Choosing Hardwood Flooring in London, Ontario
For a London, Ontario home, choose hardwood based on the room, subfloor, moisture readings, and the flooring maker’s installation rules. Solid wood usually suits approved wood subfloors; engineered wood may offer more options over concrete. Before comparing prices, confirm preparation, moisture control, waste, transitions, and labor are listed in writing.
Hardwood quotes can look comparable until one includes floor leveling, moisture tests, or old-floor removal and another does not. That gap can turn a careful budget into an expensive surprise. I compare flooring estimates by separating the product, preparation, installation method, and extras, then checking whether the proposed system fits the home.
London homes can face seasonal indoor humidity changes, especially as heating and cooling needs shift. That makes product choice and moisture control more than details on a quote. Use the checks below to assess the room before choosing boards, and ask contractors to document the readings and materials behind their prices.
Substrate Inspection & Subfloor Preparation
Substrate means the surface beneath the hardwood, such as a wood subfloor or concrete slab. Its condition helps determine which flooring and installation methods are suitable. Before accepting a quote, check for moisture, movement, damage, and uneven areas. Repairs and testing belong in the budget, not as vague extras discovered on installation day.
Check the room before choosing a product
Look for leaks, damp spots, musty odours, rot, loose panels, cracked or moving concrete, and old layers that could affect the new floor. Fix leaks and damage first. Do not install over a wet, contaminated, structurally weak, or uneven surface.
Use a straightedge to check flatness and record high and low spots. A common hardwood tolerance is 3/16 inch over 10 feet or 1/8 inch over 6 feet, but the flooring maker’s written limit controls. Ask which areas need patching or leveling and what product the installer will use. Boards should not be forced flat over an uneven base.
Match the floor to the subfloor
On wood framing, check the joists, blocking, panel type and thickness, fastening, and any bounce or squeaks. Repair loose or damaged areas before covering them. The required stiffness depends on the flooring system and its instructions. Do not assume the tile guideline of L/360 applies to every hardwood product.
Solid hardwood is generally not installed directly on concrete. Engineered hardwood may be approved for glue-down or floating installation, but only when the product and full assembly permit it. Confirm that the slab is sound, clean, and sufficiently cured, and that the selected adhesive or underlayment is approved for that floor.
Document moisture readings
For wood, use a calibrated meter suitable for the wood species and material. Measure both the flooring and the wood subfloor. As a common screening limit, the moisture-content difference should be 4 percentage points or less for narrow solid boards. Wide boards and engineered products may need tighter limits; follow the manufacturer’s instructions.
For concrete, ask for testing under the method required by the floor and adhesive maker. Common methods include ASTM F2170 in-situ relative humidity testing and ASTM F1869 moisture-vapour emission testing. There is no single safe RH or MVER limit for every hardwood system. Compare the test report with the written limits for the selected adhesive and any moisture-mitigation system. If readings exceed those limits, pause and price an approved mitigation assembly. A generic underlayment is not a substitute.
For a fair budget, ask contractors to show the test method, readings, repair allowance, and unit price for additional leveling. That gives you a clear basis for comparing bids.
Installation Technique & Precision Execution
Installation technique is the approved way to fasten, bond, or float a particular hardwood product. The right method depends on the product and the substrate, not just the installer’s preference. Request written confirmation of the method, adhesive or fastener, underlayment, and site conditions before work begins.
Compare solid and engineered flooring
Solid boards are made from one piece of wood and require an approved wood-subfloor assembly. Engineered boards have a wood surface attached to layers beneath it; some products allow glue-down or floating installation over concrete. Neither label alone proves a product fits a room. Check the product instructions, room conditions, and substrate together.
| Room or substrate | What to verify before choosing | Budget question |
|---|---|---|
| Wood subfloor | Board type, support, fastening, moisture, and flatness | Are squeaks, loose panels, or leveling included? |
| Concrete slab | Product approval, slab condition, moisture tests, and adhesive limits | Are testing and any approved moisture system priced separately? |
| Large or wide-plank layout | Product rules for expansion and moisture balance | What waste factor and board selection plan are included? |
| Doorways and floor-height changes | Transition profile and movement space | Are transitions and trim included in the material and labor totals? |
Plan the layout and site conditions
The installer should plan board direction, colour variation, and end-joint spacing before installation. Distribute board lengths as directed, and avoid narrow or unstable strips at room edges. Follow the product’s rules for staggering joints and keeping boards aligned.
Condition the space to its normal occupied temperature and humidity before, during, and after installation. Acclimation time alone does not prove the wood is ready. The installer should check actual moisture conditions and follow the product’s acclimation instructions.
Confirm the required expansion space at walls, pipes, cabinets, columns, and other fixed objects. One-half inch is a common starting point, not a universal requirement. Room size, board width, and product instructions may call for a different gap. Do not install over a wet or out-of-tolerance substrate.
Use only the approved installation system:
- Nail or staple only over an approved wood substrate, using the specified fasteners.
- Glue down only with the specified adhesive, trowel, coverage, and working time.
- Float only with the specified underlayment and edge details.
- Do not combine methods or add a membrane unless the product system allows it.
Build a quote that can be checked
Ask each contractor to list the same items: measured area, material price, waste allowance, removal and disposal, substrate repairs, moisture testing, leveling, installation labor, transitions, trim, and cleanup. Request unit rates for work that may change after inspection. Confirm whether taxes, delivery, and moving appliances or furniture are included.
Waste varies with room shape, board lengths, layout, and product. Ask the contractor to explain the allowance rather than relying on a percentage that appears without context. For example, 500 square feet plus an illustrative 8% allowance equals 540 square feet. That is a math example, not a recommended waste rate. Ask for the measured area and the reason for the proposed allowance.
Transitions, Safety & Deflection Compliance
Transitions are the profiles or trim used where flooring ends or meets another surface. They must suit the floor height and allow the floor system to move as designed. A sound installation also depends on stable framing, safe work practices, and careful sequencing from inspection through final trim.
Use a staged installation plan
- Inspect: Check framing or slab, flatness, moisture, and site conditions. Record readings and address leaks, movement, or structural damage.
- Prepare: Repair and level with compatible materials. Install only the specified moisture-control layer or underlayment, following its instructions at seams, edges, and penetrations.
- Install: Use the approved fastening or bonding method. Monitor alignment, joint spacing, adhesive working time, and perimeter clearance.
- Finish: Fit transitions and trim without restricting floor movement. Protect the floor during other work and follow the product’s cure and occupancy timelines.
At doorways and changes in floor height, select a transition profile suited to the flooring thickness and movement. Do not rigidly bridge an expansion joint. A floating floor must not be pinned by trim, tracks, fasteners, or fixed cabinetry. Keep the required gap clear and cover it without trapping the floor.
Wood-subfloor deflection, or movement under load, should meet the flooring maker’s structural requirements. Ask the contractor how they checked movement and what repairs are needed. If the floor feels unstable, resolve the cause before installation rather than hiding it beneath hardwood.
Control cutting dust, ventilate the work area, and follow the adhesive and finish safety data sheets. Workers should use appropriate eye, hearing, and respiratory protection. Tile-specific slip standards should not be used as hardwood acceptance criteria; ask about the actual product and its intended use.
Compare real-world estimate scenarios
These are illustrative budgeting scenarios, not reported London projects or price quotes. They show why two bids for the same area may differ.
- Stable wood subfloor: A quote may cover the flooring, fastening, basic trim, and installation. Check whether squeak repairs, damaged panel replacement, and leveling are excluded.
- Concrete with test results within system limits: A quote may include approved engineered flooring, specified adhesive or underlayment, and transitions. Check whether testing, slab preparation, and any moisture protection are included.
- Concrete with readings above system limits: Do not proceed with the same assembly at a higher risk. Request a written price for a mitigation system approved by the flooring and adhesive makers, or consider a different product and assembly.
When bids differ, compare the scope and specifications before comparing the bottom line. A lower quote may omit work; a higher one may include necessary preparation. Ask each contractor to identify assumptions and change-order rates in writing.
Maintenance, Sealing & Long-Term Protection
Hardwood changes with moisture, so care begins before installation and continues through normal use. Indoor humidity should stay within the flooring maker’s stated range. Good moisture control, prompt spill cleanup, and approved cleaning products can help protect the floor and reduce avoidable movement or finish damage.
Protect against moisture movement
Seasonal humidity changes can cause wood to expand or contract. Moisture problems may lead to cupping, gaps, buckling, or adhesive failure. Moisture rising through a slab is a risk that must be addressed with an approved system. An underlayment does not automatically act as a vapour barrier; confirm the complete assembly’s documented moisture rating.
Keep the home within the product’s humidity range, using humidity control as needed through heating and humid seasons. Follow the product guidance for cleaning, and dry spills promptly. Use suitable entry mats and protect the floor from grit and furniture abrasion. Do not apply wax, sealer, or another coating to a factory-finished floor unless the maker approves it.
If seasonal gaps, cupping, or movement appears, check for moisture sources and changes in indoor humidity before sanding or refinishing. Treat the cause first.
Final checks before signing
Before work starts, make sure the contract identifies the product and grade, installation method, substrate preparation, moisture tests, waste basis, transitions, and cleanup. It should also say how extra repairs are priced and who must approve a change order. Keep product instructions, test reports, and invoices together.
My main budgeting check is simple: if a contractor cannot explain how the floor suits the substrate and what happens when moisture or flatness readings fail, the estimate is not complete. Get the detail in writing before paying a deposit.
FAQ
Is engineered hardwood a better choice for concrete in London, Ontario?
It can be, if the specific product and installation assembly are approved for that slab. Verify moisture-test results and the adhesive or underlayment limits first.
Can solid hardwood be installed directly over a concrete slab?
Generally, no. Use solid hardwood only with an assembly approved for the substrate. Engineered products may allow concrete installation, depending on their instructions.
What concrete moisture test should my contractor use?
Use the method required by the flooring and adhesive makers. Common methods are ASTM F2170 and ASTM F1869. The system’s written limits determine whether the slab is acceptable.
What is an acceptable moisture limit for hardwood over concrete?
There is no universal limit. Compare the documented test results with the specific flooring, adhesive, and moisture-mitigation system requirements.
How flat should a hardwood subfloor be?
A commonly used tolerance is 3/16 inch over 10 feet or 1/8 inch over 6 feet. Confirm the exact limit in the flooring maker’s instructions.
How much extra flooring should I budget for waste?
Ask for the measured area, proposed allowance, and reason. Waste depends on the room, layout, and product, so a single percentage is not right for every project.
Does hardwood need to acclimate before installation?
Follow the product’s acclimation instructions and verify moisture conditions. Time in the home alone does not confirm that flooring and subfloor moisture are suitable.
Should a quote include leveling and moisture testing?
It should clearly state whether they are included, excluded, or priced as possible extras. Request unit rates and require written approval before added work proceeds.
Can trim hold down a floating hardwood floor?
No. Trim should cover the required expansion gap without pinning the floor. Follow the product instructions for transitions and fixed objects.
Can I seal or wax factory-finished hardwood?
Only if the manufacturer approves it. Use recommended cleaners and avoid unapproved coatings that could damage the finish or affect warranty coverage.
(This article was written by one of our staff writers, Richard Bennett. Visit our Meet the Team page.)
