Agustin Stinson

Winter in Canada is magical, however winter is hard on flooring. Melting snow, de-icing salt, grit and low indoor humidity will wear out your flooring if you are not careful. With some simple precautions, you can protect your floors in top shape all season long.

Start at the door. Use a sturdy outdoor mat plus a soft absorbent mat inside each door. Using both stops most of the salt and VIdEo.ChIP2423.coM grit before it can scratch your flooring. Add a boot rack to make sure dripping shoes don't sit on the floor.

Before choosing a floor, check the moisture level in the slab. A quick test like taping a plastic sheet to the floor for a day or two can reveal if moisture is rising. Fix drainage issues prior to installing new flooring.

Engineered hardwood can also work for those who want a genuine wood surface. Due to its layered construction, it resists humidity changes much better than solid wood, and solid wood should generally be avoided below grade. Install it with an appropriate underlay for long-term performance.

Is hardwood an option? Yes, but be selective. Dense species such as hickory, maple and oak hold up better, and wire-brushed textures and natural grain patterns hide minor marks better than a shiny finish.

When it comes to a wood-look floor, two materials usually come up first: laminate and natural hardwood. Both can look beautiful, but they have important differences when it comes to cost, performance and maintenance.

Road salt often leaves white marks that will dull the surface of most floors. Remove salty puddles quickly using a slightly damp cloth together with a floor-specific cleaner. Stay away from soaking the floor on hardwood and laminate.

What about hardwood in these rooms? Some modern laminates can work well for kitchens, if spills are wiped up right away. Engineered hardwood can also work in kitchens with care, however in bathrooms, tile and vinyl remain the recommended options.

Ultimately, what option makes sense? When the real thing and the ability to refinish are your priority, choose hardwood. If cost, durability and easy maintenance top your list, quality laminate makes a lot of sense.

Hardwood remains a timeless option. It brings warmth that many buyers love, and it is often refinished more than once over its life. That ability means quality hardwood will last for generations. It usually boosts the value of a home in most cities.

Whatever floor you go with, pay attention to the details: sealing around fixtures, correct transitions and solid subfloor preparation. Such details make all the difference for how long the floor stays beautiful.

Luxury vinyl have quickly become a favourite for kitchens and bathrooms. Water-resistant cores mean that splashes won't damage the planks as long as you clean them up. Vinyl feels softer underfoot than ceramic, which is much appreciated in the cold season.

Today's laminate flooring has evolved dramatically. Premium laminate feature detailed photographic layers and textures that follow the grain that appear very close to real wood. The wear layer keeps it resistant to scuffs and scratches, and it comes in lower. Many laminates now include water-resistant cores.

Putting it down is generally straightforward. Click-together planks go down without glue, cutting down on both time and labour. Still, good preparation makes all the difference for a long-lasting result.

Quality laminate makes a great option. Its hard melamine surface is tough against scuffs and scratches, sometimes better than vinyl. Look for products with a high abrasion rating and good moisture protection for the best performance.

Indoor humidity also matters and is another key factor. When the furnace is running, the air in your home gets very dry, which causes hardwood to shrink and gaps to appear. A whole-house humidifier to maintain indoor humidity around 35 to 50 percent protects your wood floors as well as your furniture.

If you share your home with dogs, cats or young children, you already know that floors suffer. Pet nails, toys, spills and wet paws will stain a poorly chosen floor in a few months. Fortunately: modern floor products are made to handle everyday chaos.

If you are thinking about luxury vinyl for your next project, it is worth taking time to compare collections and see samples in person. You will find a great selection on vinyl plank flooring in Canada before making your final choice.

The biggest advantage of luxury vinyl is that many products are waterproof. Unlike natural wood, a quality vinyl plank does not swell or cup when exposed to water. It is therefore a perfect fit for wet areas like kitchens and bathrooms.

Luxury vinyl plank is often the go-to floor for basements. Most LVP collections are waterproof, so they won't be damaged if a small leak appears. Rigid core planks also bridge minor imperfections in the concrete.

Turning a basement into living space is one of the best ways to add living space and resale value to your home. However basements present special challenges: cold concrete, moisture and chilly surfaces. Choosing the wrong flooring can lead to mildew, swelling and expensive replacements.