Road salt leaves white marks which may etch the finish of your floor. Remove salty puddles quickly with a slightly damp cloth together with a floor-specific cleaner. Never use steam mops on wood and laminate.
The cold season in Canada can be magical, yet it is hard on flooring. Slush, calcium chloride, grit and low indoor humidity can all wear out your flooring if you are not careful. With a few simple habits, you can protect your floors beautiful through the winter.
Natural hardwood is the classic choice. It brings natural character that many buyers love, and it is often sanded and refinished many times during its lifespan. That ability means quality hardwood can last a very long time. It also boosts the value of a home in most cities.
The kitchen and the bathroom are the hardest-working rooms in the house. They get water, steam, dropped dishes and daily cleaning. Your flooring choice for these rooms needs to be waterproof, tough and low maintenance while still offering good looks.
Laminate is another good contender. The hard melamine surface is tough against claw marks, sometimes better than vinyl. Look for a laminate with a high AC rating plus good moisture protection for the best performance.
Start at the door. Place a sturdy outdoor mat and a washable absorbent rug indoors the main entrances. Two mats catches most of the snow and grit before it gets to your flooring. Add a waterproof tray so dripping shoes never sit on your flooring.
Porcelain and ceramic tile stay a proven choice. Tile is extremely water-resistant, long-lasting and comes in countless designs, from wood-look planks and marble and stone looks. Look for a slip-resistant finish for safety, and think about in-floor heating for extra comfort.
What about laminate in these rooms? Water-resistant laminate can work well in kitchens, provided that spills are wiped up quickly. Wood can also be used in kitchens with care, however in full bathrooms, vinyl or tile are the better options.
That is exactly where engineered wood makes a difference. Instead of being made from a solid plank, an engineered plank is made of multiple layers: a genuine wood veneer bonded to a plywood or HDF core. The cross-layered construction reduces the natural movement of wood.
If your old floor didn’t survive past winters, it could be the right moment for something more durable. Discover flooring that can handle winter at canadafloorsdepot.com and get ready for the next snowfall.
Its first role is noise control. Floating floors can sound loud without proper underlayment. The right underlay dampens that hollow sound, which is essential in condos in which strata rules often demand minimum sound ratings.
Laying it is also easier. Depending on the product, engineered wood can be installed as a floating floor, glued and also nailed. That flexibility makes it a go-to option for renovators and families across the country.
When people shop for flooring, they tend to focus on the colour, the style and the price per square foot. Yet what goes under the floor is just as important. Quality underlay can make a big difference in how the floor feels, noise levels and moisture protection, and it helps your flooring last longer.
Laminate has improved a lot. Good laminate products feature realistic printed designs and embossed textures that look surprisingly natural. The wear layer keeps it very resistant to scratches, and it costs at a fraction of the cost of hardwood. A growing number of collections now include improved water resistance.
Houses across Canada face dramatic seasonal swings from season to season. In winter, heating systems dry out the air; in the warm months, moisture levels rise quickly. For natural wood, this cycle can cause gapping, crowning and noise.
Humidity is very important. When the furnace is running, the air in your home can become too dry, leading to natural wood to contract and cracks to appear. A humidifier keeping indoor humidity in a moderate range helps protect your floors and your comfort.
Can you still have hardwood? Absolutely, though make careful choices. Dense species such as hickory, maple and oak resist dents better, and wire-brushed textures or distressed or hand-scraped textures disguise small scratches much better than glossy floors.
If you share your home with pets and kids, you already know that floors suffer. Claws, toy cars and blocks, accidents and wet paws can scratch the wrong floor in no time. Luckily: today’s floor products are made to survive real life.
Luxury vinyl plank and tile have become the most popular choice for both rooms. Fully waterproof constructions ensure that standing water will not ruin the floor when wiped up quickly. LVP feels softer under bare feet compared to stone, Humpaki.com which is a big bonus on cold Canadian mornings.
If you are choosing wood flooring, two options typically lead the conversation: laminate and hardwood. Each of them are attractive, yet they differ a lot when it comes to price, performance and lifespan.