Ranges per sq ft before 13% HST. Plank thickness, AC rating, underlay and subfloor prep change the price.
$1.50 – $3 / sq ft
$3 – $8 / sq ft
The AC rating measures how well the laminate surface resists wear. AC3 suits bedrooms, living rooms and most family homes with normal foot traffic.
Suits busy hallways, kitchens, homes with pets and rental units.
A harder wear surface than AC4, rated for heavy commercial traffic, so it is more than most homes need.
Laminate floats, so the underlay does the cushioning and the sound control. Over concrete we use underlay with a vapour barrier. In condos we use the acoustic underlay your building’s rules name. Laminate also grows and shrinks with humidity, which in Toronto swings from dry furnace air in winter to humid summers. We leave the expansion gap the manufacturer specifies at every wall, doorway and pipe, then hide it under baseboard or quarter round.
Laminate needs a flat base. We grind ridges and fill dips before any plank goes down.
Seams are taped, and a vapour barrier goes over concrete.
Rows are staggered so end joints do not line up, with spacers at the walls.
Door casings are undercut, transitions fitted and trim reinstalled.
These steps before install day keep a laminate job moving.
Furniture, rugs and items on closet floors come out of the rooms, since the laminate runs into closets as one floor.
Laminate boxes lie flat in the rooms being done, away from exterior doors and heat registers, until install day.
Choose quarter round or new baseboard and the colour of reducers and stair nosing so they arrive with the laminate order.
Long runs may need a T-moulding. We agree where each one goes before we start so it lands at a doorway, not in the middle of a room.
Laminate lasts longest when water never sits on it. In Toronto winters, boots carry slush and road salt across the floor, so keep a boot tray and a mat at the entry and wipe wet spots right away. Clean with a dry or lightly damp microfibre mop and a cleaner made for laminate. Skip wax, polish and steam mops. Felt pads under chairs stop scratches through the wear surface. If one plank gets damaged, it can be replaced by unclicking the rows from the nearest wall, so keep a spare box from your order.
Great communication, fair pricing, and beautiful workmanship. The team helped us choose the right vinyl flooring and completed the project on schedule.
Reliable and professional Toronto flooring contractors. They answered all our questions, respected our home, and delivered exactly what they promised.
Water-resistant laminate works in kitchens if spills are wiped up. In basements, vinyl plank handles moisture better. Laminate over a slab needs a vapour barrier underlay.
Laminate can float over flat, well-fastened vinyl, tile or hardwood. It should not go over carpet. We check height at doors and transitions first.
Usually the expansion gap was too small or humidity swung widely. Leave the gap the manufacturer specifies and keep indoor humidity between 30 and 50%.