Laminate Flooring
Laminate flooring delivers the visual appeal of timber at a fraction of the cost. A photographic layer beneath a protective wear layer creates convincing wood and stone looks, while the HDF core provides rigidity and a satisfying underfoot feel. Laminate is always installed as a floating floor, making it a quick and relatively straightforward product to lay. It's an excellent choice for bedrooms, living areas, and any dry space where cost is a consideration.
Materials from $25/m²

Durability
Good
Maintenance
Regular
Best For
- Bedrooms and living areas
- Budget renovations
- Apartments and units
- Spaces with good subfloor condition
- Dry areas where waterproofing is not critical
Not Ideal For
- Kitchens and bathrooms (not waterproof)
- Areas with high humidity or moisture exposure
- Direct wet areas
Benefits
- Most affordable timber-look flooring option
- Broad range of designs and decor options
- Floating installation — no glue, can be removed
- Hard wearing surface for everyday residential use
- Good underfoot comfort with appropriate underlay
- Easy to clean
Things to Consider
- Not waterproof — moisture can swell and damage the HDF core
- Cannot be sanded or refinished
- Can sound hollow underfoot if underlay is insufficient
- Not suitable for bathrooms, laundries, or kitchens with risk of water ingress
Pricing Tiers
We offer laminate flooring across three quality tiers. Material costs apply to supply + install jobs — bring your own product and pay installation only.
| Feature | Budget | Mid-Range | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| Material Cost | $25 – $40/m² | $40 – $60/m² | $60 – $85/m² |
| Durability | Moderate | Good | Excellent |
| Maintenance | Regular | Regular | Regular |
| Best For | Bedrooms Short-term renovations Rental properties | Living areas Hallways Apartments | Main living areas Long-term installs Renovation showcase |
Budget
budget$25 – $40/m² (materials)
Durability
Moderate
Maintenance
Regular
Best For
Pros
- Very affordable
- Easy floating install
- Wide design range
Cons
- Thinner profile
- Not moisture resistant
- Shorter lifespan
Mid-Range
mid-range$40 – $60/m² (materials)
Durability
Good
Maintenance
Regular
Best For
Pros
- Thicker core
- More realistic texture
- Better acoustic performance
Cons
- Still not waterproof
- Cannot be refinished
Premium
premium$60 – $85/m² (materials)
Durability
Excellent
Maintenance
Regular
Best For
Pros
- Thick 12mm+ profile
- Excellent texture and realism
- Extended warranty
Cons
- Cost approaches entry-level hybrid
- Still not waterproof
Installation Methods
We offer the following installation methods for laminate flooring. Each method has different labour rates and suitability considerations.
Floating (Standard)
$18/m²Standard click-lock floating installation over acoustic underlay.
Style & Aesthetics
- Available in a huge range of timber species imitations — oak, blackbutt, spotted gum, and more
- Wider plank formats now common, giving a more contemporary look
- Hand-scraped and brushed finishes add texture and realism
- Some premium products closely rival the look of mid-range hybrid
Durability
- AC3 and AC4 ratings are suitable for residential use
- HDF core is rigid and resistant to indentation
- Wear layer protects against everyday scuffs and scratches
- Moisture is the primary threat — keep dry at all times
Care & Maintenance
- Sweep or vacuum regularly — avoid wet mop that can introduce moisture
- Clean spills immediately to prevent moisture penetration at joins
- Use a damp (not wet) microfibre mop with laminate-specific cleaner
- Avoid steam mops — heat and steam can swell the core
- Use furniture pads to prevent surface scratching
Frequently Asked Questions
The timeline depends on the area size and flooring type. A standard 3-bedroom home (80–120 sqm) typically takes 1–2 days. Larger areas, complex layouts, or parquetry patterns may take 2–4 days. We'll give you a more specific timeline when we assess your job. We can usually provide supply-only quotes within 24 hours and schedule installs within 1–2 weeks of confirmation.
Yes — the installation area needs to be clear before we arrive. We don't carry furniture removal as part of our standard service, so please arrange to have all furniture, rugs, and personal items moved out of the rooms being floored. For large or heavy pieces, we recommend organising a furniture removalist or getting help from friends or family the day before. We're happy to discuss specific circumstances if you have items that are difficult to move.
The key difference is waterproofing. Hybrid flooring has a waterproof rigid core (SPC or WPC), making it safe for kitchens, bathrooms, and laundries. Laminate has an HDF core that can swell and buckle if exposed to moisture — it's only suitable for dry areas. Hybrid also tends to have a more resilient surface and is dimensionally more stable in Australia's variable temperatures. Laminate is generally more affordable, making it a solid choice for bedrooms and dry living areas on a budget.
Our quotes are itemised and transparent. A full supply-and-install quote includes: flooring materials (with your chosen product and tier), installation labour, standard acoustic underlay, basic door trimming (up to 3 doors), and waste disposal. Additional items such as subfloor levelling, old flooring removal, stairs, skirting work, or regional travel are quoted separately as line items so you can see exactly what you're paying for. We don't bundle hidden costs into the material price.
Our primary service area is Melbourne metro and surrounding suburbs out to approximately 50km from the CBD. We do take on select jobs in regional Victoria — Geelong, Ballarat, Bendigo, and the Mornington Peninsula for example — but a travel surcharge applies and we'll be upfront about this in your quote. Contact us to discuss your location and we'll let you know if we can accommodate you.
The preparation required depends on your existing subfloor and the product being installed. Hybrid and vinyl floating floors tolerate minor imperfections but need subfloors that are within ±3mm over a 1.8m span. Significant highs and lows require grinding or patching. Engineered timber and glue-down vinyl require a very flat, clean surface. We assess subfloor condition at quote stage and include any required preparation costs as a separate line item. Subfloor levelling compounds are quoted at cost plus labour.
Maintenance varies by product type. For hybrid and vinyl: sweep or vacuum regularly to remove grit, damp mop with a pH-neutral cleaner, avoid steam mops, and use felt pads under furniture. For laminate: vacuum or dry sweep, clean spills quickly, use a barely-damp mop only, and never use steam. For engineered timber: sweep daily in traffic areas, use a timber-specific cleaner, and avoid excess water. We provide care instructions specific to your installed product on completion, and the manufacturer's care guide is included with all products.
Most of our standard hybrid, vinyl, and laminate products are available from local warehouse stock, with supply times of 3–7 business days. Engineered timber and selected premium products may have lead times of 2–4 weeks depending on availability. Specialty finishes, wide-format planks, or imported products can occasionally take 4–8 weeks. We'll confirm exact availability when preparing your quote, so there are no surprises before installation day.
For floating installations, we include standard acoustic underlay in our supply-and-install quotes. If you require an upgraded underlay — for example a thicker acoustic option for apartments, or a moisture barrier for concrete slabs — we'll recommend and include this in your quote. Some hybrid products come with underlay pre-attached to the plank, which affects the underlay spec. We'll guide you through what's needed for your specific situation.
Floating floors require a small expansion gap around the perimeter, which is usually covered by skirting boards or scotia moulding. We offer several skirting options: reattaching your existing skirting (if they're removable), supplying and attaching new scotia over existing skirting, or replacing all skirting with new boards. Each option is priced as a separate line item. We'll advise on the most practical and cost-effective approach for your home during the quoting process.
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