Full Buyers Guide
🏡 How to Choose the Right Flooring for Your Home
Choosing flooring isn’t just about colour 🎨. It’s about how you live, where the floor is going, and how much maintenance you want long term. With so many options available, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. This guide breaks down the most common flooring types, explains the key specs that matter, and highlights the real pros and cons so you can choose with confidence.
❓ Start With These 5 Questions
• 🐶 Do you have kids or pets?
• 💧 Will the floor be installed in a kitchen, bathroom, or basement?
• 👣 Do you want maximum durability or more comfort underfoot?
• 🛠️ Is this a DIY project or a professional install?
• ⏳ Is this a long-term home or a short-term renovation?
Your answers matter more than trends.
🧱 SPC Vinyl Plank (Rigid Core)
Best for: Most homes, high-traffic areas, full-home installs
Key specs: 5–8mm thickness, 12–22 mil wear layer, rigid SPC core, click-lock system
Why homeowners choose it:
• 💧 100% waterproof
• 📏 Extremely stable and resistant to expansion
• 🏠 Great for kitchens, bathrooms, basements, and large open spaces
• 🐾 Highly scratch- and dent-resistant
• 🧼 Very low maintenance
Things to consider:
• ❄️ Firmer underfoot than WPC
• 🌳 Not real wood (though visuals are very realistic)
Bottom line: The safest and most durable all-around flooring choice for most homeowners.
🛋️ WPC Vinyl Plank (Comfort Core)
Best for: Living rooms, bedrooms, comfort-focused and premium homes
Key specs: 8–12mm thickness, 20–30 mil wear layer, attached underlay, click-lock system
Why homeowners choose it:
• 💧 100% waterproof
• ☁️ Softer, warmer, and quieter underfoot than SPC
• 🔇 Excellent sound absorption
• 🛡️ Ultra-durable options with 30 mil wear layers
• ✨ Thick, premium feel
Things to consider:
• 🪑 Less dent-resistant under very heavy furniture
• 💰 Higher price point than standard vinyl
Bottom line: Ideal if you want maximum comfort with long-term durability in a thicker, premium vinyl floor.
🏢 Glue-Down LVP (Luxury Vinyl Plank)
Best for: Commercial spaces, apartments, rentals, budget renovations
Key specs: 12–20 mil wear layer, glue-down installation, smooth subfloor required
Why homeowners choose it:
• 💧 100% waterproof
• 🚶 Excellent for high-traffic areas
• 💸 More affordable than click-lock systems
• 🔁 Easy plank replacement if damaged
Things to consider:
• 🧰 Professional installation recommended
• 📐 Subfloor must be perfectly smooth
Bottom line: Excellent for commercial or budget projects, less ideal for quick DIY installs.
🚀 VaccuBond® LVT (Next-Generation Flexible Vinyl)
Best for: Unique spaces, problem subfloors, fast installs
What makes it different: Bendable, flexible construction with vacuum-bond adhesion
Why homeowners choose it:
• 🌲 Wood-look vinyl with easy-install technology
• 🔄 Flexible and bendable to handle difficult or uneven areas
• 📍 Can be installed where traditional flooring struggles
• 💧 Waterproof and durable
• 🧩 Simple to install and replace
Things to consider:
• 🧽 Proper surface prep is still important
Bottom line: An industry-breaking vinyl solution when traditional flooring options don’t work.
🪵 Laminate Flooring
Best for: Bedrooms, offices, dry living areas
Key specs: AC4–AC5 rating, 8–12mm thickness
Why homeowners choose it:
• 🎨 Realistic wood visuals
• 🛡️ Scratch-resistant surface
• 👣 Comfortable underfoot
• 💸 Budget-friendly
Things to consider:
• 🚫 Not waterproof
• 💦 Can swell if exposed to moisture
• 🚿 Not suitable for kitchens or bathrooms
Bottom line: A great value option for dry areas only.
🌳 Engineered Hardwood (13–14mm Thickness)
Best for: Premium homes, natural wood lovers, resale-focused renovations
Key specs: 13–14mm total thickness, 2–4mm real wood veneer, plywood core
Why homeowners choose it:
• 🌲 Genuine real wood surface
• 🧱 Solid, premium feel underfoot
• 📈 Adds warmth and resale value
• ⚖️ More stable than solid hardwood
Things to consider:
• 🚫 Not waterproof
• 💰 Higher cost than vinyl options
• 🧼 Requires more care and maintenance
Bottom line: Ideal if you want the authentic look and feel of real wood with better stability than traditional hardwood.
🛡️ What Wear Layer Really Means
The wear layer is the clear protective coating on top of vinyl flooring. It’s the part that protects the design layer from scratches, scuffs, dents, and everyday wear. The thicker the wear layer, the longer the floor will hold up under traffic, pets, and furniture.
• 12 mil wear layer – Suitable for light residential use such as bedrooms or low-traffic areas
• 20 mil wear layer – Ideal for heavy residential use and light commercial spaces, including living rooms and busy households
• 30 mil wear layer – Ultra-durable, commercial-grade protection designed for homes with pets 🐾, kids 👶, and very high foot traffic
Important to know: the wear layer does not change how the floor looks or feels underfoot — it only affects durability and lifespan. A higher mil rating means better long-term performance.
M thickness refers to the overall thickness of the plank, from top to bottom. This affects comfort, sound, stability, and how forgiving the floor is over the subfloor.
• 2–3mm (Glue-Down LVP) – Designed to be fully bonded to the subfloor; extremely durable when installed correctly but requires a perfectly smooth surface
• 4–5mm (Thin Click or Vinyl options) – More budget-friendly, but still require a very flat subfloor
• 5–8mm (SPC Vinyl Plank) – More stable and solid underfoot, suitable for most homes
• 8–12mm (WPC Vinyl Plank) – Thicker, quieter, warmer, and more forgiving over minor subfloor imperfections
Thickness affects feel and comfort, not durability. Durability comes from the wear layer.
🧱 SPC & WPC Vinyl Plank – Attached Backing Pad
All SPC and WPC floors in our range come with an attached backing pad built into the plank.
This attached padding:
• Improves comfort underfoot
• Reduces noise and echo
• Adds stability
• Eliminates the need for separate underlayment
This makes installation faster and ensures consistent performance across the entire floor.
🏢 Glue-Down LVP
Glue-down luxury vinyl plank is thinner by design and is meant to be fully adhered to the subfloor.
• Thickness typically ranges from 2–3mm
• Extremely durable once installed
• Ideal for commercial spaces, apartments, rentals, and budget renovations
• Requires a perfectly smooth and well-prepped subfloor
Because the plank is glued down, thickness is less about comfort and more about stability and longevity.
🪵 Laminate Flooring – Underlayment Required
Laminate flooring requires a separate underlayment beneath the planks.
Underlayment:
• Adds comfort and cushioning
• Reduces noise
• Helps with moisture protection
• Improves overall stability
Without underlayment, laminate can feel louder and less comfortable and may not perform as intended.
• Wear layer (mil) = how long the floor lasts
• Thickness (mm) = how solid and comfortable it feels
• 2–3mm glue-down = durability through adhesion
• SPC/WPC with pad = easier install + sound control
• Laminate needs underlayment = essential step
⚖️ Quick Comparison
• 🧱 Most durable & stable: SPC
• ☁️ Most comfortable & thickest: WPC
• 🏢 Best for commercial installs: Glue-down LVP
• 🚀 Most versatile innovation: VaccuBond® LVT
• 🪵 Best dry-area budget option: Laminate
• 🌳 Most premium natural look: Engineered hardwood
🧠 Still Not Sure?
That’s completely normal. Flooring looks different in your lighting, your space, and next to your furniture. Ordering samples lets you compare colours and textures at home without pressure. If you want a safe place to start, begin with best-selling options — they’re popular for a reason.