Hybrid flooring has rapidly become a favourite choice for Australian homeowners and it's easy to see why. Combining the best features of laminate and vinyl, hybrid flooring offers a highly durable and waterproof surface that's perfect for busy households. Whether you're renovating or building new, this advanced flooring solution suits any home, providing both comfort underfoot and stylish looks.
Favoured by designers, builders, and savvy home renovators, hybrid flooring brings a premium aesthetic to your home without the maintenance hassles of natural wood.
What is Hybrid Flooring Made Of?
As the name suggests, hybrid flooring is made from a unique combination of materials, including plastic, PVC, and limestone. These materials are tightly compressed into multiple layers, forming a robust, timber-look plank that's built to last.
The composition of hybrid flooring includes several layers: a tough protective surface coating, a realistic wood-look décor layer, a durable vinyl wear layer, a rigid or semi-rigid composite substrate, and a pre-attached underlay designed specifically for floating installation.
This multi-layered construction provides exceptional stability, durability, and waterproof properties, making it a top choice for both wet areas like kitchens and bathrooms and high-traffic zones throughout the home.
SPC vs WPC Hybrid Flooring
The two main types of hybrid flooring are SPC (Stone Polymer Composite) and WPC (Wood Plastic Composite). Both offer durable, waterproof performance but differ in their construction and feel underfoot.
SPC hybrid flooring has a dense, rigid core made from limestone, PVC and stabilisers, providing excellent stability and resistance to everyday dents and wear.
WPC hybrid flooring has a lighter, semi rigid core that provides a softer, more comfortable feel underfoot with excellent acoustic performance.
Both SPC and WPC are practical choices for Australian homes, with the right option depending on your preferred comfort, performance and flooring requirements.
What’s At The Core?
Embelton Flooring offers various hybrid flooring options with different core structures:
Atlantis SPC (Stone Polymer Core): Available in 5.5mm, 6.5mm, and 7mm, this core is made from limestone, PVC, and stabilisers. Its high-density structure offers excellent resistance to dents and marks.
Aqua-Tuf WPC (Wood Plastic Composite): This 8mm core combines limestone and PVC wood dust, producing a lighter, semi-rigid plank with a softer feel underfoot and superior acoustic performance.
For those looking for the latest in hybrid flooring innovation, the Atlantis 7mm range features an ABA core structure, which enhances the plank’s performance and stability. Click here to find out more.
In good news for the environment, leftover scraps from both SPC and WPC products are recycled and used in future batches, ensuring zero waste and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
What Is 12mm Hybrid Flooring?
For homeowners wanting a thicker and more premium flooring option, Embelton Flooring's 12mm Hybrid WPC flooring is designed specifically for busy Australian households.
Highly scratch resistant and waterproof, the 12mm WPC range combines everyday durability with a comfortable and substantial feel underfoot.
It also features an EIR, or Embossed in Register, finish. EIR technology aligns the surface texture with the printed timber grain underneath, allowing knots, grains and other natural details to follow the visual pattern of real timber.
The result is a more authentic timber look and feel without the maintenance requirements associated with natural wood.
With a 5G locking system, the 12mm WPC range is also designed for straightforward floating installation, making it an attractive option for homeowners considering DIY hybrid flooring.
Why Choose Hybrid Flooring?
Hybrid flooring checks all the boxes for homeowners who want stylish, durable, and affordable flooring. Its water-resistant properties make it perfect for homes with kids, pets, and high foot traffic. Plus, it's easy to clean, just a quick sweep or mop will keep it looking great.
With a variety of stunning wood-look designs, hybrid flooring is available in a straight plank or herringbone pattern. Its integrated acoustic underlay and click-lock installation system also make it a popular choice for DIY enthusiasts.
How Much is Hybrid Flooring?
Hybrid flooring is an affordable option compared to traditional timber, with prices typically ranging from $30 to $70 per square metre, depending on the brand and specifications. For a budget-friendly yet premium flooring solution, hybrid flooring delivers exceptional value for money.
Is Hybrid Flooring Waterproof?
One of the biggest advantages of hybrid flooring is its waterproof composite core.
This makes it a practical flooring solution for Australian homes where spills, kids, pets and everyday moisture are common.
Hybrid flooring is particularly suitable for kitchens, living areas, dining spaces and other high traffic areas. However, waterproof flooring should not be confused with making an entire room waterproof. Correct installation and suitable subfloor preparation remain important.
For bathrooms and other wet areas, always check the specific product installation requirements and relevant building requirements before installation.
Is Hybrid Flooring Scratch Resistant?
Quality hybrid flooring is designed to resist everyday scratches, scuffs and wear, making it a popular choice for homes with children and pets.
However, scratch resistant does not mean scratch proof. Using furniture pads, removing dirt and grit regularly and avoiding dragging heavy furniture will help protect the surface.
For households where scratch resistance is particularly important, Embelton's 12mm WPC hybrid flooring provides a highly scratch resistant surface designed for busy Australian living.
Is Hybrid Flooring Good for Pets and Kids?
Hybrid flooring is particularly well suited to busy family homes because it combines durability, waterproof performance and easy maintenance.
Spills and everyday mess can be cleaned easily, while a durable wear surface helps the flooring withstand regular household activity.
Pet owners should still keep pet nails maintained and regularly remove dirt and grit to help minimise scratches and maintain the floor's appearance.
What Are the Benefits of Hybrid Flooring?
Hybrid flooring offers an excellent balance of appearance and everyday practicality. Its key benefits include:
- Waterproof performance for everyday spills and moisture
- High durability for busy households and high traffic areas
- Scratch resistance suitable for families and pets
- Realistic timber designs without natural timber maintenance
- Comfort underfoot, particularly with WPC flooring
- Acoustic performance through integrated underlay
- Easy maintenance with regular sweeping, vacuuming and appropriate damp cleaning
- DIY friendly installation with floating click lock systems
- Multiple designs, including straight plank and herringbone flooring
What Is EIR Hybrid Flooring?
EIR stands for Embossed in Register and is designed to make hybrid flooring look and feel more like natural timber.
Rather than applying a generic texture across the surface, EIR technology aligns the embossed texture with the printed timber design underneath.
Where the plank shows timber grain, knots or other natural details, the surface texture follows the same pattern. This creates greater depth and a more authentic timber appearance.
Embelton's 12mm Hybrid WPC range features an EIR finish, delivering realistic timber grain texture across each plank.
Can You Install Hybrid Flooring Yourself?
Many hybrid flooring products use floating click lock systems, making them suitable for capable DIY renovators.
Embelton's 12mm WPC hybrid flooring features a 5G locking system designed to make installation easier and less messy.
Depending on the product, hybrid flooring may also be installed over suitable existing surfaces such as tiles, timber floors and concrete.
Correct subfloor preparation is essential, so always follow the installation instructions for your chosen flooring before starting your DIY project.
Does Hybrid Flooring Need Underlay?
Many hybrid flooring products come with pre attached underlay, meaning a separate standard underlay may not be required.
Integrated underlay can improve acoustic performance and comfort while also simplifying installation.
Requirements can vary between products and applications, so always check the technical specifications for your selected flooring.
Ready to Order Your Hybrid Flooring Sample?
Discover the full range of hybrid flooring options at Embelton Flooring. Whether you're looking for durability, or simply a beautiful floor to complement your home, we have the perfect solution for you!
Order your 3 Free Hybrid flooring samples today. Click Here!
