When considering a residential design, clients typically have an idea of their preferred size, layout, key materials and general aesthetic.
Flooring may not be the first thing that comes to mind, but it’s a crucial factor in bringing together the interior aesthetic of a home, not to mention meeting any ESD or health requirements the client might have and designing a home that reflects their lifestyle.
There are countless options for residential flooring materials and this will certainly differ depending on the room in question, but one of the most popular materials of the moment is timber. It’s easy to see why, with timber being one of the most environmentally sustainable building materials while also boasting an array of health and wellbeing benefits. At the same time, it manages to be highly versatile and suitable for a wide range of lifestyles.
One option to note is Big River’s ArmourFloor, which according to the company, is Australia’s most stable engineered timber floorboard. Made locally using sustainably sourced plantation timber, ArmourFloor has a full hardwood ply construction, which is what makes it such a stable material. It is also approved for direct stick of floating floor installation on heated subfloors, whether in humid, cold, or extreme environments.
With such a high level of stability, one of the key benefits of ArmourFloor is the fact that it can be laid in larger open areas where typical floating floors may require expansion joints or junctions – making it especially desirable for use in open plan designs.
Another good option is Tongue and Groove’s engineered timber flooring. Made with the strength of solid oak, this product also has a unique sustainable manufacturing process that according to the company, has resulted in the first three-layered, solid engineered oak board in Australia.
One of the main benefits of this product is its availability in a wide range of dimensions, ranging from fine parquetry to widths of up to 400mm and lengths of up to 5m. This makes it a highly versatile option for residential applications.
A good example of this product in use is in the transformation of a small 1882 worker’s cottage, where the client sought to convert the typical L-shaped layout of the original house into one that could maximise the site while also creating a seamless connection between the original and new house.
Tongue and Groove’s Hekke Grande flooring was selected for the entire ground floor and first floor circulation areas to link the original and new house. Due to its appealing colour – mid-brown with a warm grey undertone – it pairs beautifully with the home’s off-form concrete and striking feature granite. The builder was also able to stain the timber batten on the staircase and beyond perfectly to match.
Midas Timber is another company with a range of engineered and solid timber products that are well-suited to residential applications. According to the company, what separates their flooring products from other similar alternatives is the fact that they are sustainably sourced and processed with almost no chemicals, making them ideal for consumers with asthma, allergies and other health issues.
Use of these products can be seen in Gladesville Residence, a new family home built with a substantial 259sqm floor space. Midas Timber’s blackbutt engineered flooring was used throughout the build to create a well-appointed feel, with the benefit of stability and durability for many years to come, not to mention hypo-allergenic properties that make it a fitting choice for a family home.
Finally, it is also worth mentioning Mafi’s timber flooring, which is available through Woodos. Based in Austria, Mafi was supposedly the first natural timber flooring manufacturer to produce completely lacquer-free flooring, with the use of its own natural oils for surface finishing. The product is also known for its three-layer construction, providing increased plank stability; plus, its extreme dimensions of up to 5m in length or 300mm in width.
One stunning example of this product’s application is in a renovation and extension of a heritage house in Mosman on Sydney’s lower north shore. Designed by TKD Architects, the result of this project is a stylish mix of old and new, including an open floor plan and interiors featuring soft natural timber and textural stone.
Mafi flooring was specified in Oak Clear Brush White Oil, chosen by TKD Architects for its contemporary aesthetic. The absence of knots and crack lines in the floorboards provides a cool and clean appearance, which is further enhanced by a white oil finish.
The timber flooring extends from the living room to the kitchen and down into the wine cellar, where Mafi pre-fabricated stairs were installed over three levels. The Mafi floor is also installed over underfloor heating, so the family can enjoy the cooler winter months for many years to come.
For those looking for another hard floor alternative, concrete is one option to consider. A low-maintenance choice, concrete flooring can be extremely durable, aesthetically pleasing and easy to care for – making it suitable for a wide range of residential applications.
One product to note is Holcim’s Geostone concrete flooring, which is available in exposed, honed or polished finishes. What makes this product unique is the fact that (in polished and honed finishes) it incorporates natural materials such as locally-sourced stone, resulting in finishes with subtle variations that are distinct to each location.
According to the company, this product is suited for use in all areas of the home, due to the natural warmth and comfort that comes from the underfoot texture – made even more luxurious when combined with underfloor heating.
An example of this product in use is in Harley Graham Architects’ Mona Lane project. Set among the breathtaking coastal surroundings of the NSW Northern Rivers region, the home features Geostone polished concrete interior flooring. According to Holcim, all Geostone products used in this build were entirely bespoke, specially mixed to create the desired finish. The result is a stunning concrete home that blends effortlessly with its surroundings.
On the other side of the spectrum, those seeking a soft flooring material may want to consider carpet, particularly in areas like the bedrooms. The key benefit of course is its soft, plush texture, which creates an inviting feel, especially in the colder months. It can also be a good choice if you wish to avoid installing underfloor heating.
One good option is Hycraft’s loop pile wool carpets, supplied by Godfrey Hirst, which are designed to provide a highly-quality, stylish floor covering with the added benefits of natural wool. According to Godfrey Hirst, what makes wool carpet an ideal material is its natural insulation properties – keeping homes warm in winter and cool in summer. This is due to wool’s natural inbuilt crimp, which means air is kept in millions of tiny pockets, resulting in a comfortable environment.
The unique properties of wool react to changes in temperature, absorbing and desorbing large quantities of moisture from the air to control humidity. For example, in cold and damp conditions (high relative humidity), moisture is absorbed by the wool and heat is emitted. In warm dry conditions however, moisture is released by the wool, creating a cooling effect.
An interesting example of this product’s application is in the BuildHer8 Rathmines North House, which was part of a community collaboration project involving the creation of two architecturally different yet complementary sustainable homes in Melbourne’s north-east. In particular, Rathmines North House was designed to reflect a calmer life, with a focus on natural light, natural materials and changes in volumes.
The brief was for a beautiful, warm and healthy home, incorporating a range of sustainability measures that included all electric (no gas), passive solar architectural design, cross-ventilation, eaves and window shrouds, reclaim heat pump hot water system, 9.1-kilowatt solar system with Tesla Powerwall and rainwater tanks. The sustainable design was also to be underpinned by the use of recycled and natural materials wherever possible, with timber, marble counters and wool carpets throughout.
Hycraft’s Vintage Grace carpet in 720 Burlap was installed in all four bedrooms and the sunken lounge, with its warm tones providing a neutral base for the richly textured interior design. A key benefit was the fact that the wool carpet’s organic, textured chunky loop doesn’t show track marks, and its inherent structural crimp rebounds to create a surface that will stay looking new for years to come.
Finally, this round-up wouldn’t be complete without mentioning tile, a popular choice for bathrooms, kitchens and outdoor spaces. One of the main benefits, of course, is the fact that tile is generally low-maintenance and easy to clean. This makes it a strong choice for spaces where moisture and spills are common.
The main issue with tile tends to be in the grout, where bacteria can grow quickly, not only making the tiles unsightly but creating a health hazard for the home’s occupants. This issue is addressed in Kaolin Tiles’ Endless Vein range, which can be laid with Seamless Joint Tiling Technology. Essentially, the product comes in large-format tiles that can endlessly connect with each other. Grout joints are as small as 0.5mm, making them virtually invisible once installation is complete. The result is a visually stunning, low-maintenance surface that is built to stand the test of time.
When it comes to residential flooring, the options are many and varied, and it would be easy to overlook flooring as one of the key design elements of a home. But as you can hopefully see from some of the examples listed here, there is a lot more to flooring than meets the eye, with Australian manufacturers and suppliers leading the charge towards healthier and more sustainable choices. The floor may not be the first place we look, but it’s the one we interact with the most, and it can certainly have a big design impact.
Suppliers
Big River Group
Godfrey Hirst (Hycraft)
Holcim
Kaolin Tiles
Midas Timber
Tongue and Groove
Woodos (Mafi)
Image: Godfrey Hirst (Hycraft)
