Hybrid Flooring Expansion Gaps — Everything You Need to Know.

Expansion gaps are the single most important installation detail for hybrid flooring — and the number one cause of problems when they are done wrong. Getting expansion gaps right takes minutes during installation but prevents the most common and frustrating hybrid flooring issues: peaking, buckling, and joint failure.

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Quick Reference.

All flooring sold by Hippo Floors is carefully selected for quality, durability, and value. Our hybrid flooring range features 100% waterproof SPC (Stone Polymer Composite) cores with click-lock installation, built-in underlay, and residential warranties of up to 25 years. The SPC core is dimensionally stable, meaning it won't warp, expand, or contract with temperature and humidity changes — making it ideal for Australian climates. Our engineered timber flooring offers genuine hardwood veneers over a multi-layer core for authentic timber aesthetics with improved stability over solid hardwood. Every product passes strict quality control and comes with full manufacturer warranty documentation. For a detailed comparison of product types, read our hybrid vs engineered timber vs laminate guide or our best hybrid flooring 2026 buyer's guide.

Ordering from Hippo Floors is straightforward — browse our range online, add to cart, and checkout. We'll contact you within 24 hours to confirm your order and arrange delivery. Brisbane metro customers receive free delivery, typically within 2–3 business days. Australia-wide delivery is available for all orders, with metro areas receiving flooring within 5–7 working days. We ship to every state and territory including regional areas. If your flooring arrives damaged, contact us immediately for a replacement. Unopened boxes can be returned within 14 days in original condition. For full delivery timeframes and shipping details, see our delivery FAQ. We also offer sample services so you can see and feel our flooring before committing to a full order.

All our hybrid flooring uses a click-lock installation system designed for easy DIY fitting — no glue, nails, or specialist tools needed. A handy homeowner can typically install a room in a weekend. Essential preparation includes ensuring your subfloor is clean, level (within 3mm over 1m), and dry. You'll need to leave a 10mm expansion gap around all walls and fixed objects. For detailed instructions, see our guides on installing on concrete, installing on timber subfloors, and subfloor preparation guide.After installation, hybrid flooring is low-maintenance: regular sweeping and occasional damp mopping is all that's needed. Avoid excessive water and use felt pads under furniture. Read our how to clean hybrid flooring for detailed care instructions.

Can't Find Your Answer?

If your question isn't covered here, contact us directly — we're real people, not a call centre. Our team has hands-on experience with every product we sell and can provide specific advice for your situation. Whether you need help choosing between 6.5mm SPC hybrid flooring and 9.5mm SPC hybrid flooring, advice on subfloor preparation, or a professional installation quote, we're here to help. Brisbane customers can also visit us to see flooring samples in person.

6.5mm Hybrid

$29.99/sqm

9.5mm Hybrid

from $49.99/sqm

Engineered Timber

from $69.99/sqm

Tough as a hippo

Browse Our Flooring Range

Explore our complete range of hybrid flooring, engineered timber flooring, and laminate flooring. Every product is available for delivery Australia-wide with free shipping to Brisbane metro. Our 6.Our 9.For the premium timber look, our engineered timber flooring collection features genuine hardwood veneers in styles from spotted gum to blackbutt. All our flooring is 100% waterproof (hybrid ranges), click-lock for easy installation, and backed by comprehensive warranties. Use our instant quote tool to get a price for your project in under 60 seconds.

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Helpful Guides & Resources

We've created detailed guides covering every aspect of buying, installing, and maintaining flooring in Australian homes. For product comparisons: 6.5mm vs 9.5mm comparison, hybrid vs laminate, hybrid vs vinyl plank, and waterproof flooring comparison. For installation: installing on concrete, installing on timber subfloors, subfloor preparation guide, and expansion gaps guide. For room-specific recommendations: best flooring for kitchens, best flooring for bathrooms, best flooring for living rooms, and best flooring for open-plan living. For pricing: hybrid flooring costs in 2026 and installation costs in Brisbane. And on our blog: hybrid vs engineered timber vs laminate guide, 2026 hybrid flooring price guide, best flooring for pets, and how to clean hybrid flooring.

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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.”

All Your Questions.

hello@hippofloors.au

0406 304 357

Brisbane, Queensland

Expansion gaps have nothing to do with waterproofing — they accommodate the physical expansion and contraction of the SPC core with temperature changes. Even though SPC hybrid expands far less than timber or laminate, it still moves slightly. Over a large floor area (say, 10 metres), even 0.5mm of movement per metre adds up to 5mm total. Without an expansion gap to absorb this movement, the floor pushes against walls and buckles upward.

No — silicone cannot replace an expansion gap. Silicone is flexible but does not provide the 10mm of free space that the floor needs to physically expand into. Silicone is used to cover expansion gaps in wet areas (bathrooms, kitchens) where a clean seal is needed, but the gap must exist underneath the silicone. Never fill expansion gaps with silicone, caulk, grout, or any rigid material.

Standard skirting boards are wide enough to cover a 10mm expansion gap comfortably. If your skirting is too narrow (some modern flat-profile skirtings), use scotia trim (quarter-round moulding) at the base of the skirting to bridge the gap. Alternatively, use wider skirting. The gap must always be covered for a clean finish, but it must never be filled with a rigid material.

Yes — expansion gaps are required regardless of your subfloor type or building level. The SPC planks expand and contract with temperature changes whether they are on a concrete slab, timber subfloor, or over existing tiles. The 10mm perimeter gap and T-bars for long runs apply to every installation.

If perimeter gaps are correct (10mm minimum), check for other common causes: (1) heavy furniture or appliances sitting on top of the floor and pinning it down, (2) skirting or trim nailed through the floating floor, (3) continuous runs exceeding 13m without a T-bar joint, (4) door frame architraves pinching the floor without a gap. Also check that installation spacers were removed — leaving them in effectively eliminates the expansion gap.

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.