A Practical Guide from the Sydney Market
Laminate flooring is one of the most commonly used hard flooring options in Sydney homes. People choose it for very practical reasons — it’s durable, relatively affordable, and creates a consistent timber look across large areas.
But what exactly is laminate flooring, and how does it actually perform in real Sydney homes?
This guide explains what laminate flooring is, how it’s built, and how it compares with other popular options such as hybrid flooring. Everything here is based on real experience supplying and installing laminate flooring across Sydney and NSW — not marketing claims or short-term trends.
What is laminate flooring?
Laminate flooring is a multi-layer flooring product built around a high-density fibreboard (HDF) core. Unlike solid timber, it’s not made from a single piece of wood. Instead, laminate uses engineered layers that work together to provide strength, stability, and surface durability.
A typical laminate floorboard includes:
Protective wear layer
The top layer is a tough, transparent coating, usually containing aluminium oxide. This is what gives laminate flooring its scratch resistance, abrasion resistance, and UV protection, helping reduce fading over time.
Decorative print layer
Below the wear layer is a high-definition printed design that creates the timber look. Modern printing and embossing techniques allow laminate flooring to closely replicate natural wood grain and texture.
HDF core layer
The core is made from compressed wood fibres bonded with resin. This is where laminate flooring gets its weight, strength, and resistance to everyday impact.
Balancing layer
The bottom layer helps stabilise the board and reduce moisture movement coming from the subfloor.
While underlay isn’t technically part of the board itself, laminate flooring is almost always installed with underlay and a moisture barrier as part of a floating floor system.
How laminate flooring is installed
Most laminate flooring uses a four-side click-lock system and is installed as a floating floor. That means the boards lock together and sit on top of underlay, rather than being glued or nailed down.
In the Sydney market, laminate flooring typically ranges from 8mm to 14mm in thickness, with 12mm laminate flooring widely regarded as the most stable option over time. Thicker boards tend to feel more solid underfoot and are generally more forgiving on older or less-than-perfect subfloors.
When you pick up a laminate board, it feels dense and rigid. That solid feel is one of the reasons laminate flooring has stayed popular for so many years.
Wear resistance and durability
One of laminate flooring’s biggest strengths is its wear resistance. The aluminium oxide surface layer provides excellent protection against scratches and abrasion.
Laminate flooring works particularly well in:
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Busy family homes
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High-traffic living areas
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Homes with pets or active children
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Spaces where furniture is moved regularly
Wear resistance is usually measured using AC ratings:
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AC3 – light residential use
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AC4 – standard residential use (now very common in Sydney homes)
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AC5 – commercial use
For most Sydney households, AC4 laminate flooring is more than enough, offering long-term durability without unnecessary cost.
Water resistance: understanding the limits
Water resistance is probably the most misunderstood part of laminate flooring.
Many products are described as water resistant for a certain period — for example, 24, 48, or 72 hours. In simple terms, this refers to how long the boards can resist swelling when exposed to water.
That said, laminate flooring is not waterproof. There is no truly waterproof laminate floor. Some products simply handle moisture better than others.
This doesn’t make laminate flooring a poor choice — it just means its limits should be understood. Occasional spills are usually fine, but prolonged water exposure should be avoided.
Laminate flooring in the Sydney market
Laminate flooring is a very mature product in Sydney. There’s a huge range of colours, finishes, textures, and board sizes available, across many price points.
Strong competition among suppliers has kept laminate flooring affordable, which is why it’s often seen as one of the most cost-effective hard flooring options. Specialist flooring suppliers usually offer:
More stable, better-designed boards
More consistent quality
Matching trims and stair nosings
Clear installation guidance
Better after-sales support
Laminate floorboards from large hardware stores can work, but in most cases, dedicated flooring suppliers provide a more complete system and better long-term results.
Cost of laminate flooring in Sydney
As a general guide for Sydney projects:
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Supply and installation usually range from $50–$100 per square metre
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With additional work such as carpet removal, subfloor levelling, and edge finishing, costs can rise to $100–$200 per square metre
Actual pricing depends on board thickness, AC rating, brand, colour, and site conditions, but these figures reflect typical Sydney installations.
How long does laminate flooring last?
In most cases, laminate flooring lasts between 10 and 30 years.
While product specifications do matter, installation quality often matters more. Poor installation can lead to problems within a few years, while well-installed laminate floors can perform reliably for decades.
Laminate flooring vs hybrid flooring
A very common comparison in Sydney homes is laminate flooring vs hybrid flooring.
Hybrid flooring is often chosen for its waterproof properties and low expansion rate. Laminate floors, on the other hand, is usually chosen for its:
Higher wear resistance
Structural strength
Better tolerance of imperfect subfloors
Stability in heat and direct sunlight
Hybrid boards tend to be more rigid and brittle, which means they require very flat subfloors. They’re also more sensitive to heat, strong sunlight, and temperature changes.
In many Sydney homes — especially those with yellow tongue subfloors — preparing the floor to suit hybrid flooring can be expensive. In these situations, laminate flooring is often the more practical option.
Pros and cons of laminate floors
Advantages
More affordable than natural timber
Excellent wear and scratch resistance
Wide range of designs
Easy to clean and maintain
Well suited to high-traffic areas
Disadvantages
Not waterproof
Cannot be sanded or refinished
Needs correct installation to perform well
Is laminate flooring right for your home?
Laminate floors remain one of the most practical and widely used flooring options in Sydney. It’s durable, stable, affordable, and well suited to local housing conditions.
For many homes, laminate floors offer the best balance between performance, cost, and appearance — as long as the right product is chosen and it’s installed properly.
Installed by Floorplan Studio
Floorplan Studio is a Sydney-based flooring specialist with over ten years of experience supplying and installing laminate flooring across Sydney and NSW. Rather than chasing short-term trends, our team works with laminate flooring every day and understands how it behaves under real local conditions.
Our experience covers every critical stage of a laminate floor project — from subfloor assessment and preparation, to moisture control, correct expansion allowances, and clean finishing details. These are the details that often determine whether a floor performs well for decades or starts causing problems early on.
To make choosing the right product easier, Floorplan Studio organises our laminate flooring range using a clear, practical filtering system. Clients can compare options based on thickness, water resistance, AC wear rating, colour tone, and design style, making it easier to find a floor that suits their home, budget, and lifestyle — not just a brand name.
By combining carefully selected products with installation methods refined specifically for Sydney homes, Floorplan Studio aims to deliver laminate flooring solutions that remain stable, durable, and visually balanced over the long term.
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