Hardwood flooring installation in Canada

Solid and engineered hardwood — including Canadian maple, oak, birch and hickory — adds warmth and lasting value to any home. Our experts install site-finished and prefinished floors and can sand and refinish your existing hardwood.

Hardwood flooring close-up — 03 · Hardwood

Solid Hardwood

¾″ solid planks nailed over a plywood subfloor. Can be refinished many times over decades. Best above grade in climate-controlled homes.

Engineered Hardwood

A real-wood wear layer over a stable plywood or HDF core. Handles Canadian humidity swings better than solid wood and can be installed over concrete and in basements.

Refinishing & Repairs

Bring existing floors back to life with dustless sanding, staining and durable water-based finishes.

What hardwood flooring costs installed

Typical installed prices per square foot before tax, from our provincial price guides. Every project is confirmed with a written quote after a free measure.

Province	Supply & install	Labour only
Alberta	$10–17	$3.5–7
British Columbia	$10–20	$4–8
Ontario	$9–18	$3.5–7
Manitoba	$9–16	$3.25–6.5
New Brunswick	$8–15	$3–6
Nova Scotia	$9–17	$3.25–6.5
Quebec	$8–16	$3–6
Saskatchewan	$9–16	$3.25–6.5
Newfoundland and Labrador	$10–18	$3.5–7
Northwest Territories	$13–24	$5–9.5
Nunavut	$15–28	$6–11
Prince Edward Island	$9–17	$3.25–6.5
Yukon	$12–22	$4.5–9

What to look for when buying hardwood flooring

Wear layer on engineered products

This determines how many times the floor can be refinished and is the main reason one engineered oak costs $6 per square foot and another $12. Two millimetres allows one light sanding, 4mm allows two or three, 6mm approaches solid in practical terms. A 0.6mm veneer cannot be sanded at all.

Species and grade

Red oak and maple are the Canadian baselines; white oak costs more and is currently the most requested look. Within a species, clear grades with minimal knots cost considerably more than character or rustic grades, which many people now prefer for their variation.

Plank width and length

Wider boards read more contemporary but move more with humidity, which matters in Prairie and northern homes. Longer average board length makes a floor look more expensive and reduces the busy look of many end joints.

Finish and sheen

Matte and low-sheen finishes hide scratches, dust and footprints far better than gloss and are what most Canadian homeowners now choose. Aluminium-oxide factory finishes are the most durable; site-applied water-based finishes allow a custom colour and a seamless surface.

Looking after a hardwood floor

Sweep or vacuum with a hardwood attachment and clean with a barely damp mop and a cleaner made for your finish type. Avoid steam, vinegar, oil soaps and anything abrasive. Keep indoor relative humidity between 35 and 55 percent year-round, which in most of Canada means a humidifier through the heating season. Felt pads under everything, mats at doors, and prompt wiping of spills. Recoating every seven to ten years, before the finish wears through to the wood, extends the life of the floor enormously.

Hardwood flooring installers by city

Local cost, climate notes and installers for hardwood flooring in the cities where we do the most work.

Not in one of these cities? We cover 88 cities across Canada — find yours.

Common questions

Does hardwood work with in-floor heating?

Engineered hardwood does, within manufacturer temperature limits. Solid hardwood generally is not recommended over radiant heat.

How often should hardwood be refinished?

A full sanding every fifteen to twenty-five years in a normal household. Far better is a screen and recoat every seven to ten years, at $2 to $4 per square foot, which refreshes the finish before it wears through and puts off the full sanding for decades.

Why is my new hardwood gapping?

Almost always seasonal humidity. Boards shrink in dry winter air and gap, then close again in summer. It becomes a defect only if boards cup, crown or crack permanently. A humidifier held at 35 to 40 percent substantially reduces it.

What is the difference between prefinished and site-finished?

Prefinished arrives with a factory-applied, very durable finish and is walkable immediately, but has small bevels between boards. Site-finished is sanded and coated in place for a seamless surface and a custom colour, at the cost of five to eight days of downtime.

Request a hardwood quote