The Real Cost of Cheap Flooring, What Perth Homeowners Need to Know

If your floors need a spruce up, it can be tempting to prioritise affordability to conserve cash upfront – but cheap flooring doesn’t pay dividends in the long run.

While quality tends to cost more in the short term, opting for excellence will have you banking extra dollars down the track.

Looking Long Term

Many people erroneously only consider the price per square metre of a flooring material.

However, a simple look at the numbers shows that a flooring product priced at $25 per square metre with a 5-year warranty that needs replacing in 7 years will cost significantly more over time than a $45 per square metre product with a 25-year warranty.

While you’re paying almost twice the cost upfront in this scenario, the product is guaranteed for five times as long – and in the long-term costs around half as much.

Factoring In Other Costs

When purchasing new floors, buyers often also neglect to factor in hidden costs, like removing existing floors, subfloor preparation and quality installation.

Make sure to calculate your changeover cost with true figures for these included, as mistakes in these areas can cause issues (think buckling, gaps, warping) with your fresh floors that are pricey to fix.

Where To Spend & Where To Save

It’s wise to invest in higher quality flooring in areas with increased foot traffic, so it doesn’t wear too quickly. Similarly, it’s good to devote more budget to very visible spaces where people gather regularly.

It’s vital not to cut corners in bathrooms, laundries and kitchens, because moisture damage can be costly.

Bedrooms, home offices and storage areas are options for saving without compromising, if need be.

Tips for Comparing Products

When it comes to flooring, it’s imperative to look at the details – such as wear layer thickness, warranty length and the installation method required – to fairly compare products and pricing.

Then, there are harder-to-compare differences to evaluate, such as comfort, style and functionality.

Pinpointing a Quality Product

Having a long-term value mindset with flooring is a must for your hip pocket – and that means looking at durability as a key marker of quality.

Durable floors are made to stay looking good while coping with heavy foot traffic and resisting scratching, staining and moisture over a long lifespan, so place this top of the list.

In terms of hardwood-look hybrid flooring, wear layer thickness is a key indicator of durability. A 0.3mm wear layer is for low traffic areas, while 0.5mm or thicker is for busy homes. At Parrys, our exclusive acoustic hybrid flooring, SpaceWalk, has a 0.7mm wear layer, making it incredibly durable.

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