Hybrid Flooring

Hybrid flooring is a versatile and durable flooring option that combines the best attributes of timber, laminate and vinyl. It combines the great look of hardwood timber, the structure, toughness and dimensional stability of laminate, and the softness and water resistance of vinyl.

The benefits of hybrid flooring include:

• 100% waterproof: This makes it ideal for bathrooms, laundries, and kitchens, and both commercial and residential properties.
• Durability: The multi-layered construction makes it withstand extreme temperature changes, such as very warm areas that experience harsh sunlight. In addition, hybrid planks create a thick, durable layer of flooring that stands the test of many long years of wear and tear.
• DIY-friendly: With a built-in underlay and easy interlocking systems, it's easier to install than any other flooring type. We do, however, recommend the use of a professional layer if you haven't attempted this type of DIY project previously.
• Sound: The rigid core technology helps produce a solid step with less sound. If you add an acoustic underlayment, this will make them even more soundproof.
• Eco-Friendly: Hybrid flooring is considered eco-friendly as the core consists of limestone, virgin PVC, bamboo dust, and recycled wood.
• Easy to clean: If you have a spill, simply wipe the planks with a wet cloth or mop.
• Affordable: Enjoy the look of hardwood flooring, without the price tag. We have a number of options available for less than $40 per m2.

• Feel: Some people may find hybrid floors harder underfoot compared to traditional hardwood or carpet.
• Repair and replacement: If damaged, hybrid floors may require the replacement of entire planks rather than spot repairs.

WPC and SPC are 2 different types of Hybrid flooring that have a lot in common. WPC technology was first created for composite decking, and the product eventually made its way into flooring. SPC is a later development and improvement upon the older WPC and solved a lot of WPC’s inherrant issues.

WPC Flooring originally stood for ‘Wood Polymer Composite’ even though now there is no wood in the product that has been used for Flooring. The original WPC was developed as a decking material for external use, which made it an excellent concept to be developed as a flooring category, which it was. WPC is made predominantly of limestone powder and PVC, but has a foaming agent added to the mix, which aerates the product and gives it a relatively light weight. It was waterproof, easy to install and was easily able to utilize existing Vinyl plank picture films and wear layers.

Due to the aerated nature of the WPC core, you will notice that all WPC flooring has an almost sandpaper like feel when you run your finger down the join. Because of the aerated nature of the core, the product is honeycombed on a micro level, meaning that a picture film cannot be bonded directly to a WPC Core, otherwise ‘micro-dimples’ will show through into the picture when the layers of the product are pressed together. To overcome this issue, a thin layer of Vinyl plank flooring is laminated to the top of the WPC core which in effect gives the picture film a flat surface to bond to.

The Aeration of the core however is the greatest weakness of WPC flooring, as the honeycombed nature of the product makes the joins inherently quite weak and pliable. Additionally, at greater temperatures, the air bubbles within the core become hot and expand causing mush greater expansion than an SPC Hybrid Floor. Because of this, WPC floors can usually only be laid in ¼ of the volume of an SPC floor before the floor needs to be compartmentalised into Separate rafts.

SPC Flooring is a later development that uses a solid core that does not contain the foaming agent that is present in WPC. While each manufacturer uses a different ‘Recipe’ for their core, SPC has a higher limestone content than WPC Flooring does: usually 80% or more. Because SPC does not have a foaming agent added, it is solid, and not honeycombed like WPC Hybrid is. This has several benefits.

Firstly, because the core is solid, SPC can have a picture film bonded directly to the core. This means that while SPC more expensive in terms of the material costs, the manufacturing cost is less, meaning that the costs of the products are about the same. Additionally, because of the solid core, the joins on SPC are much stronger, and the volume of flooring that can be laid before the floor needs to be compartmentalised is about 4 times that of WPC Hybrid before there needs to be any expansion breaks!

We stock a wide-range of high-quality hybrid flooring from the world's best brands including Airstep, Complete Floors, Premium Floors, Terra Mater Floors, and many more. Our range of hybrid flooring colours is one of the biggest in Australia, with over 100 different options available.

We have committed ourselves to providing only the best quality brands. If you need help choosing the perfect flooring for your home or business, contact our friendly team. We have 50+ years of experience in the industry and we're more than happy to help.

After over 50 years in the flooring industry, we have definitely learned a thing or two about flooring. The advantages of shopping with us include:

• We provide the best prices anywhere in Australia. Seen a better price somewhere else? Contact our team and we'll do our utmost to match it.
• Huge selection of high quality flooring brands. We have over 1000 different products in stock and ready to ship.
• We offer unbeatable customer service. We're a business that puts our customers first. Have a question or an issue? Let us know and we'll happily assist you.

Hybrid floors are extremely low maintenance. Regular sweeping and occasional mopping with a damp cloth are generally enough to keep them looking new. Everyday spills are easy to wipe away.

At Online Flooring Store, we are committed to helping you find the best flooring solution for your needs. Our experts can help you select the ideal flooring from our wide range of durable, high-quality hybrid floors.

All of our Hybrid Floors are supplied by Industry Leading Suppliers who stand behind their warranties and strive to provide great looking, long lasting floors that are Great Value for Money.

Yes and no. Typically, WPC Hybrid Flooring is thicker than SPC, so you really need to compare them as separate products. In general though, SPC because it is solid, can go in much larger rafts than WPC.

When comparing the thickness of SPC, the real thing you are looking at is the thickness of each component. Typically, most SPC has a .5mm wear layer, so the remainder is the core and the backing. As with all flooring products, the Core is the most important thing for Stability. A 6mm hybrid that has a 2mm underlay backing will have in general a 3.5mm core. A 6mm Hybrid with a 1mm underlay backing will have a 4.5mm core instead.

While this may seem like only 1mm, the reality is that as a product system, this becomes an almost 30% increase in the weight of the core making the entire product system more stable and temperature resistant.

SPC that has a core of around 5mm to .5mm wear layer has proven to be very successful for stability and has the ability to withstand direct sunlight that causes lesser products to fail.

So yes, thicker is better, but compare the core across the whole system, and not just the total thickness of the product. As always, if you need any help with this, please contact one of our Awesome Flooring Experts.

The best thing about hybrid flooring is that it can be used in any room in your home or business.

Made from multiple layers of hard-pressed material, hybrid planks are waterproof and extremely durable. This makes it a great option for bathrooms or kitchens, where water is more likely to spill unexpectedly. It can also be used in both commercial and residential properties.

After buying, we provide two options:

• DIY - These products can easily be installed yourself with the help of our handy installation guides and unbeatable customer service.
• Professional installation - If you'd prefer a professional to lay your floors, we have access to over 200 professional layers Australia-wide.

Yes, most hybrid flooring is compatible with underfloor heating systems, but it's always best to check the specific product specifications listed on each product page on our website for compatibility.