Choosing the right laminate flooring nz for your New Zealand home involves not just selecting the perfect style and durability but also knowing where to purchase it from reputable suppliers. The NZ market offers a diverse range of options, from large national chains to specialist flooring stores and online retailers, each with its own advantages. Finding quality laminate means looking for brands known for their performance, realistic aesthetics, and reliable warranties.
This article guides you through the best places to buy quality laminate flooring in New Zealand, ensuring you make a confident choice for your home.
1. National Flooring Chains and Specialists
These larger retailers often have extensive showrooms, a wide selection of brands, and offer comprehensive services, including installation.
- Carpet Court: As New Zealand’s most trusted and preferred flooring retailer with 63 stores nationwide, Carpet Court offers a broad range of flooring solutions, including laminate. They stock various brands and provide expert advice, design services, and professional installation, making the process seamless for homeowners. They’ve also won Reader’s Digest Quality Service Awards multiple times.
- Flooring Xtra: Another prominent national chain, Flooring Xtra, provides a wide selection of laminate flooring, including popular international brands like Quick-Step and Pergo. They offer physical samples, in-home consultations, and professional installation services. Their website allows for easy browsing and sample ordering.
- Harrisons Carpet & Flooring: While their name suggests carpet, Harrisons also offers a good range of hard flooring, including laminate. They provide mobile showrooms for in-home consultations, bringing samples directly to you, which is convenient for busy homeowners.
- The Flooring Centre: With locations in major cities like Christchurch and Auckland, The Flooring Centre offers a calculator tool online to help estimate costs and provides a range of laminate options, including brands like Godfrey Hirst and Belgotex.
2. Specialist Flooring Retailers and Distributors
These stores often focus exclusively on flooring, providing a deeper level of expertise and a curated selection of high-quality products.
- Floorco Flooring: Based in Auckland, Floorco Flooring is a distributor offering a wide range of laminate floors from world-class brands, including European-made options. They pride themselves on having over 300,000 sqm of products in stock and offer delivery nationwide. They also provide SPC and wood flooring.
- Prime Floors: A leading supplier of laminate and timber flooring in Auckland, Prime Floors stocks world-class brands from Belgium and Germany. They offer over 200 flooring styles and provide up to 30 years of warranty on their durable products. They also offer design and installation services.
- Woodland Lifestyle: This family-owned flooring supplier in New Zealand sources products that meet high standards in style and functionality. They offer various laminate collections, including their exclusive Woodland Euro Deluxe, known for being waterproof. They provide a flooring finder quiz and free samples.
- LifeStyle Flooring: Importing and distributing a wide range of flooring products, Lifestyle Flooring offers water-resistant laminate options like Atroguard, which is known for being highly scratch and pet-resistant and suitable for wet mopping. They are exclusive distributors of FirmFit and Atroguard in NZ.
- Power Dekor Flooring Limited: With a global presence and a New Zealand division established in 2013, Power Dekor offers quality laminate and wood flooring. They emphasize creating beautiful, innovative flooring and provide professional installation services.
3. Hardware and Home Improvement Stores
For DIY enthusiasts or those looking for more budget-friendly options, large hardware chains can be a convenient source.
- Bunnings Warehouse: Bunnings offers a selection of laminate flooring, including their HanWood and Floor Select brands. They are a good option for those looking to purchase and install laminate themselves, providing a range of thicknesses and styles at competitive prices.
- PlaceMakers: As a major building materials supplier, PlaceMakers also stocks laminate flooring. They cater to both trade and retail customers, offering a selection of decorative flooring options.
4. Online Retailers and Marketplaces
Online platforms offer convenience and a vast selection, often with competitive pricing.
- Trademe, Amazon, AliExpress: These marketplaces can offer a wide variety of laminate flooring, sometimes at lower prices. However, it’s crucial to be cautious about quality, verify specifications (like AC ratings), and consider shipping costs and returns policies. Always request physical samples before committing to a large order.
- Direct Websites of Suppliers: Many of the specialist retailers and distributors mentioned above also have comprehensive online stores where you can browse products, order samples, and get quotes.
Tips for Buying Quality Laminate:
- Check AC Rating: This indicates durability. For busy areas, look for AC3, AC4, or AC5.
- Water Resistance: If installing in kitchens or bathrooms, ensure the product is genuinely waterproof, not just water-resistant.
- Order Samples: Always get physical samples to see how the flooring looks in your home’s lighting and to feel the texture.
- Read Reviews: Look for customer testimonials and reviews for both the product and the retailer.
- Understand Warranty: Clarify the warranty terms, especially regarding wear and water damage.
By exploring these avenues and keeping key quality indicators in mind, you can confidently find and purchase high-quality laminate flooring that perfectly suits your New Zealand home.
