Hybrid Flooring - All You Need to Know

What is Hybrid Flooring made of?

Hybrid Flooring comes in two types: WPC (Wood Plastic Composite) and SPC (Stone Plastic Composite).

• A Wood Plastic Composite hybrid flooring is made from a mixture of recycled wood and plastic composite.
• A Stone Plastic Composite hybrid floorboard is a mixture of compressed limestone and plastic composite.

Both types of hybrid flooring are made of four layers which are engineered to provide a long list of benefits and typically range between 5.5mm - 8mm in thickness. Here are the four layers:

• Protective Layer - As you may guess, the top layer of hybrid flooring is designed for protection and high foot traffic durability resulting in long-term life without losing quality.
• Decorative Layer - This is where the design of the is applied in the floorboard resulting in terrific colours and woodgrains.
• Inner Core/Stability Layer - Depending on your choice, this layer will either be made from WPC or SPC. Both options are strong and rigid which are waterproof and resistant to temperature changes.
• Underlayment/Backing Barrier Layer - Usually made from cork or rubber, the base layer has excellent acoustic and thermal insulation properties.

Another aspect of the Hybrid Flooring design and construction is the floating click lock tongue and groove system which makes it a simple fit-and-click system to install making it a dream for the DIY flooring project.

Benefits of Hybrid Flooring

Hybrid Flooring is becoming a very popular option with the home renovator, commercial architects, interior designers and those looking for a DIY project to revamp a house's old flooring to a modern solution to last decades.

Going beyond the broad range of styles, colours and wood grain patterns Hybrid Flooring is available in, the now popular flooring offers a lot of benefits:

• Affordable Flooring Option - Yes, hybrid flooring is super affordable compared to other flooring, such as hardwood flooring, which requires a large amount of material, resources and usually a skilled labourer or builder to install - and that’s before you sand and stain the surface.
  Quite often our interior design experts are asked for ‘cheap flooring’ in our flooring showrooms and after seeing the affordability and bang-for-your-buck it’s no surprise those people make a decision to lay hybrid flooring in their home.
• 100% Waterproof Flooring - Thanks to the multi-layer construction of durable materials (as detailed above) each floor plank is waterproof. Hybrid Flooring can be laid in wet rooms with potential moisture exposure with no concern which makes it ideal for those looking for wooden flooring in kitchens, bathrooms and bathrooms.
• Ideal for High Traffic Areas - the tough top layer of the hybrid flooring plank is the toughest material meaning you can have a lot of foot traffic, kids, animals and all sorts of footwear trod on the floor for decades with degradation in quality or looks.
• Improves Livability - what we mean by ‘livability’ is the silence of which the flooring provides when walked, a nice feel underfoot unlike the negative effects hard concrete has on your joints and even thermal insulation which will help keep your energy costs low.
• It won’t fade in the sun - Have you ever seen an old house with stained floorboards and noticed there used to be a bookshelf in the corner because of a dark rectangle patch? Or perhaps the floor looks lighter near windows allowing direct sunlight in? That’s because floor dye in the hardwood floors struggle to resist UV light which does fade over time - this doesn’t happen to Hybrid Flooring (if not constantly in direct sunlight) which will maintain colour and quality over long periods of time.

How to clean Hybrid Flooring

Keeping Hybrid Flooring clean is a breeze as you can use vacuum or dry mops and brooms to collect the typical dust and dirt from everyday life.

When it comes to dirtier marks, like muddy footprints and marks, a damp mop with ph neutral cleaner can be used while a damp cloth or sponge can be applied to more stubborn scuffs.

Do NOT use these cleaning items on your Hybrid Flooring:

• Steam mops
• Steam cleaners
• Abrasive cleaners and chemicals
• Bleach
• Steel wool or scourers
• Avoid polishes, wax or oils as it may make flooring slippery and leave a dull finish

Tips and tricks to keep your hybrid flooring clean:

• Put entrance mats at entry front and back doors to catch dirt, sand, grit and other materials
• Do not slide or drag heavy furniture across flooring. Try to use multiple people to safely lift furniture
• Keep pet claws trimmed
• Use felt pad protectors on the base of furniture that moves a lot and has pointed edges, such as chairs, bar stools and couches
• Lay a rug or a matt under office chairs with wheels

Do you need underlay for Hybrid Flooring?

Strictly speaking you will not need underlay as the hybrid floorboards are built with a base layer suitable for a direct installation.

Having said that, having underlay beneath hybrid flooring will create much more comfort in your space as it cushions the step below your feet, assists with thermal insulation and absorbs sound. It can also help with a slightly uneven subfloor.

If you have the option then we recommend underlay for Hybrid Flooring as it won’t break the bank.

Laying Hybrid Flooring for the DIY project

Hybrid Flooring is a dream for DIY projects as they are designed as ‘floating flooring’ meaning you will not need glues or nails thanks to its simple click-lock joints.

Connecting two hybrid floorboards together is a simple - just insert the planks into the grooves along the side then tap with a rubber mallet to engage the locking mechanism.

How to cut Hybrid Flooring

Cutting hybrid flooring is easy and you only need two tools:

• A knife
• A ruler

Measure (twice) where you need to cut the flooring then run the knife along the ruler cutting through the top floor layer. After that just turn the floorboard over and snap it in two.

If you’re one who prefers to use power tools then feel free to use circular saw to cut straight through the hybrid floorboard.

How to repair Hybrid Flooring

Accidents happen and floors get damaged - it’s not ideal and usually out of your control.

When the unfortunate happens the repair job of a hybrid floorboard is fast and simple thanks to its click-and-lock design, unlike hardwood flooring where you’ll need to pull out the nails, resize some raw wood and stain the timber (which would look fresher than the surrounding pieces) and seamlessly fit between other hardwood.

With Hybrid Flooring panels all you need to do is unclick the floorboard and replace it with a new one - that’s pretty much it! You may also need to cut it to size which is as simple as following the steps in the above section.

Need to replace a hybrid floor plank but don’t have a spare? Contact the Volare team to find a same-colour and style replacement.

Where to view and buy Hybrid Flooring?

Volare Tiles + Flooring are committed to supplying Australians with top quality, attractive, modern and cost effective hybrid flooring which is why you can access the range any time, anywhere:

• Hybrid flooring online
• FREE online design consultation
• Richmond flooring showroom
• Point Cook flooring showroom
• Canberra flooring showroom
• Geelong flooring showroom

The team of flooring experts will guide you through the hybrid flooring ranges, styles, colours and even make some interior design suggestions when it comes to floor laying patterns which could be a terrific point of difference in your home.