Engineered Timber vs Hybrid Flooring: The Best Floor For Your Home, Simply Explained
To many Perth homeowners, engineered timber and hybrid floors look very similar. Similar colors. Similar patterns. They’re often easy to mix up.
The reality is, they’re both made from completely different materials which you can feel when you walk over them.
In this guide, you’ll quickly discover where each option would be more practical so you can choose the best floor for your home without leaving it.
Quick summary: Engineered timber adds warmth and long-term value to your living areas and bedrooms. Hybrid is more practical for wet areas.
What Is Engineered Timber?
Crafted with a beautiful, natural wood surface that’s bonded to a structured core. Engineered timber gives you authenticity that resists movement and stays stable for everyday life.
Why people choose it
- Natural timber look and feel that appreciates with time
- Sounds solid when you walk over it
- Can be re-polished when you want a refresh
What is Hybrid Flooring?
Recently developed as a more accessible “timber-look” floor. Hybrid is a high-resolution image of wood, laminated to a plastic or limestone composite core. Making it fully waterproof and easy to maintain.
Why people choose it
- Fully waterproof
- Durable and low maintenance
- Consistent appearance across large spaces
Engineered Timber vs Hybrid Flooring, Side by Side Comparison
| Category | Engineered Timber | Hybrid Flooring |
| What it is | Genuine hardwood surface on a stabilised core | Timber-look print on a rigid plastic or stone composite core |
| Authenticity | Every board is unique natural timber | Uniform printed look, very consistent |
| Water Resistance | More resistant than solid wood, not fully waterproof | Completely waterproof |
| Refinish | Can be sanded and polished multiple times, depending on the thickness of the wear layer | Cannot be sanded or re-laminated |
| Character | Warm, quiet, solid | Firmer feel, slightly louder click in large rooms |
| Longevity | Decades with proper care and adequate wear layer | Durable surface, lifespan tied to coating condition |
| Sustainability | Real wood, commonly from responsibly managed sources | Synthetic core, higher plastic content |
| Typical Uses | Living, dining, study, bedrooms, entry, hall, wardrobe | Kitchen, laundry, rentals, mudrooms |
| Price Range | Varies by species, construction, and install method | Generally lower to mid, install dependent |
Curious to see the price of engineered timber in Perth right now?
Download our 2025 Price Guide to see current m² rates and install options.
Which floor is right for you?
Use this quick decision path.
If you want the character of natural wood in a warm, quiet home.
Choose engineered timber in living areas and bedrooms.
If you regularly wet mop or need a convenient maintenance option.
Select hybrid for kitchens, laundries, mudrooms, and rentals.
If you plan to live in your home forever and you want it to feel new again every so often. Go with engineered timber to freshen them up after a few years with a quick sand and polish.
If you want a fixed design with minimal variation.
Choose hybrid for consistent colours and patterns.
Key Differences
Authenticity
Engineered timber brings an organic element into your home which makes it feel more welcoming and intimate. Hybrid floors mimic the timber look well, but are visually uniform and feel cooler on your feet.
Moisture Resistance
Engineered timber handles daily life well but should not be treated like a wet-room surface. Hybrid floors are completely waterproof and are more practical for wet areas.
Care and Maintenance
Engineered timber can be re-polished to bring back that new-floor look. Hybrid cannot be sanded, so once the coating is tired, replacement is the usual path.
Sustainability
Engineered timber uses real wood with the potential for responsible sourcing. Hybrid relies on synthetic cores that trade renewability for waterproof performance.
Want a tailored recommendation for your home’s floor plan?
Speak to one of our expert flooring specialists
Simple Suggestions for Each Room
Living, dining, bedrooms, hallways: Engineered timber
Kitchen and pantry: Hybrid if you frequently wet mop, engineered if you prefer real timber throughout
Laundry, entry, mudroom: Hybrid
Bathrooms: Avoid timber. Consider hybrid or tile
Maintenance Tips
Engineered timber
- A light sweep or vacuum and damp mop
- Use felt pads on furniture feet or lay out rugs underneath
- Wipe up spills fast
- Re-polish when the surface looks worn
Hybrid
- Vacuum or wet mop freely
- Cleaners must be compatible with the manufacturer’s coating
- Still wipe standing water to protect adjacent skirtings and joins
Conclusion
Floors carry the memory of every homey moment. The moment you get your keys. Your baby’s first steps. Even every late-night walk to the fridge.
Hybrid floors are practical for rentals. Engineered timber brings warmth to the space where you live, sit, talk, and grow.
If you want a home that feels safe and comfortable, get a clear idea of prices before you choose.
Download our 2025 Perth Timber Flooring Price Guide
See current m² rates, installation options, and species comparisons in one place.
Author Profile
Matthew Barker, Lifewood’s Master Copywriter, crafts the voice behind the world’s most revolutionary timber floor — Stabilised Solid. His intense curiosity guides readers through a clear, purposeful journey with stories that fuel their minds. Matthew studies human nature with a scientific eye to understand exactly what drives people to decide, and has developed a commitment to showing them the best of the world.
Beauty meets longevity
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