When shopping, check the veneer thickness. A deeper veneer lets you sand it down the road, extending the life of your floor. Don’t forget to maintain humidity at a steady level with a humidifier in winter.
Finishing a basement is one of the best ways to increase the usable space and value in your house. Yet basements bring specific problems: concrete slabs, related dampness plus lower temperatures. Choosing the wrong flooring often causes mildew, swelling and expensive replacements.
This is where engineered wood really shines. Instead of using a single solid piece of wood, engineered wood is made of multiple layers: a genuine wood veneer bonded to a dimensionally stable base. That construction limits expansion and contraction.
Toughness is also a strong point. Most LVP products come with a tough top coating that resists scratches, marks and discoloration. Families with kids and pets love how little care it needs: a quick sweep and a damp mop keep it looking new.
Canadian winters is magical, however winter is hard on flooring. Melting snow, calcium chloride, sand and dry heated air can all wear out your flooring if you are not careful. With the right routine, you can protect your flooring in top shape all season long.
One important note: some vinyl and laminate products include an attached underlayment. If so, adding another underlay may cause joint failure and void the warranty. Be sure to read the installation guide.
Humidity is also critical. During the heating season, indoor air can become extremely dry, causing natural wood to shrink and small gaps to appear. A whole-house humidifier to maintain humidity around 35 to 50 percent benefits your floors as well as your furniture.
Homes in Canada experience dramatic changes in temperature and humidity from season to season. In winter, our heaters pull moisture from the air; during summer, humidity go up quickly. For natural wood, that constant movement may cause gapping, crowning and squeaks.
Salt residue leaves a white film which may etch the finish of hardwood, laminate and vinyl. Remove salt marks quickly with a slightly damp cloth and a floor-specific cleaner. Stay away from steam mops on hardwood and laminate.
The first line of defence is the entrance. Place a sturdy outdoor mat and a soft absorbent mat inside every entrance. Using both traps much of the snow and grit before it can scratch your floors. Use a boot tray so wet boots aren’t left on the floor.
What you get is simply flooring with the look identical to solid hardwood but performs better in Canadian conditions. Because it is more stable, engineered wood can often be installed in rooms where solid hardwood would struggle, like below-grade rooms and on concrete.
Installing it tends to be easier. Depending on the collection, planks can be installed as a floating floor, glued down or nailed. This versatility helps make it a go-to option for installers and families across the country.
Natural hardwood is the classic choice. It offers authentic grain that no imitation fully matches, and it is often refinished several times over its life. That ability allows a hardwood floor will last for decades. Hardwood also increases buyer appeal in most cities.
Tile remains virtually waterproof, but it tends to feel cold if you do not combine it with a heated floor system. Carpet, meanwhile, is cozy yet can trap moisture, which is why carpet tiles tend to be a better solution.
Luxury vinyl plank is widely considered the go-to floor for lower levels. Most vinyl products are water-resistant, meaning they will not swell or rot when a small leak happens. SPC and WPC planks also tolerate slight unevenness in the slab.
The biggest advantage of LVP is that many products are waterproof. Unlike solid hardwood, good vinyl flooring will not swell because of moisture. This makes it an ideal option for kitchens, bathrooms and basements.
When shopping for new floors, most of the attention goes to colour, the style and the price per square foot. However what goes under the boards is just as important. The right underlayment improves how the floor feels, sound and moisture protection, and can help your new floor perform better.
If you are considering luxury vinyl for your renovation, make sure to compare collections and look at real samples. You will find many styles on this Canadian flooring retailer before making your final choice.
A key function is to provide acoustic insulation. Floors that are not glued down may sound loud if installed directly on the subfloor. A quality underlayment reduces impact sound, which is essential in condos in which strata rules often require a minimum IIC or STC rating.
Underlayment also compensates for small irregularities in the subfloor while provides a bit of softness underfoot. Note, though, it is not a substitute for proper subfloor preparation: major unevenness must be corrected first.
Engineered hardwood is a possibility for those who want natural wood. Due to its cross-ply structure, it resists moisture swings far better than solid hardwood, which is a poor choice on concrete. Install it with a proper vapour barrier for the best results.