Hybrid v Laminate - Which Flooring Is Better?

Redragon on 14/02/2023 - 12:56
Last edited 14/02/2023 - 13:24 by 1 other user

I found a guy quoted supply and installation of the following two types of flooring, for almost the same price:

ECOS 6.5MM HYBRID SPC $33.00 Per Square Meter

AQUAWOOD 12MM WATERPROOF SILINATE $55.00 Per Square Meter

One is hybrid, the other is a specialised laminate. Seeing there is a significant price difference for supply on this website, am I missing something here? Laminate is usually cheaper, however the Aquawood seems to be a better quality laminate hence the higher price…I suppose?

Which one has better quality - in terms of durability, cleanability, acoustics, etc.? My understanding is that the hybrid is slightly better in waterproofing.

Home & Garden Flooring

Comments

soan papdi on 14/02/2023 - 13:53

-1

Seeing there is a significant price difference for supply on this website, am I missing something here

One is 6.5mm and other is 12mm
- Redragon on 14/02/2023 - 14:01
  
  Laminate is usually always thicker than hybrid though. Can't compare the two.
JimB on 14/02/2023 - 14:07

Generally laminate is not waterproof, I wouldn't trust it to be 100% waterproof. That's a very bold claim.

Another negative about this particular laminate is that it's very short- only 1.2m long.
- kaleidoscope on 14/02/2023 - 15:06
  
  wouldn't trust it to be 100% waterproof
  
  I’ve been to an airbnb that had laminate flooring inside bathrooms (except for the shower screen which was a single unit)
  - JimB on 14/02/2023 - 15:12
    
    I installed hybrid in my rental bathroom as it was cheaper and quicker than tiling. I wouldn't do that with laminate.
    
    How did you know it was laminate and not hybrid?
    - oshin on 14/02/2023 - 16:04
      
      You can cut through both materials and compare. Underneath hybrid the material is harder (almost like think layer of rock) whereas laminate is hdf (similar to mdf but very compressed.)
      - JimB on 14/02/2023 - 16:21
        
        @oshin: I doubt the Airbnb will be happy with that!
        
        Yeah, I installed hybrid and saw the inner layer, looks to be more resistant than laminate HDF.
        
        I use the word resistant because, while the hard layer of the hybrid is waterproof, the underlay will eventually go mouldy if water gets in and doesn't dry out.
        
        When installing, I tried to score and snap the hybrid but it didn't snap cleanly. I ended up using an angle grinder lol
matteqa on 14/02/2023 - 14:27

+3

One big spill on laminate and the entire floor is ruined. Not only the boards that you spilt on either, the rot spreads across the whole floor. Hybrids are much better for water as they generally have a vinyl backing.
oshin on 14/02/2023 - 14:54

Where are you going to install them?
- Redragon on 14/02/2023 - 15:00
  
  just bedrooms
  - kaleidoscope on 14/02/2023 - 15:08
    
    wait what! why on bedrooms? its normally carpets eh?
    
    I have laminate flooring and hasnt caused any problems. Have had spills here and there but no dramas
    - Redragon on 14/02/2023 - 15:14
      
      I have allergies and cat that pees on the floor occasionally - carpets are not ideal for both lol
      
      Good to hear that. I am not sure about these particular products as usually laminate is cheaper. I guess my question is does the higher price of the Aquawood reflects its quality? Is it a better deal if the guy can do it for the same price as the hybrid? Or is hybrid still the better choice?
    - Hackney on 14/02/2023 - 15:36
      
      @nsuinteger,a lot of new homes now have Hybrid flooring throughout the whole house( minus the wet areas of course.) it is very easy to maintain & a very durable product.We have just purchased a new home in a 4/3/2 configuration.Bedrooms are all carpet, but the rest is hybrid flooring, very impressive product.I personally don’t like solid flooring in a bedroom, but many do.
  - oshin on 14/02/2023 - 15:48
    
    If it's just bedroom, people just normally use laminate especially if the laminate is thicker. I installed laminate on the dry area (living and bedroom and hallway) in my rental property. Hybrid is good for wet area like kitchen or toilet but I would rather use tiles instead. Hybrid is usually a lot thinner than laminate.
    - Redragon on 14/02/2023 - 17:48
      
      I have read that hybrid is thinner because of its composition hence it doesn't need to be as thick. Is a 12mm laminate better than a 6.5mm hybrid though?
      - oshin on 15/02/2023 - 16:35
        
        @Redragon: I was asking myself the same question when I had to replace the flooring. The flooring guy recommended laminate for what I need so I went with that.
  - oshin on 14/02/2023 - 15:51
    
    -1
    
    If possible, get a sample of each material and lay it against the wall of where you want to install them. You want to make sure your flooring is not going to clash with the colour of the wall or make the room darker, etc.
    - Redragon on 14/02/2023 - 18:01
      
      Yep already done that. Just need to pick between the two…
Glenningvalley on 14/02/2023 - 15:24

+1

Hybrid flooring is very difficult to install if the existing flooring is not 100 level.
Laminate is alot more accommodating when covering older (warped) floors.
- oshin on 14/02/2023 - 15:49
  
  Not true, both of them have to be levelled
aurotaro on 14/02/2023 - 15:55

I thought Hybrid and waterproof was just a gimmick, surely these things are not fully 100% waterproof? We went with Laminate and no issues with the floorboards - as long as there's no reason for water sitting over 10 hours you'll be fine. Light water spills are no major dramas.
- Hackney on 14/02/2023 - 16:35
  
  Hybrid is very good for spills etc…Not ‘flood’ proof, but nevertheless very good product.
  - dp1 on 19/02/2023 - 10:03
    
    We had a room flood about 6 weeks after laying DIY hybrid. Lifted it up, dried it out then put it back down, still looking good 3 years later. Luckily the subfloor was a perfectly flat concrete slab (part of the original garage) and dried out quickly
Ash-Say on 14/02/2023 - 18:01

Aquaspoy is laminate and also water proof for 48 hours .

Hybrid v Laminate - Which Flooring Is Better?

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