De-icing salt can leave a white film that will etch the finish of hardwood, laminate and vinyl. Wipe up residue promptly with a damp microfibre mop together with a cleaner made for your type of floor. Never use steam mops on wood and laminate.
The cold season in Canada are magical, but it is hard on flooring. Melting snow, road salt, sand and dry indoor air can wear out your flooring over time. With some simple precautions, you can protect your floors in top shape until spring.
The first line of defence is the entrance. Use a sturdy outdoor mat and an absorbent mat inside every entrance. This combination traps most of the snow and grit before it can scratch your flooring. Add a boot tray so wet boots don’t sit on the floor.
Flooring is one of the first things buyers notice. Dated carpet, damaged wood floors or mismatched flooring give a message that the home needs work. Meanwhile, fresh, modern flooring makes a home look bright and well-maintained, and that can help it stand out.
A cohesive look is also important. A mix of materials throughout the house often makes a home feel disjointed. Installing one continuous floor across the main floor creates a more spacious look that buyers appreciate.
Humidity is another key factor. When the furnace is running, indoor air gets extremely dry, leading to wood floors to shrink and cracks to open. Using a humidifier that keeps indoor humidity in a moderate range helps protect your wood floors and your health.
A key function is to provide noise control. Floors that are not glued down can sound hollow without proper underlayment. A quality underlayment dampens that hollow sound, which is especially important in apartments and condos where strata rules may set a minimum IIC or STC rating.
If you are planning to sell soon, or even if you just want to enjoy your home more, replacing old flooring ranks among the best renovations you can make. Your floors make up most of the visible space of your home, so they create a major impact on the overall look.
Homes in Canada face dramatic changes in temperature and humidity every year. In the cold months, heating systems pull moisture from the air; in summer, humidity go up quickly. For wood flooring, that constant movement can cause cracks, cupping and squeaks.
When planning a flooring project, they tend to focus on colour, the style and the price per square foot. Yet what goes under your planks is just as important. Quality underlay improves comfort, sound and moisture protection, while can help your new floor perform better.
Hardwood remains one of the most requested features buyers love. Engineered hardwood delivers the same appeal and better stability across the seasons. For a smaller budget, LVP or laminate is able to deliver a similar modern look at a fraction of the price.
LVP is usually at the top of the list for families. It is water-resistant, so water bowls become easy to clean up. A durable top layer helps resist scratches, and the softer surface is more comfortable than tile.
Toughness is also a reason to choose it. Many LVP products include a wear layer on top designed to resist everyday wear, stains and discoloration. Homes with dogs and cats appreciate the low maintenance: regular sweeping and a light mop keep it looking new.
Over the past few years, LVP has grown into one of the most requested types of flooring for Canadian homeowners. There are good reasons for that: it delivers a beautiful wood look, it handles water, and it fits almost any budget.
If you share your home with dogs, cats or young children, you already know that floors take a beating. Paws, toy cars and blocks, juice spills and snow and slush quickly wear down the wrong floor in no time. Luckily: current flooring options are built to survive busy family life.
That is where engineered hardwood makes a difference. Instead of being made from one solid board, engineered flooring is made of multiple layers: a real hardwood top layer on top of a dimensionally stable base. That construction minimizes expansion and contraction.
Underlayment can also compensates for slight unevenness in the base and provides a bit of softness underfoot. Remember, though, it does not replace a flat subfloor: major unevenness need to be levelled before installation.
Quality laminate is also a strong option. Its protective top layer is highly resistant to scratches, in many cases more than vinyl. Choose a laminate with an AC4 or AC5 rating plus water-resistant features for families with pets.
Can you still have hardwood? Absolutely, but be selective. Harder woods like oak, maple or hickory are more resistant, and https://Gratisafhalen.be/author/janologhlen/ wire-brushed textures and natural grain patterns camouflage everyday wear far better than glossy floors.
What you get is simply a floor with the look just like traditional wood while performs better in our climate. Because it moves less, engineered wood can be used in rooms in which solid wood is not recommended, like basements or over radiant heating.