Hi Lorraine, sorry I missed your question. I only bought this house a few months back and the glue has deteriorated anyway so I used the steam mop to test it out before I get new flooring. Because many animals lived in this house I was hoping the steam would help kill germs. I've read so many opinions on the use of steam on both vinyl and laminate so I'm at a bit of a loss now. One of my joeys has laminate and has been using a steam mop on it for 12 years now with no ill effects at all, despite that supposedly being a big no-no, but she found it so quick and efficient when the kids were toddlers particularly and the floor needed doing almost daily. I just have to wonder these days how much manufacturers are protecting themselves and not giving consumers honest information. How often do you buy an item of cotton clothing and then find the label says "dry clean only". This does not mean the item can't be washed, it is to protect the manufacturer from someone doing something like washing in boiling water. We need more transparency in care instructions, only then can consumers make informed decisions on the right product for them. If steam is going to affect the glue, then it follows water will too so then it comes down to just how do you clean your floors. Manufacturers' special products that are always ridiculously expensive are not the answer and having access to these products is not always possible for country people either. I believe there are two types of vinyl planks too - one type are glued down, the others are a floating floor which would not require glue, but I was told in the event of damage, a glued plank is much easier to replace than one in a floating floor. There are so many glues on the market now too, there must be one that could be used to reglue a plank that has come adrift.

our composite decking was light coloured and did get hot under bare feet but i think dark wood will do the same and you have all that maintenance....best way to test the difference would be to obtain a few samples of the different products and lay them out in the same position as they'll be installed ( suspended the correct distance above the ground etc on suitable support to include the expected air spaces all around)

It depends on what look and feel you are going for and also if you feel like it's important to you that the deck material is environmentally friendly. What style do you have throughout the rest of your home? Both hardwood timber and composite are very durable, however, you may need to maintain the timber more than the composite (Blackbutt timber may crack on the surface if not maintained properly). Timber is aesthetically pleasing and looks very natural and the composite has a more modern and stylish look and feel (new techwood is the eco-friendly alternative to natural wood).

Have you considered using an aluminium deck? :) DecoDeck combines the warm, natural appearance of real timber with the superior strength and durability of aluminium. Available in 6.5 metre decking boards, DecoDeck uses a concealed clip and screw system for fast and easy DIY installation. The strong aluminium boards mean joists can be spaced up to 600 mm apart, and the deck joiner allows decking boards to be joined between joists, minimising wastage! https://www.decorativeimaging.com.au/building-products/decodeck/