Hardwood, Engineered, Laminate or Vinyl Plank: Choosing the Right Floor
A room-by-room guide to the four most popular floor types — how they wear, where they work best and what each one needs underneath.
The best floor for your home depends less on fashion and more on three questions: which room is it for, what is underneath, and how will the space be used? Here is how the four floors we install most often compare.
Solid hardwood
Solid wood can be sanded and refinished many times, which gives it the longest potential life. It moves with humidity, so it suits above-grade rooms with stable conditions — living rooms, dining rooms and bedrooms.
Engineered hardwood
A real wood wear layer over a stable plywood core. It handles humidity changes better than solid wood, comes in wider planks and can go over concrete — a strong choice for condos and main floors.
Laminate
A photographic wood look over a dense fibreboard core with a tough wear layer. Laminate is scratch-resistant and budget-friendly, but standing water can swell the core, so we discuss bathrooms and entries carefully.
Vinyl plank (LVP)
Waterproof, warm underfoot and forgiving, vinyl plank is our go-to recommendation for basements, kitchens and rental units.
Quick comparison
- Basements: vinyl plank
- Kitchens: vinyl plank or engineered hardwood
- Living areas: hardwood or engineered hardwood
- Bedrooms: any — choose by budget and feel
Don’t forget the subfloor
Every floor is only as good as what is under it. Levelling, fixing squeaks and checking moisture are part of every flooring estimate we prepare.
Questions & answers
How long should flooring acclimatize?
It depends on the product. We follow the manufacturer’s instructions, which for wood is often several days in the room it will be installed in.
Can new flooring go over old flooring?
Sometimes — vinyl plank can often go over sound, flat tile. Carpet and soft or uneven floors need to be removed first.
