damaged plank and replace it instead of replacing the entire area. It also provides some acoustic benefits and underfoot cushioning when compared to tiles or hardwood floors. This makes it an excellent choice for those who suffer from aches and pains in their legs, as the cushioned floor creates a comfortable surface.

The other benefit is many vinyl flooring options are 100 per cent waterproof and can be used in all areas of the home. It also offers greater stability in terms of resistance to heat and sunlight.

Vinyl flooring is the standard inclusion for all Hamlan Homes and can be seen on display at our Erskine 225 in Oakdene Estate, Ocean Grove.

HH Erskine 14 1, Hamlan
Vinyl flooring is included as standard in all Hamlan homes.

Engineered flooring

If your budget allows, we recommend engineered flooring for a more authentic hardwood flooring look. This allows your home to have a high-end feel without the expense. Engineered flooring is made up of a layer of hardwood veneer bonded with a layered plywood core base. Engineered flooring can offer a stronger and more stable option to traditional hardwood flooring, while giving you an authentic hardwood look. Because of the way it is constructed, engineered flooring won’t warp or move in the same way as hardwood flooring does.

It is also easy to install and can be laid like a floating floorboard, directly on top of concrete and underfloor heating systems you may have in place. And because of how it is installed, repairs can also be more easily made than other flooring options. It is also easy to clean, and has some scratch resistance.

If you’d like to see, touch and feel engineered flooring under foot, you can visit our new Johanna 274 display home in Armstrong.

HH Johanna11 1, Hamlan
Engineered flooring has an authentic hardwood flooring look as seen in our Johanna 274 display in Armstrong Estate.

Hardwood flooring

If you’re a purist, hardwood flooring is the only option! There’s a reason why hardwood flooring remains popular—if well-maintained it can literally last a lifetime.

Although your options will be limited in terms of timbers and colours available compared to a vinyl or engineered flooring, an authentic hardwood floor will always add value and warmth to any home. The natural knots and grains of a timber floor, will also give your home a unique look that only gets better with time. It’s also considered low-VOC compared to the man-made alternatives, which is a great option for those seeking a healthier home.

The downsides to a hardwood flooring is it is expensive, high maintenance, harder to install and isn’t suitable for wet areas. It is also the most prone to scratching, which might not be suitable if you have a busy family or pets. And once you select hardwood flooring, it’s very difficult to go back to any other product as anything else will feel like a downgrade.

HH Ruthven 08 1500px, Hamlan
Hardwood flooring adds warmth to a home and if well-maintained it can literally last a lifetime.

In Summary

If you’re having a tough time choosing the right flooring for your dream home, Hamlan is here to help. There’s a reason why our Hamlan colour consultants encourage clients to choose flooring first above all else—the type of flooring in your new home sets the tone for your home’s interior style.

If you love the look of hardwood flooring, there’s many options available for you to choose from to suit a variety of budgets.

Vinyl flooring: An excellent option for getting a timber-look without the price tag of hardwood flooring. There’s a wide range of colours and textures. It’s also durable for heavy foot traffic, scratch resistant, dent-proof and easy to maintain. It also provides some acoustic benefits and underfoot cushioning when compared to tiles or hardwood floors.
Many vinyl flooring options are 100 per cent waterproof and can be used in all areas of the home. It also offers greater stability in terms of resistance to heat and sunlight.

Engineered flooring: It is made up of a layer of hardwood veneer bonded with a layered plywood core base. Engineered flooring can offer a stronger and more stable option to traditional hardwood flooring. It is also easy to install and can be laid like a floating floorboard, directly on top of concrete and underfloor heating systems you may have in place. It is also easy to clean, and has some scratch resistance.

Hardwood flooring: For purists, hardwood flooring is the only option! If well-maintained it can last a lifetime. It’s also considered low-VOC compared to the man-made alternatives, which is a great option for those seeking a healthier home. However, it is expensive, high maintenance and prone to scratching.

Visit our displays

to see some of our flooring options in person.

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