By Tony Chalhoub, founder of CarpetAce
Short answer: Choose engineered timber if you want a real timber floor with natural grain, a premium feel and the option to refinish it later, and you’re happy to look after it around water and scratches. Choose hybrid if you want a tough, water-resistant floor for a busy home at a lower price. At CarpetAce, Terra Mater Resiplank hybrid is $45–$65/m² and engineered oak starts from $89/m², supply only, including GST.
From across the room, a good hybrid and an engineered oak floor can look similar. Underfoot, over the years and on the quote, they’re quite different. Here’s how they compare, with our real prices.
What’s the difference?
Hybrid is a rigid-core plank with a printed timber look under a clear wear layer. Terra Mater Resiplank has a rigid core (5–7mm depending on the plank), a 0.5–0.7mm wear layer and an EVA underlay bonded to the back. The planks click together and float over the subfloor.
Engineered timber has a real hardwood top layer bonded to a multi-ply or layered core. In the oak ranges we supply from Greenwoods and Terra Mater WildOak, that top layer is 2–4mm of European oak, and Terra Mater Barrington has a 3–4mm layer of Spotted Gum or Blackbutt. It can be floated or glued directly to the subfloor.
Hybrid vs engineered timber at a glance
| Hybrid (Resiplank) | Engineered timber | |
|---|---|---|
| Surface | Printed timber look under a 0.5–0.7mm wear layer | Real timber, 2–4mm thick in the ranges with published specs |
| Look | Consistent colour and pattern | Natural grain and colour variation from board to board |
| Water | Terra Mater lists the planks as 100% waterproof; the floor isn’t a waterproof barrier for the subfloor | Timber can swell or cup if water sits on it; wipe spills promptly |
| Scratches and dents | The wear layer resists everyday scuffs | Marks more easily; many owners accept this as character |
| Refinishing | Can’t be sanded | Depending on the top layer and how it has worn, can usually be sanded and recoated |
| Underfloor heating | Listed as suitable for hydronic systems up to 27°C | Depends on the range: WildOak is listed for in-slab hydronic systems up to 27°C; Greenwoods isn’t listed, and its warranty excludes heated subfloors |
| Installation (per m²) | $28, floating, underlay attached | Floating $28 + $6 underlay, or direct stick $35 + $15 adhesive |
| Supply price (inc GST) | $45 (7mm), $55 (8.5mm), $65 (9.7mm) | Oak from $89; Australian species about $130; herringbone the same as planks |
Hybrid: pros and cons
Pros
- Price. $45–$65/m² supply, and installation is $28/m² with no separate underlay.
- Tough surface. The wear layer stands up well to kids, pets and sand from the back door.
- Handles spills. Terra Mater lists Resiplank as 100% waterproof, so kitchen spills won’t swell the planks.
- Acoustic results. Terra Mater publishes ratings of 6 Star for the 9.7mm and 5 Star for the 7mm and 8.5mm, which helps in apartments.
- Consistency. A printed design gives an even colour from plank to plank. Browse our hybrid flooring.
Cons
- Not real timber. It’s a well-made timber look, and close up the difference shows.
- Can’t be refinished. Once the wear layer is worn or deeply scratched, it can’t be sanded back.
- Floating feel. A floating floor can sound and feel less solid underfoot than timber glued to the slab.
- Water can still get underneath. Water that runs under the edges or through the joins can reach the subfloor.
Engineered timber: pros and cons
Pros
- Real timber. Natural grain and colour, with every board a little different. Many buyers see it as a premium finish.
- Can be renewed. A thicker top layer can usually be sanded and recoated later in the floor’s life.
- Solid feel. Glued directly to the subfloor, engineered timber feels solid and quiet underfoot.
- Formats. Long, wide boards (WildOak Soleil is 2200 × 220mm), herringbone and parquetry, and Australian species. Browse our timber flooring.
Cons
- Price. Oak starts from $89/m² supply, and direct-stick installation adds $35/m² plus $15/m² adhesive.
- Marks more easily. Pet claws, dropped items and furniture legs leave marks sooner than on hybrid.
- Water and humidity. Timber is a natural material and moves a little with the seasons. Standing water can damage it.
- Heating limits. Not every range suits underfloor heating, so check before you choose.
Which suits your home?
Choose hybrid if you have young children or pets, the floor runs through a busy kitchen, you’re fitting out a rental or investment property, or you want a hard floor at a lower price.
Choose engineered timber if you’re renovating a home you plan to stay in, you want a natural material, you love herringbone or wide oak boards, or the floor is the centrepiece of the design.
In an apartment, check your owners corporation’s rules on hard floors and acoustic ratings before choosing either.
What it costs: a 30 m² open-plan living area
Hard floors are ordered at floor area plus 8% for offcuts: 30 × 1.08 = 32.4 m². Installation, underlay, adhesive and edges are charged on the 30 m² of floor. Here the skirting is removed and refitted at $20/m², so no scotia is needed.
| Item | Hybrid 8.5mm | Engineered oak, floating | Engineered oak, direct stick |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flooring (32.4 m²) | × $55 = $1,782 | × $89 = $2,883.60 | × $89 = $2,883.60 |
| Installation | 30 m² × $28 = $840 | 30 m² × $28 = $840 | 30 m² × $35 = $1,050 |
| Underlay or adhesive | Attached to the planks | 30 m² × $6 = $180 | 30 m² × $15 = $450 |
| Skirting removed and refitted | 30 m² × $20 = $600 | 30 m² × $20 = $600 | 30 m² × $20 = $600 |
| Total (inc GST) | $3,222 | $4,503.60 | $4,983.60 |
With scotia or quad beading instead ($10/m²), take $300 off each total. The 7mm hybrid comes to $2,898 and the 9.7mm to $3,546. Engineered Australian species at about $130/m² would add about $1,328 to the flooring line. We don’t paint, so your painter touches up the skirting afterwards.
Floor preparation is quoted at the measure for every hard floor, and herringbone installation is priced on request. Whether timber is floated or stuck down is decided at the measure, once we’ve seen the subfloor. Full breakdowns are on our hybrid flooring prices and timber flooring prices pages, or use the flooring price calculator for your own rooms.
Frequently asked questions
Is engineered timber worth the extra cost over hybrid?
If you want real timber and plan to stay in the home, it often is. In the 30 m² example, floating engineered oak costs about $1,282 more than 8.5mm hybrid. If spills, pets and price matter more, hybrid is the sensible choice.
Can engineered timber go in a kitchen?
Yes, and many homes have it. Wipe up spills promptly and put a mat at the sink. Hybrid is more forgiving if the kitchen is a busy one.
Which is better with underfloor heating?
Resiplank hybrid and Terra Mater WildOak engineered oak are both listed as suitable for hydronic systems up to 27°C. Greenwoods doesn’t list its ranges for heating, and its warranty excludes heated subfloors. Tell us about your heating at the measure.
Should engineered timber be floated or stuck down?
We decide at the measure, based on the subfloor and the board. Direct stick costs more ($35/m² plus $15/m² adhesive, against $28/m² plus $6/m² underlay) and feels more solid. Terra Mater’s WildOak herringbone is direct stick only, and herringbone installation is priced on request.
Can I see both floors in my home first?
Yes. Our mobile showroom brings samples to your home. You can also preview a floor in a photo of your own room with See it in your room.
Book a free measure and quote
We’ll bring hybrid and engineered timber samples to your home, check the subfloor and email a written quote within 24 hours of the measure. Book your free measure and quote or call 0425 552 816.