The modern flooring of today comes in many shapes, sizes, and even designs. It plays an important role in our homes: it can provide you warmth, complement the design theme of the house, and even provide you a unique look that no one else has. You may have heard of some common flooring like: laminates, vinyl, porcelain tiles, granite, marble, and even bare cement, but have you heard of hybrid flooring?
What is hybrid flooring?
Hybrid flooring is a relatively new technology that combines the best characteristics of both laminate (durability and strength) and vinyl flooring (lifelike look of wooden planks). A popular form of hybrid flooring would be the COREtec range, which is made out of recycled wood, bamboo dust, limestone, and virgin PVC. Due to its properties, it has risen in popularity in recent years and has become the flooring of choice for most homes.
Waterproof properties
The COREtec range is also waterproof, which makes it great to be installed in wet areas such as the bathroom and kitchen. These properties allow you to replicate the look of natural wood and it is able to retain heat better, as compared to the traditional porcelain (or ceramic) tiles. Do note that overlaying hybrid flooring on top of your existing flooring is possible, but ensure that the waterproofing work is done properly before installing the flooring.
Resistant against scratches
Being a hard material to begin with, hybrid flooring is not easily scratched (unlike laminates or parquet) and it can be quite hardy in most situations. As with every kind of flooring, care must still be taken in order for it to remain in a pristine condition. If you are moving heavy furniture around, lay some protection sheets over the floor to minimise the occurrence of scratches.
Sound absorption
In a commercial aspect, the sound absorption properties of hybrid flooring reduce the level of noise pollution and it is almost resistant to the daily wear and tear. It is a great alternative to carpet as there is very little maintenance needed. If there is any liquid spillage, it is easy to clean up and remove any stains. The thickness of hybrid flooring plays a part in the absorption of sounds, as compared to flooring materials that are hollow.
Various designs
Modern manufacturing methods has allowed a single plank of hybrid flooring to be transformed into many designs and colours: whether you prefer a dark and woody design theme, or even a light and airy theme, the various designs of hybrid flooring has got you covered. One of the most popular form of wood to be incorporated into the design and colour would be oak.
Hybrid flooring will be costlier than cheaper materials such as laminates and vinyl, but overall, you are paying the price for a high quality product which can last you for a long time without much maintenance.
As homeowners are slowly realising the value of paying for quality products, hybrid flooring will soon be a main contender against the traditional tiles that is so commonly used in many households.