Hybrid Timber Flooring
Hybrid Timber Flooring is a great product innovation that has successfully combined the benefits of laminate flooring and vinyl plank flooring with an authentic timber look that is both functional and aesthetically pleasing.
Essentially Hybrid flooring has a core of limestone and PVC that does not absorb moisture whilst being very durable. The top layer is made up of vinyl together with a hard-wearing clear top layer whilst most products also contain a built-in underlay on the bottom of each board. The final result is a “Hybrid floor” with the best benefits of laminate and vinyl plank flooring alternatives.
Traditionally, laminate flooring has a reputation for being noisy underfoot and suspectable deterioration when too much moisture is present. Hybrid flooring is 100% waterproof and much quieter underfoot.
Similarly, vinyl plank flooring has always required a high degree of sub floor preparation followed by a full trowel of adhesive making it a little more of a complex to install. Hybrid Flooring requires little to no subfloor preparation and is installed complete with a built-in underlay in one easy step with no adhesive or additional underlays required.
What should you look for in a high-quality Hybrid Flooring product?
As you would expect, there are a range of different qualities between different brands of Hybrid Flooring.
Bosch timber floors offer several brands of good to superior Hybrid Flooring ranges. Prices vary according to the quality and in our experience the “Rigid Plank” brand is the most complete high-quality of the Hybrid Flooring products available.
Naturally you should discuss your preferences with an experienced flooring consultant to cover off on the key considerations.
Better quality products will include the following types of benefits;
• How true to life is the wood grain design, generally a poor timber design reflects on the make up of the rest of the product.
• How does the product perform under the hot sun, Will it shrink? Does it Fade?
• Does the product meet the P3 anti slip requirement if being used on a stair case? Does it have a compatible stair-nosing accessory to use on stair-cases
• What is the acoustic performance of the product, is it suitable for use in multi-level apartments that require products with low sound transmission?
• What is the make up of the core and click system, is it a strong connection and not too brittle?
