Choosing flooring for a Fraser Valley home

Solid hardwood

The real thing, all the way through. It can be sanded and refinished several times over its life. It needs a wood subfloor and should not go below grade or anywhere it may get wet, since solid wood moves with humidity. Best for main living areas, dining rooms and bedrooms.

Engineered hardwood

A real wood surface layer on a stable layered core. It looks and feels like hardwood but moves much less with humidity, so it handles our wet winters and dry heated houses better. It can be nailed, glued or floated, which means it can go over concrete. Thicker wear layers can be refinished. A good all rounder for most of the house.

Laminate

A photo layer under a hard wear surface on a fibreboard core. Very scratch resistant and cost effective. The core does not like standing water, so keep it out of bathrooms, laundry rooms and basements prone to damp.

Vinyl plank (LVP)

Fully water resistant, warmer and quieter underfoot than tile, and tough enough for kids, dogs and rentals. The right choice for most basements, bathrooms, laundry rooms and basement suites. Quality varies a lot, so look at wear layer thickness and how the click joint feels.

Room by room

• Main living and bedrooms: hardwood or engineered.
• Kitchen: engineered or vinyl plank.
• Bathrooms and laundry: vinyl plank.
• Basement on concrete: vinyl plank, or engineered if the slab is dry and the right underlayment is used.
• Rental suite: vinyl plank.

Whatever you choose, prep decides the result

A flat, solid subfloor and the right underlayment matter more than the brand on the box. Squeaks, bounce and planks separating almost always trace back to prep. Plan for transitions, stairs and baseboard in the same job so the floor actually looks finished.