Underrated, Alternative and Affordable Hard-Flooring Options
Looking to go beyond traditional expensive flooring? These alternatives might be for you
Looking for low-cost but big-impact flooring that will transform your space? Look no further! These underrated materials are stylish, affordable, hardwearing, easy to find and can add character to any space. See for yourself…
Painted concrete floors work in every room. In the hot Aussie summer, it is cool to walk on. And in winter, a few rugs will add warmth and softness underfoot.
Stencilling a concrete floor is ideal for small areas such as an entrance room, powder room, study or dining nook. It replaces the need for a rug and conceals dirt in high-traffic or stain-prone areas.
Slate
Slate is a hard durable flooring surface, perfect for high-traffic areas such as kitchens, living rooms and entrances. Slate also ages beautifully.The only upkeep is to reseal it every two or three years for maximum protection. Paired with timber, it gives depth, warmth and a timeless elegance to any dwelling.
Slate is a hard durable flooring surface, perfect for high-traffic areas such as kitchens, living rooms and entrances. Slate also ages beautifully.The only upkeep is to reseal it every two or three years for maximum protection. Paired with timber, it gives depth, warmth and a timeless elegance to any dwelling.
Slate is a very versatile product, when it comes to style. It works as well in a rustic home as in a much more contemporary setting. Slate’s non-slippery, natural cleft texture is ideal for bathrooms.
Cork
Soft and warm underfoot, and easy to lay and maintain, cork floors were big in the ‘70s for all the right reasons. Today’s cork floors are even better: they are more hardwearing and come in a variety of tile sizes and colours. Their noise-reduction property makes them ideal for apartment living.
Soft and warm underfoot, and easy to lay and maintain, cork floors were big in the ‘70s for all the right reasons. Today’s cork floors are even better: they are more hardwearing and come in a variety of tile sizes and colours. Their noise-reduction property makes them ideal for apartment living.
Cork is a safe material. It is anti-allergenic and resistant to insects – perfect for homes with pets and babies. It is a sustainable material with a natural look that will please the environmentally conscious homeowner.
More: 7 Kitchen Flooring Materials That’ll Treat Your Feet
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Vinyl
Vinyl floors have come a long way since the old days. The variety and the quality of finishes available today make them suitable for a very wide range of applications and homes (and commercial dwellings, too!). Unlike laminate – vinyl’s biggest competitor on the market – vinyl flooring is moisture resistant and is a great option to consider for kitchens, laundries and bathrooms. And if you don’t like the clickety sound of heels on laminate floors, rejoice, vinyl is virtually noise free.
Vinyl floors have come a long way since the old days. The variety and the quality of finishes available today make them suitable for a very wide range of applications and homes (and commercial dwellings, too!). Unlike laminate – vinyl’s biggest competitor on the market – vinyl flooring is moisture resistant and is a great option to consider for kitchens, laundries and bathrooms. And if you don’t like the clickety sound of heels on laminate floors, rejoice, vinyl is virtually noise free.
Today, quality vinyl flooring is made of planks imitating a variety of timbers, and it comes in different colours and widths. You are guaranteed to find one that would suit your design. They even have a textured surface that looks so much like “the real thing” you can hardly tell that what you are walking on is man-made.
Vinyl planks are easy to install although the higher end range might require professional installation for a perfect result. Just like laminate floors, they can be assembled by clicking the panels together. Some, though, need to be glued to floor. They are super easy to cut: no special saw needed and dust-free. Being such a light and easy-to-work-with material, you can experiment a bit: try laying your planks diagonally, like in this room.
Plywood
Plywood is a material of choice in Industrial-style homes and in modernist design. It is not a common material to use as flooring, though. The quality and durability (and, as a result, the cost, too) of plywood depend very much on the type of timber used for the veneer. The cheaper ones will tend to be too soft to handle much foot traffic. Higher quality plywood would be perfect in the bedrooms and study, and could also be considered for living areas. Plywood comes as large sheets that will have to be firmly attached to the slab underneath. The sheets can be cut into any size and shape you want for a custom-made floor.
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Plywood is a material of choice in Industrial-style homes and in modernist design. It is not a common material to use as flooring, though. The quality and durability (and, as a result, the cost, too) of plywood depend very much on the type of timber used for the veneer. The cheaper ones will tend to be too soft to handle much foot traffic. Higher quality plywood would be perfect in the bedrooms and study, and could also be considered for living areas. Plywood comes as large sheets that will have to be firmly attached to the slab underneath. The sheets can be cut into any size and shape you want for a custom-made floor.
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Plywood can be clear sealed for a ‘raw’ unfinished look. But it can also be stained or whitewashed in order to enhance the unique irregularities of its veneer. It is an easy material to work with, perfect for the DIY type of homeowner who wants to add character to his or her house, as well as maximum flexibility in terms of colour and size.
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Painted concrete floors are a great low-cost option. Painting will protect the concrete slab from moisture while giving it a seamless, clean look. Easy to clean, allergy-free and super hardwearing, the occasional chip can be fixed with a couple of brush strokes. And when you feel like a change of scenery, just repaint the floor in a different shade!
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