One important note: many planks come with a built-in underlay. When that is the case, adding another underlay can create problems and cancel your warranty. Be sure to follow the manufacturer’s instructions.
Underlayment can also compensates for small irregularities beneath the floor while adds some softness underfoot. Remember, however, it cannot replace proper subfloor preparation: major unevenness must be fixed beforehand.
Everything starts at the entrance. Put a sturdy outdoor mat plus an absorbent mat inside every entrance. This combination catches most of the snow and grit before it can scratch your floors. Set up a boot rack to make sure snowy boots don’t sit on your flooring.
Ultimately, which floor makes sense? When long-term value and refinishing potential matter most, consider engineered or solid hardwood. When cost, durability and low upkeep are more important, quality laminate makes a lot of sense.
Before you buy, always see samples in the actual room. Tones may appear very different in natural light. If you want helpful advice and a large selection of floors for every room, check out canadafloorsdepot.com and start planning your project today.
Choosing a new floor is one of the biggest decisions you will make during a home renovation. Across Canada, the decision is especially critical because our interiors need to handle cold, dry winters, muggy summers, melting snow and de-icing salt carried in from outside.
When planning a flooring project, they tend to focus on colour, style and the price per square foot. Yet what you put under the boards plays an equally important role. A good underlayment can make a big difference in how the floor feels, noise levels and moisture protection, while can help your new floor stay beautiful for years.
Moisture levels is also another key factor. When the furnace is running, the air inside gets too dry, causing hardwood to contract and cracks to form. Using a humidifier keeping humidity around 35 to 50 percent protects your floors and your health.
Laminate has evolved a lot. Premium laminate use detailed photographic layers and textured surfaces that look very close to real wood. Its tough top layer makes it highly resistant to scratches, and it comes in at a fraction of the cost of hardwood. A growing number of laminates now include improved water resistance.
Buyers notice floors immediately. Dated carpet, scuffed floors or mismatched flooring give a signal that the property needs work. Meanwhile, beautiful updated floors helps make a property feel clean and modern, which can help it sell faster.
Natural hardwood is the classic choice. It brings natural character that is hard to copy, and it can be sanded and refinished more than once over the decades. Being able to refinish it means a hardwood floor to last for generations. It usually increases the value of a home across Canada.
Moisture control is also a major benefit, especially on concrete slabs. A concrete slab may release humidity for years, so an underlay with a built-in vapour barrier helps protect wood-based floors from swelling.
De-icing salt often leaves a white film which may damage the finish of hardwood, laminate and vinyl. Wipe up salt marks quickly using a damp microfibre mop and a pH-neutral cleaner. Never use soaking the floor on wood and Full Survey laminate.
Seasonal change also plays an important role. Traditional solid wood expands and contracts between seasons, which means it is best installed with proper acclimatization and controlled humidity. Engineered hardwood offers the beauty of real wood with much better resistance to movement, which makes it a smart option for Canadian homes.
Continuity also counts. A patchwork of different floors throughout the house often makes rooms feel choppy. Installing one continuous floor through the main living areas produces a sense of flow that looks great in listing photos.
One of its main jobs is to provide noise control. Floors that are not glued down often sound noisy without proper underlayment. The right underlay dampens footstep noise, something that is especially useful in multi-storey homes where building rules frequently require a minimum IIC or STC rating.
If you plan to put your house on the market in the near future, or even if you are looking to refresh your living space, updating your floors ranks among the most effective renovations to consider. Floors take up nearly the entire surface of your home, so they have a huge impact on how buyers feel.
If you are choosing a classic wood look, two materials almost always lead the conversation: laminate flooring and natural hardwood. Both can look attractive, however they are very different when it comes to price, performance and maintenance.
Can you use laminate in a kitchen or bathroom? Water-resistant laminate can work well for kitchens, if water is cleaned up quickly. Engineered hardwood can also be used in a kitchen with caution, but in bathrooms, vinyl or tile remain the safer choices.