Flooring is something you probably haven’t thought much about.  It is the part of building and renovating that often gets little attention until your architect or builder suggests it.  However, it can play a huge part in transforming your new custom home.

Flooring is the aspect that brings and holds all your design elements together.  It is the base that supports the style of your custom home, and dictates the flow, and mood for each room.

We’re going to go through the best flooring for your custom new home.  As well as, how to choose the perfect match for your style, your home and your lifestyle.  We promise to make it a fun and rewarding part of your build.

Polished concrete flooring

What is it?

Polished concrete is a concrete slab that has been honed to a smooth surface.

It is hard wearing, long lasting and requires little maintenance (it’s hard to chip or scratch), so it is popular with families.  Polished concrete is economical as you can work with your existing concrete slab when building.  You won’t have the extra expense of putting another floor covering (like carpet, tiles, floorboards) over the top of the slab.

Polished concrete is resistant to stains, water, bacteria and fire.  Cleaning is a light dust with a broom to keep the floor free of dirt and a weekly mop to remove marks, smudges and scuffs.

There are two types of polished concrete.  The first is the mechanically polished concrete, where the sheen is the actual shine of the concrete.  This finish will last a lifetime.

The second is grind and seal where the concrete is ground smooth and a seal is applied to the surface.  This is the more economical polished concrete solution, however the seal will need to be reapplied over time.

Polished concrete can crack from extreme changes in temperature and moisture levels.  These cracks will need to be attended too.  It is a hard floor so items will break when dropped.  Concrete can be cold in winter, so heating may need to be considered.

What choices do you have with polished concrete?

You have many colour and pattern options open to you with polished concrete.  You can choose the amount of aggregate – this is the amount of stone that shows through the concrete.  The colour of aggregate will also change the colour of the flooring.

You can choose the shine level – matte, semi-gloss, gloss, or high gloss.

Think beyond traditional concrete grey.  Choose stains, dyes, stamps and decorative elements to the polished concrete floor for a truly unique look.

What custom home style does polished concrete suit?

Polished concrete is gaining in popularity and works well with modern aesthetics – think industrial, contemporary with clean lines.  Equally, polished concrete can match beautifully with the soft, neutral palette of a Scandinavian home, or as a sophisticated and practical finish to a charming coastal retreat.

Hybrid waterproof flooring

What is it?

Hybrid waterproof flooring is a combination of materials – wood, vinyl or laminate – laid over a substrate floor.  The hybrid flooring is printed with a decorative layer pressed between a commercial-grade top protective layer and water-proof composite core layer.  It has the look and feel of natural materials with the durability of tiles.

It is an affordable flooring choice, as it is manufactured off-site.  It is easy to install and does not require any special maintenance.  It is durable (scratch and dent proof) and waterproof, because of its hard protective top layer and PVC inner board.  This means you can use it in wet areas or rooms with high moisture as well as living areas for a continuous, comfortable flooring solution throughout your home.

The underlayers makes the hybrid flooring quiet and comfortable.  It is easy to keep clean – simply vacuum and mop and ensure to wipe up spills quickly.  Hybrid flooring is fade-resistant but not against harsh direct sun, so blinds and curtains may be recommended.

Its tough layers make it resilient in high traffic areas.  It is important to note, that hybrid flooring cannot be used as a structural floor, only as an overlay.

What choices do you have with hybrid waterproof flooring?

The printed decorative layer means you have lots of choice of natural timber and stone options. Not only do you get the great look of natural flooring but the embossed features also give it a realistic texture.

There are lots to choose from in the timber look – light or dark colours in oak, spotted gum, red jarrah, blackbutt, grey oak.  In stone, choose from subtle and dramatic veining of marble to a concrete wash look.  You can even choose black nero for a moody feel to the room.

What custom home style does hybrid waterproof flooring suit?

All of them!  With the classic, stylish and the elegance of timber and stone, you can’t go wrong.  Your luxury home can now have that seamless look throughout the whole house.

Timber flooring

What is it?

Timber flooring is solid timber usually made from hardwoods or softwoods such as pine.  It is laid in planks of solid timber cut from a log, which is kiln dried and profiled so each plank fits into the other.  The grain is laid in one direction, so the solid timber floor moves with the house as one piece.

It can be sanded and sealed a number of times during its lifespan to bring it back to life.

It has long-lasting qualities and adds value to homes because of its natural and aesthetic appeal.  It is a healthy flooring as it does not harbour parasites, bacteria, dirt and debris and is non-allergenic.  Timber floor cleaning is a breeze – vacuum and mop.

Timber flooring should be laid by a professional as they need specialist care in acclimatising the floorboards prior to laying.  It is one of the most expensive flooring options but can last a lifetime.

Timber floors can be damaged by water and other environmental factors, so it is not recommended for wet areas.  The boards can scratch from heavy traffic and furniture so care needs to be taken.

What choices do you have with timber flooring?

Choose from a variety of timbers in both light and dark colours, some more knotted than others.  They can be stained, or whitewashed to match.  Your coating options include polyurethane lacquer (this is the most popular as it does not require constant maintenance), hard wax oil, or oil for unfinished timber.

You can also choose the width of the timber boards as well as the direction they are laid.  Wider boards make the room look bigger to maximise your space.  Parquetry gives an old-world, classic appeal.

What custom home style does timber flooring suit?

The timelessness of timber flooring can complement any style home.  It is an excellent option for luxury new homes due to being considered a classic.

Install the warmer wood tones to complement bolder interiors, the deep chocolates and caramels for earthy aesthetics, stain them Black Japan for a sophisticated, drama or lay them in a chic chevron pattern for attention-seeking glamour.

Tile flooring

What is it?

Tiles are made from a clay mixture that has been fired in a kiln.  You can use ceramic or porcelain tiles, however, porcelain tiles use a finer clay and have been fired at higher temperatures.  They are more dense and more durable than a ceramic tile.

Most tiles are stain-resistant, durable and water-resistant, therefore work well in high humid or damp areas.  Think about the surface texture when using in bathrooms, and areas where water may be present as some surfaces can be slippery when wet.  You will also need to consider the weight of tiles when laying as the floor may need extra strengthening to support the heavier and thicker tiles.

Tiles can be hard on your feet and cold in winter (but also cool in summer!) and work well with under-floor heating.  They are easy to keep clean, with a vacuum and mop.  However the grouting needs a little extra care as it is usually more porous than the tile itself (a good quality grout and sealer should help).  They are hypo-allergenic as dust and mites cannot harbour in the tile.

Pricing can vary significantly between your choice of tiles, so have a budget before shopping to help keep you in line.

What choices do you have with tile flooring?

There are so many choices in tiles to choose from, you may become overwhelmed.  We recommend you go tile shopping with clear style and colour ideas to help narrow your choices!

You can choose solid colours or patterned and textured tiles.

Choose the material of tiles – natural stone, porcelain or ceramic tiles are popular.  In many tiles you can choose the size of the tile from penny tiles, to the more popular 600 x 600 and 900 x 450 tile sizes for flooring.

Create a pattern on your flooring by mixing and matching tile colours and tile size.  Lay a border around the room or a pattern as a focal point of the room.

Up the wow factor with encaustic antique tiles, the classic beauty of natural stone, the intricate fish tale shaped glazed tiles, or try glow in the dark tiles (yes, it’s a thing!).

What custom home style suits tile flooring?

Tile flooring suits most custom homes, because there are so many options to choose from that you can make them your own.  Dial down the palette with natural tiles, create a resort-style ambience with blue and white tiles or as a statement with handmade bold patterned tiles.  The world is your oyster when it comes to tiles.

Ask yourself these questions before looking at the best flooring options for you.

We hope this information can now give you the confidence to find the best flooring for your new home.  But before we go, here are some questions which may help you narrow down to the flooring you will love.

What is your budget?

How much traffic will the room and area have?

Is there a potential for water damage or high humidity?

Do you have pets or children?

What is the noise level in the room?

What kind of maintenance are you willing to do?

What style is my custom home?

Now go back to your favourite flooring above and see how the material fits with your flooring needs.

Our team of architects and designers are happy to talk you through the best flooring for your new home.  Our wealth of experience over ten years in building custom new homes can help you find the flooring that will look great for many years to come as well as make for a comfortable, stylish home for your family.  Call the SBR team on 1300 676 166 or contact us here.