Hydroplank is a WPC (wood-plastic composite) hybrid range we stock at The Flooring Guys, and it’s a regular pick for households that want a softer, warmer underfoot feel than SPC while still getting a fully waterproof floor. This review covers what’s in the plank, where it suits, where it doesn’t, and how it compares to other hybrid flooring brands sold in Australia.
What you’re actually buying
Hydroplank is a click-lock hybrid plank built on a WPC core with a printed timber-look wear layer and a pre-attached IXPE acoustic underlay. The WPC core is denser than laminate but a touch softer underfoot than an SPC plank, which is the trade-off most buyers are weighing when they walk into the showroom.
- WPC core, fully waterproof from top to bottom
- Pre-attached IXPE underlay (no separate foam underlay required)
- Embossed wear layer for grip and a more realistic timber feel
- Click-lock joinery, glueless install over a level subfloor
- Lifetime residential warranty and a 15-year commercial warranty
Where Hydroplank works well
Because the core is waterproof, Hydroplank suits the rooms where laminate or engineered timber would struggle: kitchens with regular spills, laundries, downstairs living on slab, and bathrooms when the silicone seal at the perimeter is done properly. The IXPE underlay knocks down step noise, which is why we’ll often suggest WPC over SPC for upstairs bedrooms and apartments where acoustics matter. It’s also a noticeably warmer floor in winter than a stone-cored plank, which counts in a Melbourne living room.
Where it doesn’t suit
WPC is softer than SPC, which is good for comfort but means it dents more easily under concentrated point loads — heavy fridge feet, piano castors, a bar stool with metal tips. We’d recommend felt pads under furniture and a chair mat in offices. Hydroplank also doesn’t love direct, baked-in sun: a north-facing room with no curtain treatment can push surface temperatures past what the core is rated for, so factor in window coverings if you’re laying it in a sunroom. As with any hybrid, the subfloor needs to be flat — high spots telegraph through and stress the click joint.
The range and colours
The Hydroplank palette covers the tones most Australian buyers ask for. Blackbutt and the Astoria oak sit in the warm-mid range and suit the bright, open-plan layouts common in newer builds. Hudson Oak is a cleaner, lighter option that pairs well with white joinery and matte-black tapware. Hamptons and Coney Island lean coastal, while Harlem brings a deeper, more dramatic floor for buyers who want contrast against pale walls.
How it compares to SPC hybrids
Hydroplank is WPC, not SPC, and that’s the practical decision most buyers are making. SPC is harder, more dimensionally stable, and a bit more dent-resistant; WPC is warmer underfoot, quieter, and more forgiving in rooms where you’ll spend a lot of time standing. Both are fully waterproof. If you’re still weighing the two, our explainer on hybrid flooring vs SPC walks through the trade-offs in more detail.
Should you buy it?
If you want a quieter, warmer hybrid that still handles wet zones, Hydroplank is a fair pick — particularly upstairs, in apartments, or in living rooms where the family spends real time on the floor. If you’re laying over a busy commercial space or you’ve got heavy point-load furniture, an SPC product may handle the punishment better. We carry Hydroplank across our Sydney and Brisbane showrooms — bring a swatch home and check it against your joinery and natural light before you commit. For a wider view of what passes the wet test, see our guide to waterproof flooring options.
Ready to shop? Browse our full waterproof hybrid range online, or drop into our Sydney or Brisbane showroom to see the range in person.