Best Flooring for Canadian Homes

Guide · Flooring for Canadian homes · Toronto, Vaughan, Markham, Brampton and the GTA · Reading time about 7 minutes

There is no single best floor. The best floor is the one that fits how each room gets used.

Hardwood is the choice homeowners most often prefer in the surveys we found, but it is not the right answer for every room. A kitchen, an entry and a basement take water and wear that a living room does not. Tile and water-resistant vinyl handle those rooms well. Hardwood and engineered wood are warm and refinishable in the rooms where wear is lighter. This guide gives you the data we could verify, the room-by-room match, and a short quiz to find the right floor for each space.

What do the surveys say about flooring?

A Houzz survey of US and Canadian homeowners found hardwood was the most preferred flooring, chosen 34% of the time. Tile came next at 23%, then carpet at 18% and engineered wood at 13%. That is a preference survey of design-minded homeowners, not a count of what is installed. Our research did not find a current Canadian-only survey of flooring preferences.

In new US homes, a 2016 Home Innovation report found that carpet was still the most installed material, with solid hardwood and ceramic tile close behind. Its trend was clear: solid and engineered hardwood were gaining share. Laminate had been losing share since 2009, according to a 2014 consumer survey.

Which floor fits which room?

The room decides the floor. A kitchen and an entry see water and grit every day. A living room sees foot traffic and furniture. A basement can be cold and damp. Match the floor to the room, and you get a floor that lasts and looks right.

Why do people choose hardwood?

Hardwood is warm underfoot, it looks good in most styles, and it can be refinished. Solid hardwood and engineered wood are the two most common choices. Engineered wood handles changes in humidity better, which matters in a home with a furnace in winter. Hardwood is a strong choice for living rooms, bedrooms and hallways where water is not a daily problem.

When is tile the better choice?

Tile is the floor for wet rooms. It handles water, grease and heavy cleaning, and it stays cool in summer. It is hard underfoot, so it suits a kitchen where you stand for long periods with a rug or mat. Grout needs care, so choose a grout that resists stains.

Is vinyl a good choice now?

Vinyl has changed a lot. The 2014 consumer survey noted that laminate’s share kept falling, while the growth came from luxury vinyl tile rather than older sheet vinyl. Water-resistant vinyl plank is a practical choice for kitchens, entries and basements, and it is softer and quieter underfoot than tile.

What about basements and damp rooms?

Damp rooms need a floor that does not hold moisture. Health Canada advises keeping indoor humidity between 30% and 50%, and using a dehumidifier in damp areas such as basements. Pick a floor made for moisture, such as tile or water-resistant vinyl, and keep the room dry. A floor is only as good as the room under it.

Where does carpet still fit?

Carpet is still the most installed material in the US new-home data, and it is warm and quiet. It fits bedrooms and rooms where comfort matters more than cleaning. Choose a carpet with a pad suited to the room, and keep it away from kitchens, entries and basements.

How do you keep a floor looking good?

Most floors fail through daily grit and standing water, not through big accidents. Grit scratches hardwood and wears tile grout, so a door mat at each entry and a regular sweep make a visible difference. Wipe up spills as they happen, especially near the sink, the dishwasher and the fridge. Follow the care guide that comes with the product you choose, because cleaners that suit one floor can dull another.

What should you ask before you buy a floor?

1. Is this floor made for the room I am putting it in?
2. How does it handle water and humidity, and what does the warranty say about them?
3. Can it be refinished or repaired, and how?
4. What is the wear layer or the surface warranty for this product?
5. Will the installer confirm the subfloor is ready before the new floor goes down?

A clear answer to each question is a sign of a floor you can live with. A vague answer is a reason to ask again or look elsewhere. Write the answers down, and keep them with the sample so you can compare floors side by side.

Bring a sample of each floor into the room where it will go, and look at it at the time of day you use the room most. Light changes the colour of every floor, and a sample that looks right at noon can look different in the evening.

Which flooring myths should I ignore?