Hybrid Flooring; The Modern Flooring Innovation
Hybrid flooring is the latest in the innovations of flooring horizon since 2019. Certainly an innovative flooring option, hybrid flooring derived its name as it is composed of multiple blended materials, including limestone, plastic, and wood. Hybrid flooring is making exponential growth, with its popularity touching all time high since its inception.
Let’s see the pros and cons of hybrid flooring. In the first place, hybrid flooring has greater aesthetics and is fashionable. Besides that, it is durable, easy on the purse, and waterproof, thus setting hybrid flooring among the best options, even overtaking traditional timber flooring. Hybrid flooring is also referred to as hybrid vinyl flooring and hybrid laminate flooring.
Hybrid flooring is a combination of plastic laced with wood or limestone and pressed tightly together into multiple layers, such as UV coating/protective layer (wear/scratch resistant) and aesthetic layer (stamped). It is done in such a way that it looks like a natural timber floor), core layer (resistant to water/temperature changes/warping), and pre-adhered layer (backing – besides the ease of installation, it adds underfoot comfort as well).
When we talk about the pros of hybrid flooring, there are positive factors such as durability, ease of installation, ease of cleaning, and affordability. The cons of hybrid flooring include inauthenticity, discoloration, and the discomfiture of sub-floor requirements. Let’s now see the advantages of using hybrid flooring:
Durability
Hybrid floors can withstand the wear of high foot traffic; hence, it is ideal for residential and commercial spaces. Often understood to combine the benefits of laminate and luxury vinyl, hybrid flooring has the strength of laminate paired with the aesthetic appeal of luxury vinyl planks. Moreover, hybrid floorings are cent percent waterproof and temperature resistant. Although the hybrid flooring has a fair level of scratch resistance, it will scratch under pressure. You must take care of it by cleaning and vacuuming, placing furniture/felt pads for movement across floors, and more.
Installation
As hybrid flooring is pre-adhered, it can be installed sans nails or glue over the top of the underlayment, ‘floating’ above the subfloor. This way, your installation process is quick and easy, while you can also remove, repair, or replace individual planks depending on the necessity.
Cleaning
Like all other types of floors, hybrid floors, too, require routine cleaning. The ideal cleaning method is sweeping and vacuuming, followed by a weekly wash/mop with water. As hybrid floors are waterproof, washing them with water is much easier than washing traditional timber floors.
Affordability
Hybrid floors are quite affordable in contrast with timber or engineered flooring. They are more sustainable as they need only more minor materials with a high carbon footprint, including slow-growing timbers such as oak. It is easy to install and the cheapest flooring option in the short term. You can save up money on labor and materials. At the same time, you can also localize repairs and maintenance to the individual planks of concern in the long term. Now let’s see a few disadvantages of hybrid flooring:
Inauthenticity
Unless you opt for a superior brand, you will never get the aesthetic look of real timber in hybrid flooring. The cheaper the brand of hybrid floor you buy, the less they look like natural timber.
Discoloration
Though hybrid floors claim to be fade-resistant, they are known to fade after sustained and prolonged exposure to direct sunlight. You can prevent this from happening if you use curtains or blinds. Also, extended contact with some rubber products triggers discoloration in the long run. It is ideal for you to opt for furniture/decor with this in mind.
Sub-floor requirements
If there is more than a 3 mm/ 3m subfloor, hybrid floors will likely be cumbersome to install and prone to creaking. Also, floating floors such as hybrid flooring will increase the height of your floor overall.
Call 03 8087 8733, Logon to www.sunfloors.com.au
or drop an email at sales@sunfloors.com.au
or visit our showroom at sun floors, 2/102 Old Geelong Road, Hoppers Crossing VIC 3029
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