Best Flooring for Brisbane Apartments and Units (Why Hybrid is the Smart Choice)
- Jan 20
- 4 min read
Updated: Feb 3
Choosing the Right Flooring for Your Apartment in Brisbane: Why Hybrid Flooring is the Best Choice
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Selecting the right flooring for an apartment or unit in Brisbane is quite different from choosing flooring for a house. Factors such as noise restrictions, concrete slabs, body corporate rules, and uneven subfloors all play significant roles in the decision-making process.
At ALS Flooring Solutions, we supply and install flooring across Brisbane every day. Hybrid flooring has become our most popular choice for apartments and units. It consistently meets the demands for performance, cost, and practicality in multi-level living.
Here’s why hybrid flooring is often the best flooring option for Brisbane apartments and units.
What Makes Apartment Flooring Different in Brisbane?
Apartment flooring must meet stricter requirements than house flooring. The most common challenges we encounter include:
Body corporate sound rating requirements
Concrete slab subfloors that are not perfectly level
Limited floor height allowances
Budget constraints for investors and owners
Moisture and humidity from Brisbane’s climate
These factors are precisely why many traditional flooring types struggle in apartments.
Not sure what your body corporate allows? We assess the site and discuss acoustic requirements during our free measure and quote. This way, you can confidently choose flooring that suits your body corporate requirements and the overall look you want to achieve.
Why Hybrid Flooring Is Ideal for Brisbane Apartments
Hybrid flooring combines the best features of laminate and vinyl, making it perfectly suited for unit living. Here’s why it outperforms other flooring types in Brisbane apartments.
1. Built-In Acoustic Underlay (Strata Friendly)
Most apartment buildings require flooring to meet minimum acoustic ratings to reduce noise transfer between levels. Hybrid flooring includes an attached acoustic underlay on the back of each plank. This means:
Better sound reduction than many laminates
Compliance with many body corporate noise requirements
No need to purchase separate underlay
This makes hybrid flooring a simpler and more cost-effective solution for apartments.
2. A More Cost-Effective Option
When comparing flooring options for Brisbane apartments, it’s essential to consider the total installed cost, not just the price of the planks. With laminate flooring, you usually need:
The flooring product
A separate acoustic underlay
With vinyl plank flooring, even minor slab imperfections can require a flood coat (self-levelling compound), adding extra cost.
With hybrid flooring:
The acoustic underlay is already attached
It is more forgiving on minor slab variations
This often makes hybrid flooring more cost-effective overall once installation costs are properly compared.
3. More Forgiving on Concrete Slabs
Apartment slabs are rarely perfectly flat. Even new buildings can have small height variations. Hybrid flooring is more forgiving than laminate because:
It handles minor slab imperfections better
It reduces the risk of hollow sounds
It minimises movement and joint stress
This makes installation smoother and long-term performance more reliable in Brisbane units.
4. Water Resistant for Brisbane’s Climate
Brisbane’s humidity and storm seasons can be tough on floors. Hybrid flooring is water resistant, making it suitable for:
Kitchens
Living areas
Hallways
Apartments with limited ventilation
This provides better peace of mind than laminate in unit environments.
5. Durable for Tenants and High-Traffic Areas
For apartment investors and landlords, durability matters. Hybrid flooring is:
Scratch resistant
Dent resistant
Easy to clean
Ideal for high-traffic unit living
This reduces long-term maintenance and replacement costs.
How Hybrid Flooring Compares to Other Apartment Flooring Options
| Flooring Type | Apartment Suitability |
|----------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| Carpet | Good for bedrooms but can be harder to maintain due to stains, odours, and wear over time. |
| Laminate | Good, but requires a separate underlay, flatter subfloors, and is not waterproof. |
| Vinyl Plank | Good, but requires a very flat subfloor and can be harder to keep clean due to the surface layer texture. |
| Engineered Timber| Premium option suitable for some apartments, but has a higher cost, stricter acoustic requirements, and greater sensitivity to moisture. |
| Hybrid Flooring | Best all-round option for Brisbane apartments – water resistant, easy to clean, durable, sound-rated, and suitable for installation over tiles or slightly uneven subfloors. |
Hybrid flooring offers the best balance of noise control, cost, durability, and moisture resistance. 👉View our hybrid flooring range
Why We Install So Much Hybrid Flooring in Brisbane Units
At ALS Flooring Solutions, hybrid flooring is our most installed product in Brisbane apartments and units. It consistently delivers:
Easier compliance with strata requirements
Better value for money
Faster installation times
Long-lasting performance for owners and investors
It’s the flooring we most often recommend for Brisbane apartment living.
Get Expert Advice for Your Brisbane Apartment
Every apartment building is different. Body corporate rules, slab conditions, and lifestyle needs all matter. At ALS Flooring Solutions, we provide tailored advice for each Brisbane apartment. We’re experienced in meeting LNTW sound rating requirements and guide our clients through the process to make replacing apartment flooring as smooth and stress-free as possible.
If you’re considering new flooring for your unit, we can help you choose the right option for your building and budget.
👉Book a free measure and quote, or call us on 3132 8514 to discuss the best flooring options for your apartment or unit.
