Hardwood floors are the best option for people looking to bring something natural inside their homes or commercial areas. Its sleek and organic look makes you happy every time you see it, plus it has the durability and timelessness you always wanted.

Also, it is best for the areas like Toronto, where you can experience extreme weather because of its sustainability. So, if you are thinking about installing engineered wood flooring in Toronto, this guide is everything you will need to get started.

What Is Hardwood Flooring?

As the name speaks about it, the hardwood floor is made of solid or engineered hardwood planks that are installed together over the subfloors. These have been famous for a long time for their longevity and sleek designs.

What Is Hardwood Flooring Made Of?

Hardwood floors are made of different wood species. All of them have their own specific and unique features.

• Oak
• Cherry
• Walnut
• Maple
• Ash
• Mahogany
• Bamboo
• Jarrah
• Teak

There are more options available too, but these are suggested by every flooring expert as they serve all of your basic purposes.

However, if you want something extra, then you can contact flooring experts, and they will tell you about more options.

Board Types

Two mainboard types are used for hardwood flooring. One is a solid hardwood floor, and the other is an engineered hardwood floor.

Engineered Hardwood

The name speaks for itself. Engineered refers to something that came as a result of some sort of scientific experiment done by human labor, and when you connect hardwood with it, it makes everything clearer.

Engineered hardwood is simply a product of different hardwood board layers attached together. The upper layer is usually cheaper, such as plywood or other solid hardwood types.

This hardwood option is perfect for people who are tight on the budget and want a great appearance for their homes.

Benefits

• It is cost-effective
• Easier to instal

Drawback

The only drawback of this floor is that it might not be as attractive as solid hardwood is. Why? Because it contains different layers that make the structure slightly unattractive.

Solid Hardwood

Solid hardwood is a type of board that comes directly from solid wood. The thickness of this material varies, but majorly, it is about ¾ inch in thickness. Solid hardwood is permanently attached to the subfloor that is plywood or any related material.

Benefits

• It can be permanently affixed over the subfloor.
• It can be refinished as much as needed.
• Unique texture
• Wood-like appearance

Drawbacks

• It can contract or expand according to the temperature.

For instance, in areas like Toronto, it can cause these problems where it wouldn’t hold a stable structure, causing gaps or other issues.

So, if you are getting it installed in the areas like Toronto, flooring experts should know that they must leave gaps in the corners for expansion and contraction. Elsewhere, it can cost you more money.

• Likewise, this is more likely to absorb wetness that causes teardowns.
• Harder to install

Finishing Types

There are two types for the finishing of floors. One is site-finished, and the second is factory-finished. Let’s have a look at the properties of both and which one would fit better with your needs.

Site Finished

This type is unique and allows you to choose from an array of design options that would not look odd at all. However, you need expert craftsmanship to install site-finished floors because they require experience and perfect skills, as there are many chances of errors when dealing with this kind of flooring option. These are durable, unique, and easy to maintain or clean.

On the other hand, these can be harmful to the environment because of the use of volatile chemicals. Likewise, they need time to dry out, which could require a lot of time. So, you need to wait before adding any furniture.

Benefits

• Easy to clean
• Comes in many styles
• Unique
• Durable

Drawbacks

• Require extreme craftsmanship to install
• Non-environmental friendly
• Require days or weeks to dry out.

Factory Finished

This is a sustainable and cheaper option for people looking for rapid results. So, you can never go wrong with factory-finished floors.

These floors have zero percent chemical odors, and dust accompanies during the installation or after the process.

Unlike site-finished floors, they do not require extreme craftsmanship, but newbies can also install them. This makes them a better option for people only looking for fast results.

However, they do not have the perfectly smooth texture which you get from site-finished floors because they leave small gaps between the planks. It also makes them harder to clean or maintain.

Benefits

• It is a cheaper option
• More sustainable and eco-friendly
• No bad odor
• Fast and easy to install

Drawbacks

• Leaves small gaps between planks
• Do not have the smoothest structure

The Bottom Line

The temperature of Toronto is harsh and mostly cold, so it would be better for the people there to consider the advice from experts before their final selection. The dry weather contracts the hardwood, which might be a problem for you in the future. Likewise, you also need to consider how many times you can sand and refinish your flooring option.

We will suggest using engineered hardwood in a cold climate because it is less likely to contract or absorb humidity, unlike solid hardwood.

FAQ’s

What Type Of Hardwood Flooring Is Best?

It depends on whether you are looking for durability or texture. For instance, Ebony or cherry serve as the most durable options.

What is the cheapest hardwood flooring?

Pine is the cheapest hardwood floorings at this time. The price can vary from $1.50 to $5 per sq foot in different states. There are also less costly options that are slightly expensive than pine-like oak or American cherry.

What are the problems with hardwood floors?

Hardwood floors are not fixed and can contract or expand according to the temperature. For instance, in drier times, they might show gaps in between their planks.

Is hardwood suitable for floors?

Overall, it is a good flooring option because it allows you to get that natural look while having durability and prolonged life. It also helps you choose from many style options, so it is a good flooring.

How can I make my wooden floor less cold?

People living in cold areas like Toronto, often feel cold feet with hardwood floors. So, the best option to make hardwood less cold would be installing radiant heating or using any area rug. Also In Toronto Vinyl flooring is a good choice for cold temperature

Need more help? Reach Out now

If you are still worried about choosing the best option, then please feel free to reach out to us, and our expert team at Tycan Flooring will guide you in choosing the option that suits all your needs.

Whether you are upgrading your home’s look to a whole new level or just changing the floor, you might be confused about choosing the floor. It can be not easy, but here you will see two primarily used flooring options that you can pick from.

Laminate or Vinyl? Both of them have a few significant differences like moisture, core, maintenance, and much more. The following properties of both flooring options will tell about their key differences, and you can choose wisely according to your budget, needs, and other concerns. But first, let’s talk about their structure.

Vinyl Flooring Structure

If we look at the vinyl flooring, it looks like a single-layered solid object, but there are mainly four layers with every Vinyl plank. Here’s how it is divided

1. The top layer is clear and see-through, just like a photogenic layer
2. The second layer is a thick core below the photogenic layer.
3. The third layer is made of foam, used for cushioning.

Laminate Flooring Structure

Laminate flooring has more layers than a Vinyl floor. It is composed of five layers, and they all come with their own features. Here’s a complete structure of these layers

1. The top layer is photogenic (just as same as the vinyl)
2. The second layer is thin and is impact-resistant. This layer is followed by high-density fiberboard or HDF.
3. The lowest layer is also soft and usually made of foam for cushioning.

Which One Is Better?

Cost Comparison

Vinyl Flooring

Vinyl floors are usually around $1 per square foot for simple and glue-down sheets. However, these prices can be more if you are choosing luxury vinyl plank flooring in Vaughan & Toronto, and they can easily cost you around $5 per square foot. This makes them unpredictable because their rates also keep moving up and down according to their quality.

Laminate Flooring

The price for this one also moves according to the rigidness. For instance, if you are going for a 7mm thick plate, it is $1 per square foot, but a 10mm thick plate can cost you $5.

Cost Winner

Both of them are roughly comparable in price. They both are less expensive than natural hardwood and many other types of flooring.

Installation

Vinyl

Vinyl installation is the easiest of all. Many vinyl types can be glued to the subfloors, or they can be laid loose. On the other hand, the gluing method is done with a sticky liquid attaching it to the sub-floors. However, in loose-lay, planks are attached side-to-side and are not glued with sub-floor.

Laminate

Laminate flooring is a type of floating floor. Laminate planks are attached side to side, and the wight and friction sustain them from moving forward or backward. In this way, they do not lose their original position.

The easiest one: Tied because vinyl has two installation methods, whereas laminate has a single one.

Side Note: If you are getting it installed, please be sure that you don’t take the measurements yourself because you can experience different DIY measurement failures.

Looks

Laminate

Precisely, the Laminate floor gives a more realistic wood look because the core layer is thin and followed by high-density fiber. So, you can opt for laminate if you only want looks to be the major reason for your decision.

Vinyl

Every vinyl doesn’t look so real because they are made of a thin layer of the image inside a photo layer. However, you can opt for better image quality for a better and more realistic appearance.

Winner of looks: Laminate

Eminence And Life-Span

Laminate

The life-span of this flooring depends upon maintenance and cleaning. However, they can easily stand for 10 to 25 years. So, if we talk about structure, it has pretty good eminence.

Vinyl

Vinyl flooring roughly ranges up to 20 years.

Winner for life-span: Tied

Environment Impact And Resilience

Laminate

The laminate floor is fragile to water because its core is made of wood. So, it is better to keep it away from water and only limit it to dry places. Having a wood-core makes it less impactful for the environment; however, there is still a little plastic used, so you can not expect a hundred percent eco-friendly material.

Vinyl

Vinyl flooring is waterproof from its top layer to down. This is so because all the edges and layers are made of plastic-type material. However, this has a bad impact on the environment, and as we know, plastic is hard to recycle.

Winner: Tied

Resale Worth

Vinyl Flooring

Vinyl flooring is considered as floors with low resale value. Although, there are other vinyl floors entering the market, making them better at returning resale.

Laminate Flooring

High-quality laminate is not better at resale value than solid hardwood and engineered wood, but it competes with vinyl and gives higher resale value.

Winner: Laminate

Which One To Choose?

It mostly depends on personal preference, I.e., style and cost, but there are other things to consider. The cost is the same for both, but the only significant difference is you have to use them for different functions. For instance, laminate cannot be used for a bathroom because it is not fully waterproof, and vinyl is a better option, but for entire house flooring, laminate is a better option because it offers a range of different choices.

If you are still confused, feel free to get in touch with our Flooring Contractors in Scarborough, and they will guide you.

YouTube, Pinterest, and reality television have made it easy for homeowners to get caught up in the growth of do-it-yourself (DIY) home remodeling. Although some DIY homeowners may believe they can do it themselves, one thing to keep in mind is that reality versus reality TV is two different things.

Even though DIY flooring products tend to be more cost-effective and, in some ways, more marketable than professional installations, they can still be installed by professionals in many cases.

A manufacturer is always looking for new ways to make its products easier to install, both for professionals as well as DIY customers. A marketing department, whose primary purpose is to sell the company’s products, is one part of the business.

Meanwhile, if [the manufacturer] has a technical department, they receive a large number of calls explaining proper installation techniques.”

Flooring Issues You May Run Into

Failures during flooring installation can be time-consuming and expensive. Many people prefer to do their home projects over hiring a contractor because DIY projects are cheaper and seem complicated.

Despite the appearance of ease, it is more difficult than it is, and many times the hosts of these show incorrectly install products. Purchasing low-priced products online can present a concern also because the products do not usually come with warranties.

In many cases, DIY consumers fail to realize the level of skill and tools required to properly install a vinyl floor. Approximately 1,000 dollars are spent by many [flooring professionals] on a proper installation.

Although some products have been made DIY-friendly, these products turn into claims for the manufacturer when they are installed professionally.

Why Are DIYers Unaware?

The majority of DIYers are unaware that hardwood floors cause moisture. It’s important to know that TV and social media platforms rarely talk about how moisture or lack of it affects wood flooring.

In addition, the layout and start point of the flooring are also common mistakes made by consumers. The biggest problem is knowing how to prepare the floor and then install the flooring. Some people might start and notice that the floor is crooked towards the wall, or that they have tiny cuts that are visible too.

Incorrect Measurement

Do you know the old proverb, “Measure twice, and cut once?”? This saying, I believe, has wisdom. Improper measurements can cause a wide range of problems. You might not be able to fit the cabinetry. Paint may run out. Purchasing additional plywood may be necessary due to plywood miscuts.

Conclusively, problems don’t just come from big mistakes; tiny mismeasurements can also cause problems. With the correct measurement tools, be sure to take careful measurements.

Besides measurement tape, you may also need framing squares, levels, straight edges, or digital measurement devices to take the most accurate measurements. Take your time to ensure you get those precise measurements by selecting the right tool for the job.

Is There A Simple Way To Fix A DIY Floor Problem?

Glue Is Not a Quick Fix. Get A Professional to Replace the Flooring.

Trying to do it yourself would set you up for failure and further problems in the future. If you have damaged boards, you should immediately replace them and use moisture barriers to prevent excessive moisture buildup.

CONTACT FOR FLOORING SOLUTIONS

We at Tycon Flooring are happy to assist you with floating floor installation or repair in Toronto. Get in touch with us today.

 

If you’re installing wooden floors (or wood-like flooring), you may find it an easy DIY project to one that requires some carpentry skills as well. As an example, some types, such as Lyptus Flooring, lock together without fasteners like laminate flooring.

Solid hardwood and engineered floors are the most difficult to install. Normally, a special flooring nailer is used to attach it, and it is sanded and finished with a drum-type sander. Unless you have done this before, sanding a wood floor can be a tricky process, which is why you should hire a professional, even if you decide to lay and finish the floor yourself.

Floor Installation Problems At Their Most Basic:

DIYers favor floating floors because they are simple and fast to install without special tools. Rather than being nailed down, these panels are held together by their weight, friction between the floor and sub-controls, and/or their snap-together joints.

Installing Hardwood: Four Problems

Hardwood floors are not fixed to the floor and can develop four different types of problems: chipping, warping, buckling, and mildew.

• Chipping

The majority of hardwood floors are made from thin materials, making them less substantial flooring options and prone to chipping during installation when a mallet and tapping block is used.

Additionally, this can result in dents and mars. You can also create chips by sweeping the hardwood floor with a beater-bar attachment on your vacuum.

• Warping & Buckling

If hardwood floors aren’t installed with the necessary moisture barrier, accumulated moisture from water vapor or water damage can cause edge-warping and buckling. Water from the surface also can cause warping and buckling of hardwood floors. Hardwood floors are commonly affected by this issue.

• Peaking

Our third hardwood floor problem, peaking, is caused by two laminate floorboards being forced together by pressure, causing them to rise at their seams or joints, resulting in a high spot.

There is usually not enough space between the floor and the walls and moldings to allow for expansion. You can fix the problem by removing the molding and cutting away a portion of the flooring to relieve pressure on the floor. Put a new molding in place.

• Mildew & Mold

A hardwood floor with a strong, musty odor typically has mold or mildew growing on it due to an excessively damp environment.

Before installing a hardwood floor, be sure to check for mold and mildew, eradication, and the installation of a moisture barrier that inhibits the growth of mildew and mold.

Installation Of Wood Floors: Is It Difficult?

Installation of solid hardwood floors is the most challenging. If you haven’t done sanding before, you might want to hire out the process even if you plan on finishing the floor yourself since the smoothness of sanding can make or break the look of your floor.

Installation Services For Hardwood Floors:

At Tycan Flooring, we specialize in hardwood floor installation. We’re here to help you choose, design, install, and finish hardwood flooring, which will improve the aesthetics of any space and last for years to come.

Get in touch with us today if you are interested in having hardwood flooring installed in Toronto.

 

As the name suggests, solid wood flooring is made of solid wood throughout its thickness. In general, it is made of hardwood, such as oak, maple, or walnut. The primary advantage is that if sanded and refinished numerous times over its lifetime, it will continue to last.

Although engineered wood flooring appears similar on the surface, it is made from a relatively thin layer of hardwood bonded over a substrate of high-quality plywood.

Most engineered hardwoods can be sanded and refinished only once since the hardwood layer is relatively thin. The benefits of each kind of wood flooring are similar; your choice depends on your value for each type.

Engineered wood vs Hardwood Flooring

Hardwood species usually come in long planks, which are solid wood floors. During the manufacturing process, it has tongues and grooves on opposite edges, which allow them to fit together when installed. It is always nailed into the subfloor, which requires some skill. Due to its solid wood construction, this flooring can be sanded and refinished multiple times throughout its life.

Despite its similarity to solid hardwood, engineered wood flooring is constructed using a thin layer of hardwood that is bonded over a thick layer of plywood, delivering excellent stability. In addition to being less expensive and easier to install than hardwood flooring, an engineered wood floor usually lasts between 25 and 30 years.

Physical Appearance

Hardwood Flooring

Compared to engineered hardwood flooring, solid hardwood flooring boards tend to be narrow. There are a lot of color and species selections with solid hardwood flooring versus engineered hardwood flooring. Solid hardwood is available in both prefinished and unfinished forms.

Hardwood Engineered Flooring

When it comes to engineered hardwood floors, the floorboards tend to be wider. Some engineered hardwood floors come with slightly beveled edges, resulting in slight grooves in the boards, while solid hardwood floors generally have very tight seams between boards.

Hardwood flooring crafted from engineered wood is almost always prefinished, and the available species and colors are fewer than those of solid wood.

Which One Has The Best Appearance? Tie

It truly comes down to personal preference when it comes to hardwood flooring.

Maintainability And Durability

The Hardwood

Solid hardwoods are better for this application since they can be sanded down and refinished several times.

Engineered Hardwood

It is possible to refinish engineered hardwood up to two times before the surface hardwood layer is worn away.

Solid hardwood is durable and easy to maintain

It is easy to sand and refinishes solid hardwood floors several times throughout their lifespans.

Prefinished floors are the most durable because a hard finish is applied by the manufacturer. It’s a good idea to renew the surface varnish coat of wood floors once or twice a year.

Setup

The solid hardwood

Hardwood flooring is installed with tongue-and-groove, in which boards are blind-nailed to the subfloor down through the tongues at the edges of the boards.

Engineered Hardwood

In addition to the nail-down installation method used for solid hardwood, engineered wood can be installed as a ‘floating floor’ with “click-lock” edges. Engineered wood can also be glued to concrete subfloors. Installing engineered wood flooring is easier for DIYers.

Install Engineered Hardwood for best results

For DIYers, engineered hardwood that is click-locked or glued down makes it easier to work with than solid hardwood that is nailed down.

Contact Us As A Solution!

In the past, engineered wood floors were considered a cheap imitation of solid wood floors, but their quality has improved over time. Some people prefer solid hardwood flooring over engineered wood flooring because of its lower cost and ease of installation, but for others, engineered wood flooring wins out.

Lastly, engineered wood utilizes less hardwood, a feature that appeals to environmentalists.

Tycon Flooring specializes in hardwood flooring installation, and we also sell engineered wood flooring. We offer high-end products at an incredibly low price. Contact us today to learn more.

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