If you share your home with pets and kids, you know that floors can get damaged. Paws, toy cars and blocks, accidents and snow and slush quickly stain a delicate surface in a few months. Fortunately: current floor products are designed to stand up to real life.
A good underlay also hides minor imperfections beneath the floor and provides a little cushioning and warmth. Note, however, that cannot replace proper subfloor preparation: big height differences should be fixed before installation.
Road salt leaves a white film which may damage the finish of your floor. Clean salty puddles quickly using a slightly damp cloth together with a floor-specific cleaner. Never use soaking the floor on hardwood and laminate.
Ultimately, what option should you choose? If the real thing and refinishing potential are your priority, go with hardwood. If budget, scratch resistance and easy maintenance top your list, quality laminate makes a lot of sense.
Canadian winters can be picturesque, but they are tough on floors. Slush, road salt, gravel and dry indoor air will damage your floors over time. With a few simple habits, you can keep your flooring in top shape through the winter.
Luxury vinyl plank is widely considered the go-to floor for lower levels. Several LVP collections are fully waterproof, so they will not be damaged when a small leak shows up. Rigid-core planks also bridge slight unevenness in the concrete.
Canadian homes go through significant seasonal swings from season to season. In winter, our heaters dehydrate indoor air; in the warm months, moisture levels rise sharply. For wood flooring, these changes can cause cracks, crowning and noise.
When you are deciding on wood flooring, two materials almost always come up first: laminate and natural hardwood. Both can be beautiful, however they are very different when it comes to price, durability and long-term value.
High-quality laminate is another strong option. Its hard melamine surface is tough against claw marks, in many cases better than vinyl. Select a laminate with a high AC rating and good moisture protection for families with pets.
When shopping for new floors, most of the attention goes to the colour, style and the price per square foot. But what lies beneath the boards plays an equally important role. The right underlayment can make a big difference in how the floor feels, sound and protection against moisture, while it helps your new floor last longer.
One of its main jobs is noise control. Floating floors can sound hollow if installed directly on the subfloor. A quality underlayment absorbs that hollow sound, which is essential in apartments and condos in which condo boards often set minimum sound ratings.
A final tip: some vinyl and laminate products already have a built-in underlay. When that is the case, doubling up can create movement and void the warranty. Always follow the manufacturer’s instructions.
Moisture levels also matters and is another key factor. When the furnace is running, indoor air often becomes very dry, causing natural wood to shrink and gaps to appear. A whole-house humidifier to maintain indoor humidity in a moderate range benefits your wood floors as well as your health.
The first line of defence is the entrance. Place a sturdy outdoor mat and an absorbent mat inside the main entrances. This combination traps the majority of the snow and grit before it can scratch the rest of the house. Set up a boot rack so snowy boots aren’t left on your flooring.
That is where engineered wood makes a difference. Rather than using a single solid piece of wood, engineered wood consists of several layers: a genuine wood veneer glued over a plywood or HDF core. The cross-layered construction minimizes expansion and contraction.
Today’s laminate flooring has improved a lot. High-quality laminate uses high-definition images and embossed textures that appear remarkably realistic. The protective surface makes it resistant to scratches, and it costs less. A growing number of collections now include better moisture protection.
Ceramic and porcelain tile is virtually waterproof, but it feels cold underfoot unless you add a heated floor system. Carpet, meanwhile, adds comfort yet may hold moisture, so rugs over a hard floor tend to be a more practical choice.
Before buying, pay attention to the thickness of the wear layer. A deeper veneer lets you sanding and refinishing down the road, extending its lifespan. Also keep indoor humidity in a stable range for best results.
Is hardwood an option? It is possible, though be selective. Dense species such as hickory, maple and oak are more resistant, and low-sheen finishes or distressed or hand-scraped textures camouflage everyday wear much better than a shiny finish.
Turning a basement into living space is one of the best ways to increase the usable space and value to your home. However lower levels come with unique challenges: concrete slabs, url humidity plus colder floors. A poor flooring choice often causes mold, swelling and costly repairs.