Flooring 101: Everything You Need to Know Before Choosing and Installing Floors

Flooring is one of the biggest visual decisions you'll make when building or renovating a home.

It's also one of the hardest-working materials in the house.

Kids run across it. Dogs scratch it. Boots bring in water and sand. Chairs scrape across it. Appliances sit on it. Sunlight hits it every day.

And unlike a paint colour you can change over a weekend, replacing flooring throughout an entire house is expensive and disruptive.

So while colour and style matter, there's a much bigger question:

Is this actually the right flooring for the way you live?

Welcome to Flooring 101.

Here's what you need to know before ordering thousands of dollars worth of flooring for your home.

Start With Your Lifestyle — Not Pinterest

Before choosing a floor, think about the people who are actually going to live on it.

Do you have:

• Dogs?

• Young children?

• A busy entry?

• Beach or lake access?

• Snowy winters?

• Lots of entertaining?

• Rental tenants?

• Radiant floor heating?

• A basement?

• Large windows and lots of sunlight?

The beautiful wide-plank floor you saw online might look incredible.

But if you're constantly worried about someone walking across it with wet boots, it may not be the right floor for your house.

The best flooring is flooring you can actually live on.

Understand Your Main Flooring Options

There is no single “best” flooring.

Every material has advantages and disadvantages.

Solid Hardwood

Solid hardwood is exactly what it sounds like: flooring milled from solid wood.

It can be beautiful, natural and timeless.

One of its biggest advantages is longevity. Depending on the product, installation and condition, hardwood can potentially be refinished in the future.

Advantages

• Natural appearance

• Long lifespan

• Can often be refinished

• Adds warmth and character

• Many species and finishes available

Things to Consider

Wood responds to moisture and humidity.

It can expand, contract, gap, cup or move as environmental conditions change.

It's also generally more expensive than many alternatives and may require more careful maintenance.

If you want a completely flawless floor that never changes, natural hardwood may test your patience.

If you appreciate the character of real wood, those variations can be part of its beauty.

Engineered Hardwood

Engineered hardwood has become extremely popular.

Instead of being one solid piece of wood, it's manufactured in layers with a real wood wear layer on top.

The layered construction can provide greater dimensional stability than traditional solid hardwood.

Advantages

• Real wood appearance

• Wide range of styles

• Often more dimensionally stable than solid hardwood

• Can work well in many modern construction applications

• Some products are compatible with radiant heating

Things to Consider

Not all engineered hardwood is created equal.

Look at:

• Overall thickness

• Wear-layer thickness

• Core construction

• Finish

• Warranty

• Installation method

• Manufacturer requirements

Some higher-quality engineered products may be refinished.

Others have such a thin wear layer that refinishing isn't practical.

Don't judge engineered flooring only by the sample's colour.

Understand what you're actually buying.

Luxury Vinyl Plank — LVP

Luxury vinyl plank has become incredibly common because it offers durability and relatively easy maintenance at a more accessible price point than many hardwood products.

Modern LVP can also look surprisingly convincing.

Advantages

• Water resistant or waterproof depending on the product

• Durable

• Easy to clean

• Good for busy households

• Often less expensive than hardwood

• Large selection of colours and styles

• DIY-friendly products are available

Things to Consider

Quality varies enormously.

Cheap vinyl flooring and premium vinyl flooring are not the same product.

Look at the construction, wear layer, locking system, warranty and manufacturer specifications.

Also remember that “waterproof flooring” does not mean:

“My entire floor assembly is now waterproof.”

Water can still travel around the edges, underneath flooring and into walls or subfloor assemblies.

Laminate

Laminate flooring has also improved significantly.

It generally uses a manufactured core with a printed decorative surface and protective wear layer.

It can provide the appearance of wood at a relatively affordable price.

Advantages

• Affordable

• Many design options

• Durable surface

• Relatively easy installation

• Good value for many projects

Things to Consider

Water resistance varies by product.

Traditional laminate can be vulnerable to moisture, although newer products may offer significantly improved water resistance.

As always, read the actual manufacturer's specifications rather than relying only on marketing language.

Tile

Tile is one of the best options for areas exposed to water.

It's commonly used in:

• Bathrooms

• Showers

• Entries

• Mudrooms

• Laundry rooms

• Kitchens

• Mechanical areas

Porcelain tile is particularly popular because of its durability and relatively low water absorption.

Tile also works extremely well with many radiant floor-heating systems.

The Downside?

Tile is hard.

Drop a glass and you know what's happening.

It's also unforgiving if the substrate underneath isn't prepared properly.

A beautiful tile installation starts under the tile.

Natural Stone

Marble, limestone, slate, travertine and other natural stones can create spectacular floors.

But natural stone isn't the same as porcelain tile.

Different stones can have different requirements for:

• Sealing

• Maintenance

• Cleaning

• Stain resistance

• Installation

• Substrate preparation

If you're considering natural stone, understand the maintenance before falling in love with the sample.

Flooring Prices Can Be Deceptive

One flooring might cost $4 per square foot.

Another might cost $12.

That doesn't necessarily mean the finished floor costs exactly three times as much.

You need to think about installed cost.

That can include:

• Flooring

• Underlay

• Adhesive

• Fasteners

• Subfloor preparation

• Levelling

• Moisture mitigation

• Installation labour

• Baseboards

• Transitions

• Stair nosings

• Delivery

• Waste

• Removal of existing flooring

• Disposal

A cheap flooring product that requires extensive floor preparation may end up costing considerably more than expected.

Always compare the complete installed price.

Your Subfloor Matters

This is one of the most important flooring lessons.

Your finished floor is only as good as what's underneath it.

Depending on the home, the substrate might be:

• Plywood

• OSB

• Concrete

• Existing flooring

• Underlayment

• A specialized tile substrate

Before flooring is installed, the substrate needs to meet the requirements of the flooring manufacturer.

That may include standards for:

• Flatness

• Moisture

• Cleanliness

• Strength

• Movement

• Fastening

• Temperature

Do not assume flooring will hide imperfections.

Often, it does the opposite.

Flat and Level Are Not Necessarily the Same Thing

This is an important distinction.

A floor can be slightly out of level but still be very flat.

For many flooring products, flatness is particularly important.

Long planks installed over humps and dips can move, flex, squeak or create problems with locking systems.

Large-format tile can also make substrate imperfections obvious.

Check the manufacturer's tolerances before installation.

Moisture Can Ruin an Expensive Floor

Moisture is one of flooring's biggest enemies.

This is especially important with:

• Hardwood

• Engineered wood

• Laminate

• Concrete slabs

• Basements

New concrete contains moisture and requires appropriate evaluation before certain flooring products are installed.

Wood flooring may also need to acclimate to the conditions of the home according to the manufacturer's instructions.

Don't rush this stage just because you're excited to see the flooring installed.

A few extra days of proper preparation can be much cheaper than replacing an entire floor.

Acclimation: Don't Guess

You'll often hear:

“Just leave the flooring inside for a few days.”

Sometimes that's appropriate.

Sometimes it isn't.

Different products have different acclimation requirements.

Some manufacturers specify a particular time.

Others base installation readiness on moisture readings and environmental conditions.

Follow the requirements for your actual flooring product.

This is especially important if maintaining the warranty matters.

Radiant Heat Changes the Conversation

If you're installing radiant in-floor heating, choose your flooring with that system in mind.

Tile is an excellent conductor of heat.

Many engineered wood and vinyl products can also be compatible with radiant systems — but not every product is.

Check:

• Maximum floor temperatures

• Installation method

• Underlay requirements

• Wood species

• Plank dimensions

• Manufacturer warranty

• Heating-system startup procedures

Don't choose the flooring first and ask about radiant compatibility afterward.

Coordinate the systems from the beginning.

Think About Flooring Heights

Different flooring materials have different thicknesses.

This matters when two materials meet.

For example:

Hardwood might meet tile.

Tile might meet carpet.

Vinyl might meet concrete.

If nobody thinks about finished elevations until installation day, you can end up with awkward transitions or little steps between rooms.

The solution is planning.

Your builder, tile setter and flooring installer should understand the finished floor elevations before substrates and underlayments are installed.

Stairs Need to Be Planned Early

Stairs and flooring are closely connected.

Your flooring selection can affect:

• Stair treads

• Risers

• Nosings

• Landings

• Finished elevations

Building codes have requirements around stair geometry, and inconsistent finished riser heights can create both safety and inspection problems.

If you're changing flooring thickness during a renovation, pay particular attention to stairs.

Don't wait until the flooring installer reaches the staircase to figure it out.

Order Enough Flooring

You don't order exactly 1,000 square feet of flooring because your house has exactly 1,000 square feet of floor.

You need a waste factor.

Material is lost through:

• Cuts

• Layout

• Defects

• Pattern matching

• Angled walls

• Closets

• Stairs

• Damaged pieces

The appropriate waste allowance depends on the product and layout.

Simple rectangular rooms may require less.

Herringbone, diagonal layouts and complicated floor plans can require considerably more.

Your installer or supplier should help calculate the appropriate quantity.

Keep Some Extra Flooring

This is one of our favourite pieces of advice:

Keep a few unopened boxes.

Five years from now, your exact flooring may no longer be manufactured.

If something gets damaged, having matching replacement material can be incredibly valuable.

Label it and store it somewhere dry.

Future you may be very grateful.

Think About Direction Before Installation

Plank direction can dramatically change how a room looks.

Consider:

• Main sightlines

• Hallways

• Natural light

• Room dimensions

• Transitions between spaces

• Structural or installation requirements

Don't wait until installers have completed half the first room before deciding you wanted the boards running the other direction.

Have the layout conversation first.

Open Several Boxes

Natural wood and wood-look flooring can have significant variation.

One box might contain darker boards.

Another might contain lighter boards.

Installers often blend material from multiple boxes to create a more natural distribution.

This is particularly important with products that have noticeable colour or pattern variation.

You don't want to discover afterward that one corner of the room looks completely different from the rest.

Baseboards: Before or After Flooring?

This depends on the flooring system and construction sequence.

Some flooring is installed before baseboards.

Other systems may involve existing baseboards with shoe moulding or quarter-round added afterward.

For new construction, planning the sequence generally creates a cleaner finished result.

Coordinate flooring, cabinetry, doors and trim rather than treating them as unrelated trades.

Does Flooring Go Under the Cabinets?

Great question.

The answer depends on the flooring type and installation system.

Some flooring can run beneath cabinetry.

Certain floating floors generally need room to expand and shouldn't be trapped beneath fixed cabinetry.

Your cabinet installer and flooring contractor need to know what product is being used.

Don't assume.

Follow the flooring manufacturer's installation requirements.

Bathrooms Need Extra Attention

A bathroom isn't just another room with tile on the floor.

Waterproofing around showers, tubs and wet areas needs to be properly designed.

Remember:

Tile and grout are not automatically a complete waterproofing system.

The important waterproofing is often underneath what you see.

If you're building a tiled shower, understand what waterproofing system is being used before the tile goes on.

Take photos.

Once the tile is installed, that waterproofing disappears forever.

When Should Flooring Be Installed?

Flooring is generally one of the later stages of construction.

You don't want beautiful finished floors becoming the work surface for every other trade.

Exact sequencing depends on the project, but before final flooring installation you generally want messy, moisture-producing and heavy construction work substantially completed.

Then protect the floor appropriately while remaining trades finish their work.

Floor Protection Matters

New flooring attracts damage like a brand-new car in a parking lot.

As soon as it's installed, protect it.

But use a protection system approved for the flooring.

Some tapes and coverings can damage finishes or trap moisture.

Pay particular attention to:

• Entryways

• Hallways

• Kitchens

• Stairs

• Areas where appliances are moving

• Routes used by trades

And remember:

Floor protection only works if people actually use it.

Moving Appliances Can Destroy a Floor

Your flooring survived the entire build.

Then the refrigerator arrived.

Heavy appliances should be moved carefully using appropriate equipment and floor protection.

Dragging a refrigerator, range or washer across a new floor can cause damage in seconds.

Have a plan before delivery day.

Pets Change Your Flooring Decision

If you have a large dog, tell your flooring supplier.

Seriously.

Ask:

“How will this floor look after five years with an 80-pound dog?”

That's a much more useful question than:

“Is this durable?”

Texture, sheen, colour and finish can make scratches dramatically more or less noticeable.

A slightly textured matte floor may hide everyday wear better than a perfectly smooth, dark, glossy surface.

Choose for your real life.

What Flooring Is Cheapest?

Generally, budget-friendly laminate and vinyl products tend to be among the more affordable finished flooring choices.

But remember:

Cheap material doesn't always equal cheap finished floor.

Subfloor preparation and installation can change the equation.

A more expensive product that's quick to install over an appropriate substrate might ultimately compete with a cheaper material requiring extensive preparation.

Always compare installed prices.

What's the Best Value?

For many busy households, quality LVP can provide excellent value because of its combination of durability, water resistance and price.

For homeowners who want genuine wood, engineered hardwood can provide a great balance of appearance, stability and longevity.

Tile remains an excellent choice for wet areas and entries.

And solid hardwood can still be a fantastic long-term investment for someone who values natural materials and the ability to refinish their floors.

There is no universal winner.

The best floor is the one that fits your house, your climate, your lifestyle and your budget.

Where Should You Spend More?

If the budget allows, spend money on things that affect long-term performance:

Subfloor preparation

Don't put expensive flooring over a bad substrate.

Installation

A premium floor installed badly is still a bad floor.

Main living areas

This is where you'll see and use the flooring every day.

Stairs

Stair details can dramatically affect how finished and intentional the house feels.

Waterproofing

Especially in bathrooms and tiled wet areas.

Quality transitions and finishing details

Small details can make an inexpensive floor look better — or make an expensive floor look cheap.

Your Pre-Flooring Checklist

Before installation begins, confirm:

✓ Flooring product selected
✓ Installation method confirmed
✓ Manufacturer instructions reviewed
✓ Quantity and waste allowance confirmed
✓ Extra material ordered for future repairs
✓ Flooring delivered and inspected
✓ Acclimation requirements followed
✓ Subfloor condition checked
✓ Floor flatness checked
✓ Moisture conditions checked where required
✓ Radiant heating compatibility confirmed
✓ Finished floor elevations coordinated
✓ Tile transitions planned
✓ Stair details planned
✓ Cabinet/flooring sequence confirmed
✓ Plank or tile direction confirmed
✓ Layout discussed with installer
✓ Bathroom waterproofing completed where required
✓ Remaining construction work coordinated
✓ Floor-protection plan ready

Before Your Installer Starts — Walk the House Together

This might be the most valuable 15 minutes of the entire flooring installation.

Walk through the house with your installer.

Talk about:

Where do you want them to start?

Which direction will the flooring run?

Where will transitions occur?

How will stairs be finished?

What happens at exterior doors?

How will flooring meet tile?

Are there any unusual areas?

Where should imperfect or highly varied boards be used?

Don't assume the installer sees your vision.

Show them.

Once hundreds of square feet are installed, changing the layout isn't a small conversation anymore.

The Bottom Line

Flooring isn't just a decorating decision.

It's a construction decision.

The product matters.

But so does everything underneath it.

The subfloor matters.

Moisture matters.

Installation matters.

Transitions matter.

Floor heights matter.

The order of construction matters.

And your lifestyle matters.

So before you choose flooring because you loved a six-inch sample in a showroom, think about the entire system.

Ask questions.

Get an installed price.

Understand the warranty.

Check the substrate.

Plan your transitions.

Buy extra material.

Protect it once it's installed.

And choose something you're actually comfortable living on.

Because the best floor isn't necessarily the most expensive one.

It's the floor that still looks good after your family has actually lived on it.