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Flooring Guide

from Gerber Hardwood Flooring

Expectations During Dustless Refinishing

Choosing the right flooring for your home is an important decision. Flooring affects the appearance, comfort, durability and maintenance requirements of your living space, and the best choice can vary depending on the room, your lifestyle and the condition of your home. Flooring Guide

At Gerber Hardwood Flooring, we have been helping homeowners throughout Central Ontario make informed flooring decisions since 1995. Our experience includes hardwood floor installation and refinishing, dustless floor refinishing, staircase restoration, Luxury Vinyl Plank flooring and ongoing floor care.

We've created this Flooring Guide to provide homeowners with useful information about different flooring options and help you understand what may work best for your particular situation.

Whether you are considering installing new hardwood flooring, refinishing an existing floor, comparing engineered hardwood with traditional hardwood, or looking for a practical alternative such as Luxury Vinyl Plank, our Flooring Guide can help you get started.

Understanding Your Flooring Options

There is no single flooring product that is right for every home.

The right choice can depend on several factors, including the room where the flooring will be installed, how much traffic the area receives, the existing subfloor, moisture levels, your desired appearance and how much maintenance you are prepared to do.

Before making a decision, it is worth understanding the differences between the available materials.

Hardwood Flooring

Hardwood flooring remains one of the most popular choices for homeowners who want a natural, durable and timeless floor.

One of the major advantages of hardwood is its ability to be maintained and, when appropriate, refinished over time. An older hardwood floor that has become scratched, worn or dated may not need to be replaced.

Learn more about Hardwood Flooring and the characteristics, benefits and considerations associated with choosing hardwood for your home.

Engineered Hardwood

Engineered hardwood provides the appearance of real wood while being constructed differently from traditional solid hardwood.

Because engineered hardwood is made with layers of wood and a hardwood surface layer, its construction and refinishing possibilities differ from solid hardwood.

If you are considering engineered flooring for a renovation or new installation, our Engineered Hardwood information can help you understand how it compares with other flooring choices.

Luxury Vinyl Plank Flooring

Luxury Vinyl Plank, commonly known as LVP, has become an increasingly popular flooring option for homeowners looking for durability, practicality and a wide range of styles.

LVP can be particularly useful in areas where homeowners want a flooring surface that is easy to maintain and suited to the demands of everyday living.

Learn more about Luxury Vinyl Plank Flooring, including considerations to keep in mind when choosing this type of flooring.

Other Flooring Options

Hardwood and LVP are not the only choices available.

Depending on your home and the room involved, you may also be considering laminate, bamboo, cork, tile or other flooring products.

Our Other Flooring Options information provides an opportunity to explore some of these alternatives and consider where they may or may not be appropriate.

Choosing Flooring for Different Rooms

The best flooring choice can also depend on where the flooring will be installed.

A living room, bedroom, kitchen, bathroom, hallway and staircase can all have different requirements.

For example, a flooring product that works beautifully in a bedroom may not necessarily be the best choice for an area exposed to moisture or heavy traffic.

When choosing flooring, consider:

How much traffic the room receives
Potential exposure to moisture
The amount of natural light
Existing flooring and subfloor conditions
Maintenance requirements
Durability
Appearance and colour
The overall style of your home
Your long-term plans for the property

Our Flooring Guide is designed to help you consider these factors before making your decision.

Caring for Your Floors

Selecting the right flooring is only the beginning. Proper care and maintenance can make an important difference in how your floor looks and performs over the years.

Different flooring products require different cleaning methods and maintenance routines. Hardwood flooring, in particular, benefits from appropriate cleaning products, protection from unnecessary moisture and attention to areas that experience heavy wear.

Visit our Care & Maintenance section for information about looking after your flooring and helping to preserve its appearance.

Flooring Questions? Start Here.

We understand that homeowners often have many questions before making a flooring decision.

Can an existing hardwood floor be refinished?

Is solid hardwood or engineered hardwood better for a particular room?

Would Luxury Vinyl Plank be a better choice for a specific application?

Can damaged flooring be repaired rather than replaced?

How should a hardwood floor be maintained?

These are just some of the questions homeowners ask when considering flooring for their homes.

Our Flooring FAQ provides answers to many common questions and can help you better understand your options.

Repair, Refinish or Replace?

One of the most important things to consider when dealing with an existing hardwood floor is whether replacement is actually necessary.

A floor that looks tired or damaged may sometimes be restored through professional repair and refinishing.

Scratches, dents, worn finishes, damaged boards and changes in colour do not automatically mean that an entire floor needs to be removed.

Depending on the condition of the flooring, Hardwood Flooring Repairs or professional refinishing may provide an excellent alternative to replacement.

Gerber Hardwood Flooring can assess your existing flooring and help you understand the options available.

Start Your Flooring Research

We encourage homeowners to take the time to research their flooring choices before making a significant investment.

Use the links throughout this Flooring Guide to explore the different materials, care requirements and frequently asked questions.

If you are still unsure which flooring option is right for your home, professional advice can be extremely helpful. Existing flooring, subfloor conditions, room use and the desired finished appearance all need to be considered together.

Looking for Professional Flooring Advice?

Gerber Hardwood Flooring has been serving homeowners in Central Ontario since 1995. Our experience includes hardwood flooring installation, hardwood floor refinishing, dustless refinishing, staircase restoration, repairs and Luxury Vinyl Plank flooring.

Explore our Flooring Guide to learn more, or contact Gerber Hardwood Flooring for a professional assessment and written estimate for your flooring project.