Laminate Flooring Melbourne

What Is Laminate Flooring?

Laminate flooring uses a decorative timber-look layer over a dense structural core. Above this design layer, a protective wear surface helps protect the board during everyday use.

The boards connect using a click-lock system. As a result, they are installed as a floating floor over a compatible underlay rather than being bonded directly to the subfloor.

Why Choose Laminate Flooring?

For many homeowners, laminate provides an attractive timber appearance at a different price point from genuine engineered timber. It also offers a wide variety of colours, textures and performance levels.

• Realistic timber-look colours and textures
• Excellent value for residential projects
• Different board thicknesses and formats
• Multiple AC wear ratings
• Water-resistant options across selected ranges
• Floating click-lock installation
• Easy everyday maintenance

8mm vs 12mm Laminate

Common laminate thicknesses include 8mm and 12mm. While a 12mm board may feel more substantial underfoot, an 8mm board can still perform very well in many residential applications.

However, thickness alone does not determine quality. Therefore, it is also worth comparing the core construction, locking system, AC rating, surface finish and warranty.

What Does an AC Rating Mean?

The AC rating indicates the wear resistance of a laminate surface. In general, a higher rating is designed to cope with a higher level of traffic and surface wear.

• AC3 — commonly suited to normal residential use.
• AC4 — suited to heavier residential traffic and selected light commercial applications.
• AC5 — designed for higher levels of wear.

Even so, always check the intended application of the exact laminate range you are considering.

Water-Resistant Laminate

Moisture performance varies between products. For example, some newer laminate ranges offer enhanced water resistance or specific water-protection ratings.

Because standard laminate uses a wood-based core, spills should still be cleaned promptly. In addition, the manufacturer’s care instructions should always be followed.

Laminate vs Hybrid Flooring

Both laminate and hybrid create timber-look floating floors. However, their internal construction is different.

A laminate floor uses a wood-based core and can reproduce very detailed timber grain and texture. By contrast, hybrid flooring uses a rigid core and offers different moisture and performance characteristics.

Therefore, the better option depends on the room, subfloor, budget and performance requirements of the project.

COMPARE HYBRID FLOORING →

Laminate vs Vinyl Flooring

A laminate floor is installed as a floating click-lock system over a compatible underlay. Vinyl plank, on the other hand, uses a more flexible construction and Dex Flooring installs it using a glue-down system.

As a result, vinyl follows the prepared subfloor closely, whereas laminate sits above the substrate as a floating floor.

EXPLORE VINYL FLOORING →

Laminate Flooring Installation

Dex Flooring installs laminate using a floating installation system. Instead of being glued to the subfloor, the boards connect to one another using their locking system.

In addition, suitable expansion allowance is required around walls, cabinetry and other fixed structures.

Subfloor Preparation Matters

Even though laminate is a floating floor, it still requires a suitable subfloor. Underlay cannot compensate for significant floor-level variations.

Consequently, some projects may require grinding, patching or levelling before installation. Proper preparation helps protect the locking system and improves the finished result.

Choosing Laminate Underlay

Most laminate products require a compatible underlay unless an approved backing is already attached to the board.

Besides providing support, underlay can influence acoustic performance and the overall feel of the finished floor. For that reason, it should always match the requirements of the selected laminate range.

EXPLORE FLOORING UNDERLAY →

Choosing the Right Laminate Colour

Light oak tones can help smaller rooms feel brighter and more open. Meanwhile, natural mid-tone colours suit a broad range of interiors, while darker timber looks create stronger contrast.

Because flooring colours can change under different lighting conditions, we recommend viewing samples in your home before making the final choice.

Looking After Laminate Flooring

Regular maintenance is generally straightforward. However, a few simple habits can help protect the floor over time.

• Vacuum or sweep regularly to remove dirt and grit.
• Use a lightly damp mop rather than excessive water.
• Clean spills promptly.
• Use protective pads under furniture.
• Avoid steam cleaning unless specifically approved by the manufacturer.
• Follow the care instructions supplied with the selected range.