Menu
Menu
FAQs
Whether you’re renovating, building new or repairing, your flooring is the foundation of your design.
Because of this, it’s important to get things right the first time so that you can craft the rest of your interior the way you want it.
On this page you’ll find answers to common flooring questions to help you decide which flooring is best for your home and provide a deeper understanding of the flooring types we offer at Imagine Floors by Airstep.
Want to skip to a specific section? Click the link below:
Questions About Laminate Flooring
Questions About Timber Flooring
While this will depend on your particular skill set and whether you are willing to invest the time to get the job done right, as a general rule, floating floors that use a click-lock or similar system can be installed in a DIY manner.
You can find further information about our DIY suggestions in the below blogs:
The Top Three Hard Flooring Options For DIY Enthusiasts
Eco-Friendly DIY – 10 Sustainable Home Improvement Projects You Can Do Yourself
Please note that when completing a DIY installation, it is vital that you follow all relevant installation instructions for your chosen flooring to ensure their longevity and avoid voiding your warranty.
We do not recommend the DIY installation of Luxury Vinyl Plank as these floors use a stick down installation method rather than the abovementioned click-lock.
While the short answer to this question is yes, you most certainly can lay one type of flooring throughout your entire home, it is followed by a but.
In order for this design style to be functional and able to be maintained, the flooring that you choose must be a waterproof option such as Luxury Vinyl Planks or Hybrid Floorboards.
For more information on installing one type of flooring through your whole home, check out this blog:
Imagine Floors by Airstep Flooring is sold by the square metre. You will need to round up the measurements of your space to the next pack size.
We suggest allowing a little extra to account for possible damage during installation or miscalculation of room size, however, if you are confident in your measurements, the excess needed will be minimal.
You may also wish to purchase extra flooring to help protect against any future damage. In this instance, a box should suffice as our floors are quite durable, however, accidents do happen and there’s nothing worse than having to rip up and redo your whole floor simply because one floorboard got damaged and you cannot match the style.
The answer to this question really depends on the type of flooring and who manufactured it.
For example, at Imagine Floors by Airstep we recommend the installation of underlay beneath both Laminate Flooring and Engineered Timber Floors. This is quite common for these two flooring varieties.
If you wish to pair underlay with the installation of our Vinyl Plank Floorboards, you will need to select our Helix 700 option as Luxury Vinyl Floors use a glue down installation method and Helix 700 is the only compatible underlay. Other manufacturers may require the addition of underlay with their Vinyl Flooring so please always do your research before laying any floors in your home.
For more information on Flooring Underlay, check out this blog:
The amount of flooring that you need will depend entirely on how much area you need to cover.
The good news is that our floors are all sold by the square metre so once you know how much space you need to cover, you will be able to work out how many packs you need based on those measurements.
This saves you both time and effort as you will not need to calculate how many floorboards you require.
Both Imagine Floors by Airstep Flooring Hybrid flooring and Luxury Vinyl Plank floorboards are compatible with underfloor heating, however, guidelines should always be followed closely and recommended temperatures should never be exceeded.
All Imagine Floors by Airstep Flooring is low allergen, this makes it perfect for those who suffer from asthma, hay fever or other allergies.
At Imagine Floors by Airstep we take our commitment to the environment seriously.
All materials used in our flooring are sourced ethically and sustainably and we strive to use the most eco-friendly materials and processes possible without compromising on the quality of your new floors.
For example, many of our collections make use of Bio-based Plasticisers, a superiorly eco-friendly solution.
Our Engineered Timber Flooring uses recycled wood for it’s core. The design layer (top layer) is crafted from sustainably grown timber.
Additionally, all of our flooring features excellent VOC ratings and are phthalate-free, so you can be sure that you’re not releasing nasty compounds into your home or the environment.
Scotia is the trim that goes around the edges of your room and covers the expansion gap required by many floating flooring options.
This makes it an important addition for both safety and aesthetics as it will stop those within your household from injuring themselves in the expansion gap, while also helping ensure that there are no ugly holes in your design.
Stair Nosing is the cover that goes over the edge of your stairs to help protect both your family and your floors.
Stair Nosing is an important safety feature for your staircase and can also greatly improve the longevity of the flooring that you select for your stairs.
To learn more about Stair Nosing, click the link below:
There’s no easy answer to this question as the best flooring for your home will depend on both your requirements and your preferences.
For example, if you need waterproof floors, we’d suggest checking out our Luxury Vinyl Plank and Hybrid Flooring collections. Those looking for a luxurious and natural finish, however, would be best off selecting an option from our Reclaimed Wild Oak collection of Engineered Timber Flooring and those with pets should always lean towards Laminate Floors as they’re the most pet-friendly option on the market.
If you are unsure as to which type of flooring best suits your needs, we suggest heading over to the Imagine Inspiration And Education Hub.
The four articles linked below are a good starting point and you will also find a wealth of information, including design tips and tricks and flooring comparisons by browsing our knowledge base.
What is Engineered Timber Flooring?
Click here to be taken to the Imagine Inspiration And Education Hub.
Although our flooring is highly resilient, damage is not impossible.
In the instance that your floors have become damaged, the process for dealing with this will depend on what type of flooring you have installed in your home.
If you have Engineered Timber Flooring, you will be able to sand back and re-finish your floors to get them looking brand new again.
In the case of Luxury Vinyl Plank, Laminate or Hybrid Flooring, however, the floorboard (or floorboards) with damage will need to be replaced if you want them looking their best again.
In the case of Laminate Flooring and Hybrid Floors, this will need to be done by unclicking your floors until you are able to remove the affected board or boards. The damaged area can then be replaced and all other floorboards can be put back where they were.
If you have Luxury Vinyl Plank Flooring in your home, you will be able to remove any individual floorboards that are damaged. This can be done by heating the affected area to a high enough temperature that the glue softens and you are able to remove the damaged plank(s). You will then be able to simply lay a new floorboard in place and allow it to set. In most cases, you will not need to use any additional adhesive. Please note that this process is dependent on your floors having been installed correctly.
If you believe that any damage is covered by warranty, please contact the the retailer from where you purchased your floors prior to attempting to make any repairs. They will need to carry out an assessment to discover the best course of action.
Samples of our flooring and accessories can be found at our retail partners around Australia.
To find your local flooring expert, head over to our Store Locator and type in your postcode. The locator will then tell you which samples are carried by stores in your vicinity.
When looking to reduce noise levels within your space, our Luxury Vinyl Plank Flooring is your best option as they feature noise reducing properties.
If you are happy to have an underlay installed alongside your new flooring, you can also consider either Laminate Floors or Engineered Timber Flooring paired with our Acoustistep Underlay.
As a general rule, Laminate Flooring is the best choice for those with pets. This is because Laminate Floors are the most resistant to potential damage that your pets may cause.
Having said that, no-one knows your pets better than you so if you believe that another flooring type will still be suitable for your home, please feel free to install it.
For more information of pet friendly flooring check out this blog:
The answer to this question depends on the child in question.
While some families may need the extra durability offered by Laminate Flooring to stand up to the antics that their children get up to, others may be better off selecting from our Luxury Vinyl Plank or Hybrid Flooring ranges for their waterproof benefits if their little ones are prone to spilling things.
If you’d like more information on family friendly flooring, we suggest checking out the below blog:
Designing Family Friendly Homes – Flooring For Children’s Rooms
Imagine Floors by Airstep partners with specialised flooring retailers to give our floors the best start to life. This allows you to speak with an expert who has local knowledge and can recommend the best type of flooring for your lifestyle and situation before making your purchase.
Because of this, we do not display pricing on our website as we do not sell direct to the public. You can, however, find your closest flooring specialist via our Store Locator and they will be able to give you pricing information for the Imagine Floors by Airstep flooring you would like to place in your home.
P.S. Don’t forget to ask about our accessories for your new floors – we have underlay, colour match scotia and custom-made stair nosing available to help you bring your dream design to life.
Vinyl Plank Flooring is a waterproof floor covering that is crafted, as you would expect from the name, from a vinyl material. It is suitable for installation in all areas of your home* including bathrooms and other wet areas.
Luxury Vinyl Plank is designed to provide a softer, warmer feeling under foot and provides the true-to-life detail of its inspiration therefore helping your home feel more natural.
If you would like to learn more about Luxury Vinyl Plank Floors, check out the blogs below:
One Type Of Flooring For Your Entire Home?
*excludes shower bases
As you would expect from the name, Luxury Vinyl Plank Flooring is crafted from a vinyl material – specifically PVC.
All Imagine Floors by Airstep Vinyl Plank Flooring feature a PU coating to increase durability.
Short Answer: No.
There is a common misconception that Vinyl Flooring is the same as Linoleum. This simply isn’t true.
They are two completely different materials and the only type of Vinyl Flooring that even slightly resembles Lino is Sheet Vinyl, however, this is still not the same.
Yes 😊
All Luxury Vinyl Plank Flooring from Imagine Floors by Airstep is 100% waterproof. This means that it is suitable for installation in all areas of your home and can be used to build or renovate wet areas such as bathrooms. This makes it the perfect choice for those who are looking to create a cohesive design throughout their entire home.
Please Note: Although this is the case for all decors within our Naturale Plank 3.0, Naturale Plank 5.0 and Oatlands collections of Luxury Vinyl Flooring, we cannot make any guarantees if you have a product that is not produced by Imagine Floors by Airstep. If you’ve come across this page while searching to discover whether your current Vinyl Flooring is waterproof, we suggest finding out who manufactured your floors and contacting them.
As it is 100% waterproof Imagine Floors by Airstep Luxury Vinyl Plank Flooring can handle a little more punishment during cleaning time than other options.
Having said this, it is still not advisable to use harsh cleaning chemicals or a flooding cleaning method.
We suggest viewing and following our Cleaning Guide for Luxury Vinyl Floors. You will also receive cleaning, care and maintenance instructions with your new floors. We suggest reviewing these and following all instructions to ensure maximum longevity of your new Vinyl Floorboards.
Steam mops are not recommended for use on Luxury Vinyl Plank Floors.
No, Imagine Floors by Airstep Luxury Vinyl Plank Flooring can be installed flush against walls, doors and other fixed features within your space. As such, they do not require expansion gaps.
Laminate Flooring is an incredibly durable floor covering that is crafted from High Density Fibre Board (HDF).
It is resistant to scratches, dents, fading and stains and is the most pet-friendly flooring option on the market.
The durability of these floorboards is measured by an AC Rating and many design options are available. For example, at Imagine Floors by Airstep, we offer more than 35 Laminate Flooring decors to choose from.
If you’d like further information about Laminate Floors, check out the below blog:
Although they are extremely durable, Laminate Floors are not waterproof.
Some options feature a certain level of water resistance, such as our 48 Hour Spill Protection Guarantee, however, they are not suitable for installation in wet areas such as bathrooms or laundries.
If you are looking for a waterproof flooring option, we suggest exploring either Luxury Vinyl Plank Floorboards or Hybrid Floors.
In most cases, cleaning Laminate Flooring is a simple process inclusive of vacuuming or sweeping and dry/damp mopping if necessary.
For further information please refer to our Laminate Floor Cleaning Guide or the maintenance information that you received with your flooring.
Steam mops are not recommended for use on Laminate Floors.
The AC Rating of your Laminate Flooring refers to the durability of the boards. A higher AC Rating means that your floors are stronger and can stand up to more punishment, however, laminate floors with a lower AC Rating are still some of the most durable options on the market.
AC Ratings Explained:
All Imagine Floors by Airstep Flooring features an AC Rating of AC3 or higher. To learn more view the blog below:
Laminate Flooring is crafted from High Density Fibre Board (HDF).
At Imagine Floors by Airstep our Laminate Floors are crafted using sustainable processes.
Want more information? Check out the below blog:
Laminate Flooring should always be installed with an expansion gap. This helps prevent floorboards from buckling or bowing due to overcrowding within your space.
Expansion gaps are necessary wherever your Laminate Floors meet walls, doors or other fixed surfaces such as a bench or cabinetry.
Scotia is required to cover these gaps in order to prevent them from becoming a hazard within your home.
At Imagine Floors by Airstep we can provide exact colour match Scotia for all of our Laminate Flooring. Simply ask your local flooring specialist to include this in your order and they’ll get it sorted for you.
Engineered Timber Flooring is a type of Hardwood Floor that is crafted from a solid hardwood top layer paired with a composite core.
Floorboards are crafted in this manner to help improve their stability. This is because the addition of a composite core greatly reduces the chances of having your floors warp or bow due to the climate.
While it is still not advisable to install Engineered Timber Flooring in wet areas of your home such as bathrooms, it is the perfect solution for those who want genuine hardwood but wish to avoid the issues that tend to come with this flooring type.
Additionally, Engineered Timber Flooring is far more eco-friendly than Solid Hardwood Floors as it uses less of the types of wood that are hard to grow.
If you’d like to learn more about Engineered Timber Flooring, check out the below blogs:
What is Engineered Timber Flooring?
Your Comprehensive Guide To The Pros And Cons Of Engineered Timber Flooring
Short Answer: Yes.
Engineered Timber Flooring is crafted by creating a composite core and applying a hardwood design layer to the top.
The core of each floorboard is still timber, it is simply a compounded collection of more resilient and versatile timber types.
This allows the product to be installed in places that are not suitable for Solid Hardwood Floors such as humid climates or areas where temperature regularly experiences significant fluctuations.
In terms of how your flooring will look and feel within your space, there is no difference between Engineered Timber Flooring and Solid Hardwood Floors.
This is because the difference between the two comes down to construction and functionality rather than design and appearance.
Solid Hardwood Flooring is provided in planks that are cut from a single piece of wood. Engineered Timber Floors, on the other hand, feature a composite core that improves the stability of the floorboard overall. It is important to note that this core is still real wood, it is simply crafted from more resilient varieties of timber.
This also makes Engineered Timber Flooring the more eco-conscious choice as it means that timbers which are traditionally hard to grow are not being utilised for the whole plank. This allows these floors to be manufactured with much more sustainable material.
If you’d like to explore the difference between these two flooring types in more depth, please refer to the below blog:
While there is a risk of warping with any type of Timber Flooring if conditions are extreme enough, Engineered Timber Floors are far less susceptible to this type of issue than full Hardwood Flooring.
As long as your Imagine Floors by Airstep Engineered Timber Flooring is installed and maintained correctly, you should not experience any issues with warping.
Cleaning Engineered Timber Floors is a relatively simple process that generally consists of sweeping or vacuuming followed by dry mopping.
For further information, check out our Engineered Timber Flooring Cleaning Guide or refer to the cleaning and maintenance information included with your floorboards.
Please Note: Engineered Timber is not suited to steam mopping as the combination of high temperature and concentrated moisture may cause warping or bowing.
Engineered Timber Flooring can be resurfaced when required.
Although this cannot be done as many times with an Engineered Floorboard as it could be with a Solid Hardwood Plank you can still expect your Engineered Timber Floors to survive multiple sandings and last for decades when cared for correctly.
To help maximise the time between resurfacing, we suggest following our Cleaning Guide for Engineered Timber Flooring.
Engineered Timber Floors must be installed with a 12mm gap to your walls, doors and other fixed features within your space.
Hybrid Flooring is a floor covering that offers the best of both worlds in terms of style and versatility.
These floors combine the gorgeous, natural aesthetic of hardwood, with durability and longevity previously reserved only for the realm of Laminate or Vinyl Flooring.
Offering resistance to dents and a 100% waterproof guarantee Hybrid Floorboards also provide superior stability in all climates – a major win if you live in a tropical part of the country!
Want to find out more about Hybrid Floors? Check out the below blog:
Cleaning your new Hybrid Floors is as simple as sweeping or vacuuming and performing a dry mop.
For further information, refer to our Hybrid Flooring Cleaning Guide or the maintenance instructions included with your floorboards.
We are pleased to announce that all Hybrid Flooring from Imagine Floors by Airstep is 100% waterproof.
This means that our Hybrid Floors are suitable for installation in any area of your home, including wet areas such as bathrooms and laundries.
Want to create your very own Zen bathroom retreat with our Hybrid Flooring? Check out this blog to discover how!
No, we do not recommend the use of a steam mop on your Hybrid Floors as this can damage the integrity of the floorboards.
Always follow the appropriate cleaning, care and maintenance instructions that will have been provided with your Hybrid Floors if available and refer to our Hybrid Flooring Cleaning Guide if this is not possible.
Hybrid Floors combine the best of both worlds, pulling the lovely natural aesthetics of Timber Floors and combining it with the strength and versatility of Laminate or Luxury Vinyl Plank.
Having said that, no floor is invincible so care should always be taken to minimise the chances of damage. Hybrid Flooring should have no problems dealing with daily life, however if you have pets you may wish to consider installing Laminate Flooring instead if you do not need waterproof floors as it is the most pet friendly option.
Hybrid Floors are not indestructible and we cannot guarantee that they will not scratch.
Pets claws, legs of furniture, children’s toys and other sharp objects such as debris that has been bought inside on your shoes all have the potential to scratch or damage your Hybrid Floors if proper care is not taken. This is why it is important to always follow the cleaning, care and maintenance instructions provided with your floors.
Hybrid Floors need expansion gaps to be factored in during installation in order to help prevent damage.
Expansion gaps are necessary wherever your Hybrid Flooring meets walls, doors or other fixed surfaces such as cabinetry or island benches.
Scotia is required to cover these gaps in order to prevent them from becoming a hazard within your home.
At Imagine Floors by Airstep we can provide exact colour match Scotia for all of our Hybrid Flooring. Simply ask your local flooring specialist to include this in your order and they’ll get it sorted for you.
Hybrid Flooring is crafted from a mixture of materials designed to provide maximum resilience and aesthetics.
A 0.5mm UV and wear resistant top layer is born from PU coating that has been designed using superior imaging technology, with textures and edges that mimic the real look and feel of traditional hardwoods.
This beautifully matte finished layer is then supported by a collection of environmentally friendly compounds which have been specially blended to provide a 100% waterproof guarantee, dent resistance and superior stability in all climatic conditions.
The specific blend varies based on which collection you are purchasing from, but all Imagine Floors by Airstep Hybrid Flooring is DIBT Certified and REACH Compliant, meaning it won’t release nasties into your home or the environment.
Need help?
Send us your enquiry
Copyright 2021 © Imagine Floors. All rights reserved.
Good acoustic properties are important both for the health of your family and regulatory obligations. Quieter environments are better for everyone, so our Hybrid floors come with a pre-adhered underlay that helps ensure their acoustic compliance.
Floors that feature a waterproof surface are a great choice for those worried about spills or other accidents in their home. Our Luxury Vinyl Plank floorboards and Hybrid floors feature an inherently waterproof surface thanks to their water-resistant construction, while our Laminate floors enjoy a waterproof surface thanks to their aluminium oxide wear layer.
In some cases – like with our Luxury Vinyl Plank floors and Hybrid flooring – a waterproof surface also means that floorboards are suitable for installation in wet areas such as bathrooms (excluding shower bases) and laundries. This allows for the creation of a seamless design throughout your entire home – a great perk for those who want consistency in their style.
Hard floors are assigned a Class Rating based on their suitability for different situations.
When you see Class Rating 23 assigned to a floor, this means that it is suitable for installation in even the highest traffic areas of your home.
Class Rating 23 is the highest residential rating achievable and is applicable to most Imagine Floors by Airstep flooring collections.
Our Reclaimed Wild Oak Engineered Timber floors in colour Brushed Natural Oak looking impressive in a luxury display home in Camp Hill. Floors installed by retailer Flooring Creations.
