Timber, tile, bamboo, carpet: every flooring option trades off differently between look, durability and cost. Here’s what actually separates them, so you can choose with your eyes open rather than by showroom appeal alone.
Timber
Timber is durable, easy to live with if you have allergies, and visually appealing underfoot. There are two main types, and they perform quite differently.
Solid timber
- Thicker than laminates and fixed directly to the structural floor
- Sanded and polished on site, which gives you more control over the final colour
- Durable enough to last a lifetime with proper care
- More expensive, and needs regular maintenance through sanding and polishing
- Can be damaged if it gets wet and isn’t properly sealed
Engineered timber
- A thin layer of laminate or veneer, generally 1 to 6mm, over a cheaper underlay
- Cheaper than solid timber and quicker to install, with a wide range of manufactured colours
- Can’t be sanded and polished, and has noticeably more bounce underfoot
Bamboo
Technically a grass rather than a timber, strand-woven bamboo is as hard as ironbark, one of the hardest timber species on earth. It’s hard-wearing, easy to clean and generally costs between $90 and $120 supplied and installed. The trade-off is that it scratches easily, doesn’t like moisture, and some manufacturing processes use chemicals worth checking on.
Parquet flooring
Made from solid blocks of wood, parquet is sustainable, long-lasting and can be refinished multiple times over its life. It’s also expensive, high maintenance and doesn’t tolerate moisture well.
Tiles
Ceramic, porcelain and natural stone are the three most common tile choices, and each sits at a different point on durability and cost.
Ceramic
- Cheaper to purchase and easier to cut and install
- Comes in a range of solid colours, but can’t mimic natural stone or complex patterns
- Less water resistant and less durable than porcelain
Porcelain
- Denser and more durable than ceramic, and highly resistant to water and heat
- Available in colours and patterns that can convincingly mimic marble or timber
- More expensive and harder to cut due to its density
Natural stone
- Unique, natural variation that can’t be replicated, with an instantly elevated feel
- Withstands heavy foot traffic well
- Expensive for both materials and labour, porous unless regularly sealed, and can chip
Carpet
Carpet has moved well beyond its reputation. Nylon, polyester, wool and polypropylene all perform differently, but as a category it’s budget-friendly, warm underfoot and a natural sound barrier. It’s also less durable than hard flooring, stains more easily, and can trigger allergies through dust mites and mould.
