Australian Select Timbers (AST)

The most important thing you can do is keep grit off the surface. Sweeping or dry-mopping hard floors at least twice a week stops abrasive particles from scratching the finish. Clean spills promptly on any surface before they have time to set or penetrate. Use the right cleaning products for your flooring type: steam mops should never be used on timber, laminate or vinyl, and wool carpet needs wool-safe cleaners. For hard floors, the Bona range is formulated specifically for different floor types and is available at Floorworld stores.

A quality carpet with the right underlay typically lasts 10 to 15 years in residential use. Higher-grade options, including solution-dyed nylon and wool carpet with good underlay, can last 15 to 25 years with proper care. The key variables are fibre quality, underlay quality, traffic level and how consistently the carpet is vacuumed and professionally cleaned. Installing the right carpet for the right room also makes a significant difference: a bedroom carpet lasts much longer than the same product in a hallway.

Busy areas like hallways, living rooms and family rooms benefit from vacuuming at least twice a week. Bedrooms can generally be maintained with once-a-week vacuuming. Regular vacuuming prevents grit from working down into the carpet pile, where it acts like sandpaper on the fibres and causes premature wear. In homes with pets, vacuuming more frequently around pet zones helps manage dander, hair and odour between professional cleans.

In the right rooms, wool carpet is absolutely worth the investment. Wool delivers softness, warmth and a natural beauty that synthetic fibres genuinely cannot replicate, particularly underfoot in a bedroom or formal living area. It is naturally flame retardant, acoustically absorbent and thermally insulating. A well-maintained wool carpet from a quality brand like Feltex or Victoria Carpets can last 15 to 25 years, making the higher upfront cost a good long-term decision for rooms where comfort and quality matter most.

In a bedroom or other low-traffic room, modern polyester carpet typically lasts eight to 12 years with regular vacuuming and periodic professional cleaning. Pairing it with a quality underlay extends its useful life and improves the feel underfoot significantly. Avoid installing polyester carpet in hallways or high-traffic living areas, where it tends to show wear and crushing faster than solution-dyed nylon or Triexta at similar price points.

GrandOak is a premium engineered timber and hybrid flooring range from Australian Select Timbers (AST). It is known for its wide-plank formats and design-led finishes, including herringbone and chevron options that suit feature entries, dining rooms and open-plan living areas. GrandOak is positioned for premium residential renovations where the floor is meant to be a design statement. It is available through Floorworld stores, and your local team can show you samples and discuss which formats suit your space.

Sweep or dry-mop timber floors at least twice a week to remove grit and abrasive particles that can scratch the surface finish. For a deeper clean, use the Bona Hardwood Floor Cleaner at the recommended dilution, applied with a lightly damp, not wet, mop. Never use a soaking-wet mop on timber flooring, and avoid steam mops entirely: both can cause the timber to swell, cup or the finish to lift. Wipe up any spills immediately. These simple habits extend the life and appearance of a timber floor significantly.

Australian Select Timbers (AST) is a respected flooring brand known for design-led timber and hybrid ranges with quality finishes. The GrandOak and Regency ranges are among the more premium options available through Floorworld stores, and the brand is consistently well regarded by architects, builders and homeowners in Australia. The right AST product depends on the room, installation method and the look you want. Your Floorworld team can show you the current AST range and discuss which products suit your project.

Yes, absolutely. The floor type matters far less than most people think: the fibre and the cleaning habit are what determine whether carpet works in a pet household. A Triexta or solution-dyed nylon carpet in a bedroom will outperform a cheap hard floor in the same space. If staining or accidents are your main concern, choose a fibre with built-in resistance rather than a surface treatment, and address spills promptly. Many Australian homes with pets have carpet in bedrooms and hard flooring in the main living areas, which gives the best of both in practice.

The most effective single habit is an entry mat at every outdoor access point. Most surface wear and grit damage comes from particles tracked in from outside. Beyond that, sweep or vacuum hard floors at least twice a week, clean spills on hard floors immediately and blot (never scrub) any carpet spills. Felt pads on furniture legs prevent drag marks on hard floors. For carpet, a professional hot water extraction clean every 12 to 18 months removes embedded pet dander, allergens and odour that regular vacuuming cannot fully address.

For hybrid flooring in pet households, Metropol 1500 by Godfrey Hirst is popular for open-plan living areas. For vinyl plank, AQUILA DS PLUS and POLARIS 1200 by Godfrey Hirst are strong performers in high-traffic zones, and TAHOMA by Australian Select Timbers has natural colour variation that hides hair and dust well. For laminate in dry rooms, SHIELD EVERLAST XL by Clever Choice and IMPRESSIVE by Quick-Step both hold up well in pet households. For carpet in pet bedrooms, the Feltex Triexta range, including REVIVE, FREEDOM, NIGHTFALL and ENTERTAINING, offers permanent stain and odour resistance with a soft, comfortable feel. Ask your Floorworld store for samples and current pricing on any of these.

For carpet, PORT UNDERWOOD by Victoria Carpets is a structured solution-dyed nylon loop pile that vacuums cleanly and holds up well in health-conscious homes. AVALANCHE by Beaulieu is a family-friendly SDN option. INFATUATION by Feltex is a Triexta carpet that combines softness with practical, permanent stain resistance. For laminate, MAJESTIC and PERSPECTIVE NATURE by Quick-Step are quality low-VOC options with realistic surface textures. For timber, COASTLINE, AURORA OAK and HICKORY CLASSIQUE by Australian Select Timbers offer warm natural tones across a range of price points. Ask your Floorworld team for current samples and pricing on any of these.

For engineered timber, HICKORY HOMESTEAD by Australian Select Timbers has a textured matte finish and warm, natural character that improves with age. GRANDOAK HERRINGBONE by AST is a statement herringbone for feature entries and dining zones. RIVIERA OAK by Dunlop is a classic European Oak for timeless interiors. For wool carpet, CASTLE PARK by Victoria Carpets and STONEFIELDS and SALISBURY by Feltex are premium wool loop pile options for luxury bedrooms. For LVT, LOOSELAY LONGBOARDS by Karndean is the go-to choice for larger open-plan rooms where long board formats and no-glue installation are an advantage. Ask your nearest Floorworld store for samples and current pricing.

For hard flooring, sweep or dry-mop at least twice a week to remove grit before it can scratch the surface finish. Use a damp mop with the right cleaner for routine wet cleaning. For carpet, vacuum at least twice a week in living areas and arrange a professional clean every 12 to 18 months. Felt pads on furniture legs prevent drag marks on hard floors. Entry mats at all access points to the living room catch grit before it reaches the floor surface, which is the single most effective maintenance habit for any floor type.

For hybrid in the living room, METROPOL 1500 by Godfrey Hirst is popular for open-plan pet-friendly homes. KODIAK by Australian Select Timbers is a strong renovation-grade choice for whole-home installations. For engineered timber, HICKORY HOMESTEAD by AST has a textured matte finish that suits contemporary and classic interiors. COASTLINE by AST is popular in Healthy Haven homes for its warm natural tones. For carpet, CASTLE PARK by Victoria Carpets is a premium wool loop pile option for living rooms where softness and longevity are the priority. Your Floorworld store can arrange samples for any of these products.

Vacuum bedroom carpet at least once a week. For pet-friendly bedrooms where dander and hair accumulate faster, twice a week is better. Regular vacuuming prevents grit from working down into the pile and causing fibre damage at the base. For any spill, blot immediately with a clean dry cloth: never rub or scrub, as this pushes the material deeper into the fibre. Use wool-safe products on wool carpet. A professional steam clean every 12 to 18 months refreshes the pile, removes embedded allergens and extends the carpet’s useful life considerably.

For luxury bedrooms, CASTLE PARK by Victoria Carpets and STONEFIELDS by Feltex are premium wool loop pile options known for their durability and feel. For pet-friendly bedrooms, REVIVE by Feltex is a Triexta carpet with built-in permanent stain and odour resistance. For Healthy Haven bedrooms, PORT UNDERWOOD by Victoria Carpets is a structured solution-dyed nylon loop pile that vacuums cleanly. For bedrooms where a hard floor is preferred, HICKORY HOMESTEAD by Australian Select Timbers provides a warm, textured timber in a matte finish. Ask your nearest Floorworld store for samples and pricing.

For hybrid flooring, KODIAK by Australian Select Timbers is a renovation-focused rigid-core product suited to whole-home installations. For laminate, REFLECTIONS LIFESTYLE by AST offers durability in dry living areas. VISTA by Godfrey Hirst provides a reliable timber look for busy family homes. CLIX PLUS by Premium Floors is a contemporary everyday laminate option at an accessible price. For vinyl plank, VOYAGER by Clever Choice is a fully waterproof, budget-smart option that is particularly popular for rental and staged renovation projects. Ask your nearest Floorworld store for current samples and pricing.

For hybrid in the kitchen, METROPOL 1500 by Godfrey Hirst is popular for open-plan kitchen and living areas, particularly in pet households. KODIAK by Australian Select Timbers is a reliable rigid-core option for renovation projects. For vinyl plank, AQUILA DS PLUS by Godfrey Hirst handles high-traffic kitchen entries well, and VOYAGER by Clever Choice is a budget-smart fully waterproof option. CAMARO Tile and Stone by Polyflor is worth looking at if a stone-look finish suits your kitchen design better than a timber look. Ask your Floorworld store for samples and a quote.

For statement timber dining rooms, GRANDOAK HERRINGBONE by Australian Select Timbers creates a premium parquet-style effect suited to formal dining rooms. HICKORY HOMESTEAD by AST offers a warm, textured matte timber finish for both contemporary and traditional dining spaces. For practical open-plan dining areas, CLEVER HYBRID SUPERIOR 9mm by Clever Choice is a thicker-profile hybrid that handles daily dining room use well. Ask your Floorworld store for current samples and pricing on any of these products.

For a premium entry, GRANDOAK HERRINGBONE by Australian Select Timbers creates a herringbone feature floor from the front door that sets a high design tone for the rest of the home. HICKORY HOMESTEAD by AST is a warm, textured matte timber with wide-plank character. For practical hallways, METROPOL 1500 by Godfrey Hirst is a popular hybrid choice for pet-friendly homes. AQUILA DS PLUS by Godfrey Hirst is a vinyl plank suited to high-traffic entry zones. Ask your Floorworld store for current samples and pricing.