Expansion Gaps Guide — Why They Matter & How to Get Them Right.

All floating floors — whether SPC hybrid or engineered timber — expand and contract slightly with changes in temperature. Expansion gaps give the floor room to move without buckling, peaking, or pushing against walls.

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Installation Essentials.

Proper subfloor preparation is the single most important factor in a successful flooring installation. Your subfloor must be clean, structurally sound, level within 3mm over a 1-metre span, and dry (moisture readings below 75% relative humidity for concrete slabs). For concrete subfloors, check for cracks, high spots, and moisture issues — read our subfloor preparation guide for a complete checklist. For timber subfloors, ensure all boards are secure with no squeaking, protruding nails, or excessive bounce. You may need to install a moisture barrier depending on your subfloor type — see our moisture barriers guide guide. Allow a 10mm expansion gap around all walls, door frames, pipes, and fixed objects. This is non-negotiable for floating floor installations and prevents buckling and peaking. For full expansion gap guidance, read our expansion gaps guide.

Before starting your flooring installation, ensure you have all the tools and materials ready. Essential tools include: tape measure and pencil, jigsaw or circular saw with a fine-tooth blade, rubber mallet and tapping block, pull bar for the last row, 10mm spacers, utility knife, straight edge or T-square, and a vacuum or broom. Materials needed: your chosen flooring (order 10% extra for waste — more for herringbone or diagonal layouts), underlay if not built-in (our 9.5mm range includes premium acoustic underlay; our 6.5mm has IXPE underlay built in), moisture barrier if required, scotia or skirting to cover expansion gaps, transition strips for doorways, and silicone sealant for wet area perimeters. See our complete tools checklist and underlay guide for detailed recommendations on every item.

All our hybrid flooring uses a click-lock system specifically designed for DIY installation — no glue, nails, or specialist flooring tools required.That said, some situations benefit from professional installation: complex room layouts with many cuts, stairs and split levels, large open-plan areas where straight lines and consistent gaps are critical, and apartments where body corporate may require certified installation.They handle everything including subfloor preparation, furniture protection, and fitting of all trim profiles. We can provide an installation quote when you order flooring from us. For tips on getting a great DIY result, read our DIY flooring tips and for the full cost breakdown, see our installation costs in Brisbane.

Professional Installation in Brisbane

Need a professional to handle your flooring installation? Our Brisbane-based installers are fully qualified, insured, and experienced with every product in our range — from 6.5mm SPC hybrid flooring and 9.5mm SPC hybrid flooring to engineered timber flooring. They follow Australian Standard AS/NZ1884-2012 and come equipped to handle subfloor preparation, moisture testing, furniture protection, and all finishing touches including scotia, transition strips, and door trims. Get a bundled supply-and-install quote from us for the most competitive pricing.

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6.5mm Hybrid

$29.99/sqm

9.5mm Hybrid

from $49.99/sqm

Engineered Timber

from $69.99/sqm

Tough as a hippo

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Every flooring product we sell is designed with easy installation in mind. Our 6.5mm SPC hybrid flooring and 9.5mm SPC hybrid flooring hybrid ranges both use precision-engineered click-lock profiles that snap together without adhesive — you literally click the planks into place and the floor floats over your existing subfloor. The 9.5mm SPC hybrid flooring range includes built-in acoustic underlay rated for multi-storey buildings, making it ideal for apartments where sound transmission matters. Our engineered timber flooring also uses a click-lock or tongue-and-groove system depending on the product. All products ship with installation instructions, and we provide free technical support by phone if you get stuck. For a complete comparison of our ranges, read our best hybrid flooring 2026 buyer's guide. Browse the full collection and find the right flooring for your installation project.

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More Installation Resources

We've created comprehensive installation guides for every scenario Australian homeowners face. For subfloor-specific guides: installing on concrete and installing on timber subfloors. For preparation: subfloor preparation guide, moisture barriers guide, and underlay guide. For specific techniques: expansion gaps guide, floating vs glue-down, and DIY flooring tips. For cost planning: installation costs in Brisbane and hybrid flooring costs in 2026. These guides cover everything from moisture testing to cutting around door frames, so you can tackle your installation with confidence. If you're in Brisbane, remember we offer professional installation services alongside our flooring supply — contact us for a bundled quote.

What Our Customers Say.

5.0 out of 5

Absolutely love the flooring

“The quality exceeded my expectations. Installation was straightforward and the finished result looks incredible. Would highly recommend to anyone renovating.”

Best value for money

“Compared dozens of options and nothing came close to the value here. SPC flooring is durable, waterproof, and looks like real timber. Couldn't be happier.”

Great product, fast delivery

“Ordered on Monday, arrived Wednesday. The planks are solid and the click system makes installation a breeze. Took me a weekend for the whole living room.”

Really happy

“Really happy with the selection of flooring, made it hard to choose! Floor came undamaged and looks even better in person. Will definitely use them again.”

Great Flooring

“Great flooring & wonderful service. Definitely recommend!!”

Amazing experience

“Amazing experience with Hippo Floors! Couldn’t be happier with how our floors turned out!”

Ordering again soon

“Ordered the hybrid SPC in the ash grey colour and it arrived faster than expected. Packaging was solid, no damage. Laid it myself over a long weekend and it clicked together really easily. Looks amazing, my partner couldn't believe we did it ourselves. Will be ordering for the second bedroom soon.”

Highly Recommend

“Had a few questions before ordering and Jordan got back to me same day with actually useful answers. Ended up going with the herringbone SPC for our entryway and it's a showstopper. Highly recommend.”

Flooring quality is genuinely good

“Third time ordering from Hippo Floors now. Prices are the best I've found online and the flooring quality is genuinely good. Had one plank arrive with a slight chip on an edge, sent a photo and they sorted it out no drama.”

Would buy again

“Good range, decent prices, fast shipping to regional QLD which I didn't expect. Took off one star only because the colour looked slightly different on my screen vs in person, but honestly once it was down I was happy with it. Would buy again.”

Great product

“Renovating our entire ground floor and went with Hippo Floors after getting quotes from a few places. Saved a decent chunk going direct online and the product is exactly what they describe. Installation team they referred us to was great too.”

Installation FAQs.

hello@hippofloors.au

0406 304 357

Brisbane, Queensland

The floor will buckle, peak, or tent — planks lift in the middle of the room as they push against walls with no room to expand. This typically happens in summer when temperatures rise. The only fix is to pull up the flooring, trim the edges, and re-lay with proper gaps.

Only in wet areas like bathrooms, and only with flexible silicone that compresses and stretches. In dry areas, use scotia trim instead. Never fill gaps with rigid filler, grout, or caulk — these prevent movement.

Yes, but smaller gaps are needed. Glue-down engineered timber requires 3–5mm expansion gaps vs 10mm for floating floors. The adhesive restricts movement, so less expansion occurs — but some gap is still essential.

Usually yes. Peaking is almost always caused by insufficient expansion gaps. Remove the scotia trim, pull out a row or two from the affected wall, and trim 10mm off the plank edges with a jigsaw. Re-install with spacers and replace the trim. The peaking should resolve within hours as the pressure is released.

We deliver within 5 working days in most cases, often sooner depending on stock levels and your location. Brisbane metro customers frequently receive their flooring within 2–3 business days. For regional Queensland, northern NSW, and Sydney metro, standard delivery is 5–7 working days. We ship flooring Australia-wide — including Melbourne, Adelaide, Perth, and regional areas. When you order, we'll confirm an exact delivery date and provide tracking details. Delivery is free for orders within Brisbane metro. If you need flooring urgently for a time-sensitive renovation, let us know and we'll do our best to accommodate. For full delivery information including interstate timeframes, see our delivery FAQ.

All our flooring comes with a manufacturer's warranty covering defects in workmanship and materials. Our 9.5mm SPC hybrid flooring carries up to a 25-year residential warranty and 5-year commercial warranty. Our 6.5mm SPC hybrid flooring comes with a 20-year residential warranty and 3-year commercial warranty. engineered timber flooring includes warranties specific to each product line. The warranty covers manufacturing faults including peeling, delamination, excessive wear, discolouration not caused by UV exposure, and structural defects in the click-lock system. It does not cover damage from improper installation, neglect, flooding, or accidents. We also comply with Australian Consumer Law, which provides additional statutory protections. For the full warranty terms and how to make a claim, read our warranty guide.

Contact us directly — you're not dealing with a call centre. You can reach Jordan on 0406 304 357 or email admin@hippofloors.com.au. We respond quickly and personally handle every customer concern. Whether it's a delivery issue, a question about installation, or a potential warranty claim, we'll work with you to resolve it. If a warranty claim is needed, we'll guide you through the process and liaise with the manufacturer on your behalf. For common installation issues like peaking, gapping, or clicking sounds, check our common hybrid flooring problems guide — many issues have simple fixes that don't require a warranty claim.