Got questions about Hybrid flooring? We’re here to help.
What Is Hybrid Flooring?
Hybrid flooring is a composite floating floor that blends the benefits of Laminate floors and Luxury Vinyl Planks. Different flooring companies will craft their Hybrid floors from different materials, and composition can even vary between different product collections due to differing thicknesses. As a general rule, however, our Hybrid floors are created from:
Design Defence Coating
Our Design Defence Coating is the very top layer of our Hybrid floors. This layer is UV cured to increase the durability of each floorboard and provide additional protection against general wear and tear.
Wear Layer
Our Hybrid floors feature a 0.5mm Wear Layer which is both UV and wear resistant. This layer is formed with a PU coating and is embossed to provide the feel of real timber.
Imagine Floors Décor
When creating our décors, we use superior imaging technology to provide true-to-life detail. Each décor effortlessly mimics its natural inspiration, and we are proud to be able to offer Hybrid floors with this level of style.
Base Layer
The base layer of our Hybrid flooring is crafted from recycled materials and is designed to provide stability to the floorboard. All Imagine Floors by Airstep Hybrid flooring is low VOC and phthalate free, and our floorboards feature REACH Compliance and DIBT Certification.
Acoustic Underlay
The pre-adhered underlay our floors is of the acoustic variety, and is designed to provide sound absorption properties and enhance underfoot comfort.
Most Hybrid floors will be crafted from a similar construction to the above noted components, but as we have formulated our floorboards with a mixture of materials designed to provide maximum resilience and design, we suggest double checking what layers are used if investigating a different variety.
What Are The Benefits Of Hybrid Floors?
Hybrid floors provide the best of both worlds in terms of durability and style. In line with this, they offer a multitude of benefits including:
Hybrid Floors Come With Built In Acoustic Benefits
Thanks to the abovementioned pre-adhered underlay that comes with most Hybrid floors, these floorboards tend to offer built in acoustic benefits. This means that you will have an easier time ensuring acoustic compliance when installing these floors in multi-residence dwellings and will enjoy a quieter indoor environment overall. This is important for the health of yourself and anyone else who inhabits the building, as noise pollution has been shown to have significant health impacts.
Hybrid Flooring Is Low Maintenance
Spending all of your time cleaning is certainly no fun, especially if you have a family you need to look after in addition to the house. The good news is that certain flooring types – such as Hybrid – are designed to be low maintenance. We’ll go into how to maintain Hybrid floors a little further down in this article, but the process is quite simple.
Hybrid Floors Have A Waterproof Surface
Most Hybrid flooring options have a waterproof surface. Depending on the specific floors that you select, this may or may not mean that they are suitable for installation in wet areas of the home such as your laundry and/or bathroom. Regardless of whether your chosen floors can be installed in these areas, you will still benefit from the waterproof surface, as it means that a simple spill or accident from one of your pets won’t damage your floors immediately.
Hybrid Flooring Is Ideal For Fluctuating Climates
Climates where aspects such as temperature and humidity fluctuate significantly can cause havoc for some flooring types. Hybrid, however, offers superior stability regardless of climate making it an ideal choice for areas where you don’t know what the weather will behave like.
It is also important to remember that your indoor environment can impact the stability of your flooring in the exact same way that your external one can. For example, those who make use of evaporative cooling (also known as a swamp cooler) will need to select a floor, like Hybrid, that has a waterproof surface and can handle relatively high levels of humidity.
Hybrid Floors Are Generally Suitable For Installation In Wet Areas
As noted above, Hybrid floors can generally be installed in wet areas. While you will need to check the specifics of the product that you choose to purchase to be sure, this is a great advantage that this type of flooring has over many other hard flooring options. While Luxury Vinyl Planks can also generally be installed in bathrooms and laundries, they require a different method of installation (glue-down) so it really comes down to your installation style preferences when deciding between these two flooring types for wet areas.
Hybrid Flooring Is DIY Friendly
As a floating floor with a relatively simple installation process, Hybrid flooring is generally suitable for DIY installations. This makes them a great option for those who want to be more involved in their renovations, especially if you’re looking for a way to make your budget go further.
Having said that, it is important to follow the Installation Instructions closely when laying your new Hybrid floors in order to protect the integrity of flooring system. Please note that DIY installation may void the warranty on your new floors, so please weigh up whether this is an appropriate course of action for your situation.
Do Hybrid Floors Need Underlay?
The answer to this question is a little complicated as it is both yes, and no. While most Hybrid floors come with a pre-adhered underlay meaning that they do not need an additional one, this does not mean that they don’t require any protection beneath them.
Generally this protection is provided by a black builder’s plastic product, but installation can be complicated and time consuming. The good news is that we have a specialised Hybrid flooring underlay that fixes these issues, so be sure to check out our Airstep Moisture Barrier if you’re considering installing Hybrid within your home.
How To Install Hybrid Floors:
Installing Hybrid flooring is a simple process not unlike those for other floating floors. In terms of Imagine Floors by Airstep Hybrid specifically, we use a 5G locking system which eliminates the need for tapping of floorboards when laying. Simply ensure that your floorboards are properly aligned and click them together. The locking system will make an audible click when the boards are engaged and from here you can move on to the next part of your installation with the confidence that your floorboards will stay together.
Do not forget to leave an expansion gap around the edges of the room and fixed elements within the space (we have colour match scotia for use in these areas so you don’t have to worry about the expansion causing aesthetic issues or safety hazards) and always install an appropriate moisture barrier (such as Airstep Moisture Barrier) beneath your floors.
For further information on how to install our Hybrid floors please refer to our Installation Instructions. These are available below, on the product page for each décor within our ranges, and on our Technical Page.
How To Maintain Hybrid Floors:
Hybrid floors are low maintenance, but that doesn’t mean that they don’t need any care. In order to keep your new floors in the best condition possible, it is important to follow the Cleaning, Care and Maintenance Instructions. These instructions will outline the appropriate mopping techniques, how often floors should be swept/mopped/vacuumed and things like how to protect your floors from the elements such as the harsh Australian sun.
In terms of Imagine Floors by Airstep Hybrid floors, this includes regular sweeping, avoiding creating or leaving puddles on the floor, and using an appropriate mat at entrances of the home. For further information on caring for your new Hybrid floors, please check the collection’s Cleaning, Care and Maintenance Instructions.
Why Choose Imagine Floors Hybrid Flooring?
At Imagine Floors by Airstep our focus is providing quality floors in beautiful designs that allow people to create the right foundation for their dream designs. Our colour specialist carefully considers which décors get included in our ranges and each selection is chosen to help you create the vibe that you want within your space. In addition to the design benefits of our floors, we also provide a host of practical ones including:
Our Ranges Are Class Rating 23
Put simply, Class Rating 23 means that a floor is durable enough to be installed in even the busiest areas of the home. When referring to our Hybrid floors, this means that they can be installed throughout the entire home, as they are also suitable for installation in wet areas such as bathrooms and laundries. This allows you to create a cohesive design throughout the entirety of your space if you choose to do so.
We Offer A Lifetime Residential Warranty
We have confidence in our products, and we want to ensure that when our floors are in your home, you have peace of mind. That’s why we offer a Lifetime Residential Warranty on both our Asha and Ikoma Hybrid flooring collections.
When installed correctly and cared for in accordance with our Cleaning, Care and Maintenance Instructions, your new Imagine Floors by Airstep Hybrid should stay looking and feeling great for years to come, but on the off chance that something does go wrong, we’ve got you covered.
Our Collections Are Phthalate Free And Low VOC
Phthalates and VOCs are everywhere, and some of them can make humans and pets pretty sick. While it’s not possible to avoid them entirely, choosing products that minimise exposure in your home is a wise choice.
Imagine Floors Hybrid Is Low Allergenic
While low allergenic floors are the ideal choice for everyone, those who suffer from allergies or asthma will be particularly pleased to know that all Imagine Floors by Airstep Hybrid flooring is low allergenic. This means that in addition to being phthalate free and low VOC as mentioned above, our floorboards do not trap or collect allergens meaning you’ve got assistance in building a healthy interior environment on multiple fronts.
We’re FloorScore Certified
When it comes to looking after your indoor air quality, you’ll want to select a flooring option that is FloorScore certified. This means that the floor meets strict standards designed to help people create the healthiest interior environment possible, and certification must be renewed regularly.
All Imagine Floors by Airstep Hybrid flooring features FloorScore certification and is therefore an ideal choice for within the home.
All Imagine Floors Hybrid Is DIBT Certified and REACH Compliant
In addition to being FloorScore certified, our Hybrid flooring is also DIBT Certified and REACH Compliant.
DIBT is a German certification relating to indoor air quality and the environmental impact of a product. It is rather similar to FloorScore and we are proud to carry this certification as it shows that Imagine Floors by Airstep Hybrid flooring is compliant with global quality and sustainability standards.
REACH Compliance is also a similar certification, with the European Commission stating that REACH aims to “ensure a high level of protection of human health and the environment against harmful substances”.
We Use 5G Locking Technology
Traditionally, Hybrid floors needed to be tapped in at the joins which could lead to damage to the floorboard if done incorrectly. This can lead to long-term issues with the floors, so being able to avoid it is a great perk. This is where 5G locking technology comes into play. Unlike traditional locking systems, 5G simply clicks into place when laid. Not only does this protect the floors from damage due to tapping during the installation process, but it also makes it a much quicker and easier thing to do.
Our Collections Are Compatible With Underfloor Heating
Finally, those looking to create a luxurious space that has a warm feeling even on the coldest nights will appreciate the fact that our Hybrid floors are compatible with underfloor heating. This means you’ll never have to worry about cold feet again and allows for more efficient climate control within the home.
Hybrid flooring is a great choice for many applications and is certainly worth considering next time you’re building or renovating. Hopefully this article has helped you decide whether Hybrid is right for your home, but if you do have any questions please feel free to reach out via our Contact page. If not, and you’re ready to go, find your preferred local flooring specialist in our Store Locator to discuss installation for the foundation of the design of your dreams.
