Ultimate Flooring Guide: Are You Ready to Start Planning Your Flooring Project?

Introduction

Whether you’re giving one room a facelift or undertaking a full-home renovation, choosing new flooring is one of the most impactful decisions you’ll make. It sets the tone for your interior design, determines the feel underfoot, affects cleaning and upkeep, and can greatly influence your home’s resale value. It also comes with one of the widest cost ranges in any renovation category—from basic vinyl to premium hardwood.

Before you dive into material swatches or Google flooring trends for 2025, there’s a more important question:

Are you truly ready to plan your flooring project?

In this guide, we’ll walk you through the key planning steps for any flooring upgrade. Whether you’re leaning toward hardwood, hybrid, laminate, vinyl, tile, or carpet, we’ll help you lay the foundation (literally and figuratively) for a successful project. You’ll learn how to think beyond style and compare types, budget wisely, avoid timeline blowouts, and use AIreno to quote and plan your job like a pro—without ever picking up the phone.

Why Planning Comes Before Picking Flooring

Too often, homeowners rush straight to picking colours or wood grains. But flooring success is built on planning—knowing what you’re walking into before installers walk through your door.

Without a plan, you risk:

• Cost blowouts: Subfloor issues, trims, or underlay can double your budget if not planned
• Style regret: A trendy look might clash with your furniture, or feel cold underfoot
• Installer delays: Lead times for products and trades can stretch out your whole timeline
• Product mismatch: Not all floors suit all rooms—a mistake here can lead to water damage or wear issues

At AIreno, we flip the traditional approach. We help you scope first, then choose. We break down every choice so you can see what fits your lifestyle, budget, and home.

Step 1: Define Your Project Scope Clearly

The biggest variable in a flooring project isn’t the material—it’s how many spaces you decide to change. Flooring often bleeds into other rooms, creating grey zones in scope.

Before you begin:

• List every room or zone you’re replacing
• Think about connecting areas like hallways or stairs
• Will you need transitions between floor types?
• Are there any built-ins or kitchens being updated simultaneously?
• Does your floor plan include wet areas like laundries or powder rooms?

AIreno lets you break this down room-by-room. We show you how each addition affects your quote and timeline—so you can scale up or down with clarity.

Step 2: Match Floors to Real Life

Don’t start with Pinterest boards. Start with your actual lifestyle.

Ask yourself:

• Do you have children or pets? You’ll want tough, scratch-resistant, and easy-clean options
• Do you host often or want a luxury feel? Real timber or tiles might suit
• Is comfort and warmth more important? Carpet with underlay can transform bedrooms
• Do you have mobility or accessibility needs? Consider slip-resistance, hardness and transitions
• Will you mop regularly or need waterproof surfaces? Hybrid or vinyl will outperform others
• Is this a rental or flip? Durable, fast-install floors like laminate or vinyl can save you time and money

Each type has its strengths. AIreno’s smart planning flow matches flooring types to your usage patterns—not just your style.

Step 3: Know Your Flooring Options (Briefly!)

We’ll go deep on these in the next guide, but here’s your quickfire reference:

Hardwood

• Natural timber planks, premium and durable
• Engineered or solid
• Long lifespan, high resale value
• Requires acclimatisation, sealing, and higher labour cost

Laminate

• Printed surface bonded to HDF core
• Affordable and widely available
• Not waterproof, but good resistance for dry zones

Hybrid

• Waterproof, rigid plank system
• Perfect for kitchens and living areas
• Combines best features of laminate and vinyl

Vinyl Planks or Sheets

• 100% waterproof, flexible or rigid options
• Soft underfoot, easy to clean
• Great for basements or rentals

Carpet

• Cosy, quiet, affordable
• Perfect for bedrooms and upper levels
• Stains and water damage are risks

Tiles

• Durable, waterproof, design-forward
• Hard underfoot and cold in winter
• Excellent for bathrooms, kitchens, entryways

Step 4: Understand Timing and Disruption

One of the most underestimated parts of a flooring job is the timing.

It’s not just about how long the laying takes. There’s also:

• Lead time for materials (especially specialty timber or tiles)
• Acclimatisation time (timber needs 5-10 days onsite before install)
• Furniture removal and access
• Subfloor repairs, levelling or drying
• Skirting or door trimming post-install

Rough timelines:

• Carpet: 1 day per floor
• Laminate/Hybrid: 1-3 days, depending on prep
• Timber: Up to 7 days with sanding/sealing
• Vinyl/Tile: 2-5 days including adhesive cure

AIreno lets you log your availability, and we match you with trades who fit your timing.

Step 5: Budget Beyond Just Material

A flooring quote isn’t just cost-per-square-metre. You also need to budget for:

• Removal and disposal of old floors
• Subfloor levelling or screeding
• Underlay or moisture barriers
• Expansion trims or transitions
• Skirting adjustments or reinstallation
• Waste allowance (typically 5-15%)

Typical costs (supply + install):

• Hardwood: $120–$200 per m2
• Laminate: $50–$90 per m2
• Hybrid: $60–$110 per m2
• Vinyl: $45–$80 per m2
• Carpet: $40–$100 per m2
• Tiles: $90–$150 per m2

AIreno builds your quote in real-time, line by line, so you can test different combinations without committing.

Step 6: Get Quotes That Actually Align

Once you’re clear on scope, type, and budget, you can start comparing.

But here’s the problem: most flooring quotes aren’t clear.

AIreno fixes this:

• All quotes are based on YOUR scope
• All items are broken down (labour, product, extras)
• You can view trades by rating, photos, or warranty
• Need to tweak something? Edit your scope and re-request instantly

This saves time, reduces confusion, and lets pros quote faster—which means faster installs for you.

Conclusion

Your flooring project is a big commitment. But the planning process doesn’t have to be overwhelming. With the right questions, the right scope, and the right tools, you can avoid stress and get a floor you love for years.

With AIreno, flooring planning is simple, structured, and smart. You define your goals, scope your job, see accurate pricing, and get matched with quality installers—all online, all in minutes.

Next up in the Ultimate Flooring Guide: Flooring Types Explained – Comparing Hardwood, Laminate, Hybrid, Vinyl, Carpet and Tiles.