What type of space is it?
The right floor depends first on the room. A bedroom prioritises softness and warmth; a kitchen demands water resistance; a retail entry needs slip performance and abrasion resistance. Before you pick a product, describe the room honestly: who uses it, how often, and what happens on the floor. That description drives every technical spec that follows wear layer, moisture rating, slip class and acoustic requirements and stops you overspending on features you don't need or underspending on features you'll regret.
How much traffic will it get?
Traffic is the number-one predictor of how long a floor lasts. A guest bedroom sees a fraction of the footsteps a hallway does. A boutique retail store sees a fraction of what a supermarket concourse does. Residential wear layers (0.3-0.5mm on vinyl and hybrid) work well at home; commercial spaces need 0.55-0.7mm plus an appropriate commercial rating. Get this wrong and the floor looks tired inside two years.
What's your budget?
Budget matters, but it's more useful to think in tiers. Entry ($52-$68/m² supply + install) covers rentals, secondary rooms and short-hold properties. Mid ($72-$78) is the residential sweet spot durable enough for whole-home installs, priced sensibly. Premium ($88-$128) buys either the aesthetic upgrade (engineered timber) or the heavy-duty commercial capability. Browse the tiers in the Shop and match them to the space.
What subfloor do you have?
Every quote depends on what's underneath. Concrete may need moisture testing and grinding. Timber subfloors may need re-nailing, patching or a plywood overlay. Existing flooring may need removal and disposal. Our installers assess the subfloor before the quote is finalised so the price you approve is the price you pay no surprise variations mid-install.
How important is installation speed?
For homeowners it's usually about disruption; for landlords and businesses it's usually about money. If the property needs to be re-let or the store needs to trade, a slower install has a real dollar cost. Our whole model is built around collapsing that timeline same-day quotes, in-stock product, 48-hour urgent residential starts and after-hours commercial installs. If speed matters, tell us at enquiry stage and we'll design the schedule around it.
When to get professional advice
If the room is wet-area adjacent, on a slab with unknown moisture history, in a heritage building, or carrying commercial compliance (slip, fire, acoustic), get expert eyes on it before you commit. Our team walks through the space (or the photos), asks the right questions, and matches product to use. That single conversation avoids the vast majority of flooring failures we see people pay for twice.