When remodelling floors many people think traditional timber. Timber has been the flooring material of choice for the last few years, but we're here to remind you that there are other less expensive — and sometimes more suitable — options out there.

It's easy to see why timber flooring has become so popular; most homeowners fall in love with the classic natural beauty it adds to their interior. But these good looks often come at a large expense. For quality timber flooring you'll have to fork out around $100 per square metre.

The high demand means timber flooring companies can charge heftier prices, for what is increasingly becoming an inferior product. Rather than the strong, durable timber that came from slow-grown trees, timber flooring companies are doing the cheap and nasty and selling much younger wood.

And if you think you can save some pennies by utilising recycled wood — think again. Recycled products have become the epitome of cool, and with their elevated status comes an elevated price.

So if you're on a budget, or simply want to break the mould, timber is probably not the flooring for you. It's time to consider some of your other options:

Bamboo

If you like the look of hardwood floors, bamboo is a great alternative. As its name suggests, bamboo flooring is actually made from bamboo. It's incredibly environmentally-friendly, as the bamboo reaches maturity in just a few years and rejuvenates without the need for re-planting.

Although it's technically not wood, it has a lot of the features that make timber floors so great e.g. strength — but without the cost. According to quotes website ServiceSeeking.com.au, bamboo flooring starts from just $44 per square metre.

Laminate

An inexpensive wood imitation, laminate is only a fraction of the cost of timber flooring. However, it's not as hard-wearing so will need to be replaced more frequently.

While laminate floors do not have the texture of hardwood, they can still provide a decorative touch to your home — and are available in lots of different colours and designs.

The other massive benefit of laminate is that it's easy to install, keeping square metre costs down to around $15.

Concrete

Admired for its urban, industrial aesthetic, concrete floors are the fastest growing flooring preference.

Where this type of flooring obviously excels is durability — after all, it is concrete. If sealed correctly a concrete floor is a lot harder to scratch and is more stain resistant than floorboards, making it the perfect option for wear and tear of family life or the ever-revolving door of a rental property. Most scratches are only in the sealed top layer so can easily be removed with a simple mop.

Concrete flooring typically starts at $66 per square metre, this normally includes the existing floor being ground down to expose the aggregate and then finished off with two coats of polyurethane.

Carpet

Carpet has long been a popular and cheap flooring option. Not only is it lovely and soft underfoot, it offers thermal control and acoustic comfort. It is also pretty low maintenance. Unlike floorboards and concrete flooring, which require regular polishing, your carpet will only need a quick vacuum once a week and a more thorough professional clean every year.

There are so many different types to choose from — and we're not just talking about colour. You should also consider the different fibres and construction before making your selection.

Carpet starts at around $25 per square metre; however this will only get you a low pile carpet that will go threadbare pretty quickly.

Flooring materials vary greatly in quality, durability and looks. Arguably the more you shell out, the more likely you are to get a product that's going to stand the test of time. Just make sure you consider all your options and select the right flooring for you.

Summary of flooring costs

Laminate: $15 per square metre
Carpet: $25 per square metre
Bamboo: $44 per square metre
Concrete: $66 per square metre
Timber: $100 per square metre

Get quotes for your flooring job from serviceseeking.com.au.

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