Best Flooring for the Australian Climate
Australia may be a sunburnt country, but it is also a country with a diverse range of climates and weather conditions. While Australians in the North generally experience more tropical conditions, those in the South face a moderate climate with four distinct seasons.
When it comes to your home, your flooring plays a major role in how comfortable everyday living in your environment will be. Not all floors are created equal for repelling heat or insulating it, so it is important to know what flooring works best with your climate. Particularly since some flooring options are also more durable than others.
In the end, this information is to give you a solid understanding of the best flooring options in Australia. That way, you can match your home with the flooring that will allow it to be comfortable all year round.
How Does Flooring Affect My Home’s Temperature?
The type of flooring you have significantly impacts your home’s temperature. Soft surface flooring options with good underlays – including carpet and nature fibre flooring – can insulate the rooms of your house. For those in areas of Australia prone to colder climates, this added insulation can be the key piece in keeping your home warm during the winter months.
In contrast, hard flooring options like tiles, vinyl, engineered wood and hybrid flooring can be resistant to absorbing heat. This, in turn, will keep your home cooler. For many, this is preferential as Australia’s climate is known to be hot and/or humid throughout most of the country.
Most Common Australian Climates by State
Understanding what kind of climate your home faces is integral to making the right flooring decisions and living in it comfortably in the long run.
Here, we break down the most common climates you will see in Australia by state for ease of access.
NSW
New South Wales leans more towards a temperate climate. Meaning it experiences warm to hot summers and mild winters along the coast, but more extreme temperatures further inland. This should be a major consideration for flooring as inland homes will consequently need flooring that can withstand higher levels of humidity.
ACT
The Australian Capital Territory is home to a more continental climate than most other states, with marked seasonal variations. Summers are hot while winters are often cooler, with the potential for frost and occasionally snow in the higher elevations.
QLD
Sunny Queensland has a tropical climate, which means that it experiences a distinct wet and dry season, and generally more humidity. Winters are mild to warm, so the cold is not felt as acutely here.
VIC
While Victoria’s climate can be described as temperate, it is characterised by high variability. Melbourne in particular, is known for experiencing “four seasons in one day”, although temperatures are more consistent along the coast.
SA
South Australia’s climate generally has a Mediterranean climate. Hot, dry summers and mild, wet winters are common in the south. Meanwhile, arid conditions are typical of the north.
WA
Due to the size of Western Australia, the climate varies significantly. While the southwest has more of a Mediterranean climate like its SA counterpart, the north experiences tropical conditions with a distinct wet and dry season.
However, Perth’s summers are hot and dry while their winters are mild with the occasional cold front coming through from Antarctica.
NT
The Northern Territory has two distinct weather zones:
- The top end, which includes Darwin, has a tropical climate.
- The red centre, including Alice Springs, has an arid or semi-arid climate with hot summers but cool winters.
Darwin experiences a wet season from November to April, facing high humidity and monsoonal rains. The dry season runs from May to October and boasts warm, sunny days and cooler nights.
TAS
Tasmania’s climate is temperate maritime with mild summers and cool winters. They see more consistent temperatures than mainland Australia, but higher rainfall than most other parts of the country.
6 Best Flooring Options for a Hot Climate
For those living in more tropical or humid climates, it is important to consider the types of flooring that will beat the heat most effectively.
Generally, of thumb, the thermal mass of your flooring material - i.e. its ability to absorb, store and release heat – is a massive factor. Lighter materials will have lower thermal mass and are more suited to warm climates, while denser materials absorb heat and keep you warm.
The type of flooring will also influence the temperature of your home. Hard flooring – like vinyl and hybrid flooring – is more heat-resistant, and therefore keeps your home cooler in tropical climates.
With so many cooling flooring options to choose from, it is helpful to be aware of the pros and cons of the different flooring options for your home.
1. Laminate Flooring
If you’re looking for a cost-effective, durable, easy-to-clean solution that keeps your home cool without compromising on appearance, look no further than laminate flooring.
Laminate flooring is made up of core layers of plywood or fireboard, and often includes an additional layer (the "underlay") for enhanced protection against moisture - making it ideal for homes that face high humidity.
Plus, laminated floors look like their more expensive counterparts minus the price tag. This is thanks to the high-resolution image of wood or natural stone printed on the image layer above the core layer. All of this is then sealed with a protective layer that makes it more resistant to wear and tear over time.
2. Luxury Vinyl Flooring
Another type of flooring suitable for hot and humid areas is luxury vinyl. Similarly to laminate, vinyl replicates the luxurious appearance of wood while resisting moisture absorption. It works well in areas that are typically moister, like bathrooms, kitchens and basements.
4. Timber Flooring
Timber Flooring also referred to as hardwood flooring – can be more of an investment than the other types of flooring out there. It consists of pieces of solid wood cut into planks or tiles (oak, walnut jarrah and more) which are then finished with a coating to protect their surfaces. These are a beautiful option and generally have a longer lifespan.
Timber flooring is highly durable, easy to clean, and comes in a variety of stylish colours and styles so that you can choose one most suited to your home.
Plus, they have natural insulating properties that keep your home cooler in warm temperatures. On top of this, high-quality timber can be more resistant to moisture, making it perfect for homes in humid areas.
5. Hybrid Flooring
Hybrid flooring gives you the natural look of timber while providing the durability of luxury vinyl and laminate. This means that in homes exposed to large amounts of sunlight, the material offers protection against strong UVs and prevent general wear and tear.
Hybrid floors are also designed to withstand temperature fluctuations better than other flooring types. They expand and contract less, and are generally water-resistant due to their surface, making them a good fit for homeowners living in humid places.
Plus, hybrid flooring is also dense and synthetic, which means that they’re sturdy, sound-absorbing and resistant to scratches and stains. Because of this, they’re a great option for those with pets or kids too!
4 Best Flooring Options for a Cold Climate
For homes in cooler climates, you’ll want to look for flooring that provides insulation against the cold and keeps warmth in.
In general, certain properties determine how well your type of flooring does this. These include:
- R-Values: Flooring materials with higher R-Values (which indicate better thermal resistance) are better for insulation. Materials like carpet and cork naturally have higher R-values and feel warm underfoot.
- Thermal Mass: Some materials such as tile can absorb and retain heat when combined with heating systems.
- Thermal Conductivity: Materials with lower thermal conductivity like wood and laminate feel warmer underfoot than high-conductivity materials like ceramic tile.
- Underlayment: insulting underlays beneath flooring, including laminate or LVP, can improve the warmth and comfort of your home.
1. Carpet Flooring
Carpet flooring is a high R-value option with good underlay. For this reason, it is often considered the best and most effective flooring type for insulating homes in cool climates. Because the material used is woven or tufted fibres or yarns – like wool, nylon and polypropylene – it is warm underfoot and insulates against the cold by trapping heat.
For those who might be allergen-prone, you can opt for nature fibres that repel dust mites like jute and seagrass.
2. Luxury Vinyl Flooring
Vinyl flooring is a good choice for homes in cool climates because it warms up quickly compared to materials like tile or hardwood. It also offers some insulation against cold and can retain warmth.
It is ideal for states like Canberra who experience the occasional snowfall as it is highly water-resistant. Its durability also makes it perfect for areas that see extreme temperature changes.
3. Cork Flooring
Like carpet, cork has higher R-values and excellent thermal insulation properties. It is therefore capable of providing insulation and preventing heat loss.
Unlike materials like concrete or tile, cork feels warm underfoot. Like luxury vinyl, it is naturally resistant to moisture and durable in different conditions, making it suitable for cold and extreme climates.
4. Timber Flooring
Because wood has natural insulating properties due to its cellular structure, timber flooring retains heat and keeps spaces warm in the cooler months and environments. While solid timber flooring does not store heat like carpet does, it does not get as cold as denser materials like concrete or tile.
Flooring Features to Look for in Specific Australian Climates
You may have noticed a pattern in certain flooring properties that make it suitable for either warm or cool climates. Here are three flooring features to look out for to help you choose the right flooring for your home.
1. Water-Resistance
If your house is located in an area prone to humidity, rain, storms or flooding, this is a feature that should be present in your flooring choice.
Picking a flooring type that is water-resistant will help prevent damage caused by moisture seeping into the floor. This is also a way to manage mould or mildew formation.
2. Durability
Durability is a critical flooring feature for homes with high foot traffic, moisture exposure or harsher climates. It is ultimately what allows your floors to withstand the elements in the long run, reducing the need for frequent replacements.
3. Cost
While some flooring types – like solid timber – are more costly upfront, they can be great investments in the long term. They can also actually help minimise the cost of maintenance.
Here, the kind of climate you live in should be the number one consideration when it comes to balancing your budget with your needs.
For those living in particularly tropical or harsh climates, for example, it may be worth paying more for a product that is specifically designed to withstand the elements common to your home. The flooring should also be one whose wear and tear is significantly lower.
Flooring experts generally offer a range of options catering to different price points so be sure to take advantage of free quotes to get a gauge of the range.
Find the Best Type of Flooring for Your Household’s Local Climate with Choices Flooring
Finding the right flooring for your household’s climate is like finding the right life partner; the right decision can hugely improve your comfortability and longevity, while the wrong one can make your home unbearable.
Choices Flooring gets this. With a range of flooring options to suit different Australian climates and budgets, we will help you pick the right flooring type for your home. Simply head to our site to utilise the RoomView Visualiser Tool or visit one of our 140 stores across Australia.
Allergic or living in areas close to the snow? We have got you covered with a host of allergen and water-resistant options.
Our products are made to be easily maintained, comfortable, safe and best of all, aesthetically beautiful. Get a free quote from us today to let us match you with the right flooring for your household.
FAQs
Can Vinyl Plank Flooring Withstand Cold Temperatures?
Yes, vinyl flooring is ideal for cold temperatures as it warms up more quickly than materials like tile or hardwood. It is also able to retain heat and offers some insulation against the cold.
Vinyl flooring tends to be water-resistant and durable, making it ideal to withstand cooler or cold temperatures.
What is the Warmest Floor Covering?
Carpet is widely considered to be the warmest floor covering due to its insulation properties and warm feel underfoot. However, flooring types like timber and cork are also known for retaining heat.
These products can also be enhanced by adding accessories like hall runners or rugs, and even an underlay for an additional layer of protection.
Is Vinyl Plank Flooring Warmer Than Tile?
Yes, vinyl plank flooring is warmer than tile because it tends to warm up more quickly. This is because of its synthetic material which provides better insulation and can feel warmer to the touch.
