New build homes in Australia almost universally have concrete slab on ground construction. This is the most installation-friendly subfloor for hard flooring — flat, stable, consistent moisture barrier. But the builder's standard floor inclusions are rarely the right product for the home you're actually building, and the window to make changes at an appropriate cost is narrow.
What builders typically include
Most volume builders include entry-level carpet in bedrooms and living areas, with basic ceramic tile in wet areas. Some upgrade packages include entry-level hybrid SPC or laminate. In almost all cases, the builder's standard inclusions are specified to a price point rather than a performance standard. The wear layer is rarely stated. The product provenance is often unclear.
This is not a criticism of builders — it's the economics of volume construction. Your job as the homeowner is to understand what you're getting and decide where to upgrade before handover.
The timing advantage of new builds
Installing flooring before you move in is the most cost-effective moment for a flooring upgrade. The slab is clear, empty, and perfectly accessible. There is no furniture to move, no existing floor to remove, no occupancy to work around. A flooring contractor can cover a 200m² house in two days with no complications. This timing advantage is worth roughly 15–25% in labour savings compared to the same job done with a family in residence.
If you're building, finalise your flooring specification before you have to make the selection — typically at a colour consultation 4–6 months before handover. If you're past that point, immediately post-handover is still an excellent time.
What to specify in a new build
The concrete slab in a new build is typically very flat and moisture-cured by handover. This enables the widest range of installation options. Our recommendations for most new build scenarios:
Living areas, hallways, open plan: Premium hybrid SPC, 0.5mm wear layer minimum, 8mm total thickness, attached IXPE underlay. Choose your colour and format to flow consistently across the home — consistent flooring throughout the ground floor makes the space feel larger and presents better at resale.
Bedrooms: Either continue the same hybrid SPC for cohesion and easy maintenance, or quality carpet (8–10mm pile, quality underlay) for comfort and acoustic benefit. Carpet in bedrooms only is an increasingly common specification that gives the warmth and comfort of carpet where it matters without the maintenance difficulty in high-traffic areas.
Alfresco and outdoor transitions: Specify your indoor floor height and tile thickness early so your builder can set the slab levels to allow a flush transition between indoor and outdoor. Fixing height mismatches post-slab is expensive.
UFH in new builds
If you are considering underfloor heating, the time to install it is during construction — before the slab is poured (for hydronic) or before the floor is laid (for electric mat). Adding UFH post-construction is significantly more expensive. If UFH is a possibility for your build, decide early and spec the appropriate flooring product accordingly.
Get a personalised new build specification using our Floor Finder.