Flooring Guide Ottawa: Compare LVP, Hardwood, Tile & More

# Flooring Guide Ottawa: Compare LVP, Hardwood, Tile & More

*Last updated: December 2025 | Read time: 9 min*

Choosing the right flooring affects your home's look, durability, and value. This guide compares popular flooring options available to Ottawa homeowners, with real costs and honest pros and cons.

**Quick answer:** LVP (Luxury Vinyl Plank) offers the best value for most Ottawa homes at $6-12/sq ft installed. Hardwood remains the premium choice at $12-25/sq ft. Tile is best for bathrooms and entryways.

## Table of Contents

1. [Quick Comparison](#comparison)

2. [Luxury Vinyl Plank (LVP)](#lvp)

3. [Hardwood Flooring](#hardwood)

4. [Engineered Hardwood](#engineered)

5. [Tile Flooring](#tile)

6. [Laminate](#laminate)

7. [Room-by-Room Guide](#room-guide)

8. [Ottawa Climate Considerations](#climate)

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## Quick Comparison {#comparison}

| Material | Cost/Sq Ft (Installed) | Durability | Moisture | Best Rooms |

|----------|----------------------|------------|----------|------------|

| LVP | $6-12 | Excellent | Excellent | Anywhere |

| Engineered Hardwood | $10-18 | Very Good | Good | Main floors |

| Solid Hardwood | $12-25 | Excellent | Poor | Above grade |

| Porcelain Tile | $12-25 | Excellent | Excellent | Bath, entry |

| Ceramic Tile | $8-18 | Very Good | Excellent | Bath, entry |

| Laminate | $5-10 | Good | Poor | Budget areas |

---

## Luxury Vinyl Plank (LVP) {#lvp}

### Overview

LVP has become the most popular flooring choice in Ottawa renovations. It looks like wood but handles moisture, pets, and heavy traffic.

### Cost in Ottawa

- **Materials:** $3-7 per sq ft

- **Installed:** $6-12 per sq ft

- **1,000 sq ft home:** $6,000-12,000

### Pros

- 100% waterproof

- Scratch resistant (great for pets)

- Easy maintenance

- Warm underfoot (warmer than tile)

- Wide style variety

- Can install over most subfloors

- DIY-friendly

### Cons

- Not real wood (some can tell)

- Can dent from heavy furniture

- Lower-end options look fake

- Doesn't add value like hardwood

- Can't refinish

### Best LVP Brands

| Brand | Quality | Price Point |

|-------|---------|-------------|

| Proximity Mills | Premium | $5-8/sq ft |

| MSI Everlife | Premium | $4-7/sq ft |

| Shaw Floorté | Mid-High | $4-6/sq ft |

| LifeProof (Home Depot) | Mid | $3-5/sq ft |

| TrafficMaster | Budget | $2-3/sq ft |

### What to Look For

- **Thickness:** 5mm+ with wear layer 12mil+

- **Wear layer:** Thicker = more durable

- **Attached pad:** Reduces installation cost

- **Locking system:** Quality click-lock

---

## Hardwood Flooring {#hardwood}

### Solid Hardwood

The classic, timeless choice. Made from single piece of real wood.

### Cost in Ottawa

- **Materials:** $6-15 per sq ft

- **Installed:** $12-25 per sq ft

- **1,000 sq ft home:** $12,000-25,000

### Pros

- Real wood beauty

- Can refinish multiple times (50+ year lifespan)

- Adds home value

- Timeless look

- Gets better with age

### Cons

- Sensitive to moisture (not for basements)

- Can scratch

- Expands/contracts with humidity

- Higher cost

- Longer installation time

- Needs acclimatization

### Popular Species

| Species | Hardness | Price | Look |

|---------|----------|-------|------|

| Red Oak | Medium | $$ | Traditional, warm |

| White Oak | Hard | $$$ | Contemporary, durable |

| Maple | Very Hard | $$$ | Light, modern |

| Hickory | Very Hard | $$$$ | Rustic, character |

| Walnut | Medium | $$$$ | Dark, luxurious |

### Width Options

- **2-3" strips:** Traditional look

- **4-5" planks:** Most popular

- **6-8" wide plank:** Modern, premium

---

## Engineered Hardwood {#engineered}

### Overview

Real wood top layer over plywood core. Looks like solid hardwood but handles moisture and temperature changes better.

### Cost in Ottawa

- **Materials:** $5-12 per sq ft

- **Installed:** $10-18 per sq ft

- **1,000 sq ft home:** $10,000-18,000

### Pros

- Real wood appearance

- More stable than solid (less expansion)

- Can use on concrete/basements (with precautions)

- Can refinish (1-2 times depending on veneer)

- Easier installation than solid

### Cons

- Limited refinishing (thin veneer)

- Quality varies significantly

- Can delaminate if moisture exposed

- Less long-term value than solid

### What to Look For

- **Veneer thickness:** 3mm+ for refinishing ability

- **Core:** Plywood better than HDF

- **Total thickness:** 1/2" to 3/4"

- **Finish:** Factory finish usually more durable

### Solid vs Engineered

| Factor | Solid | Engineered |

|--------|-------|------------|

| Real wood feel | Better | Good |

| Refinishing | 5-7 times | 1-2 times |

| Basement use | No | Yes (with precautions) |

| Cost | Higher | Moderate |

| Installation | Nail down | Click or glue |

| Stability | Less | More |

---

## Tile Flooring {#tile}

### Porcelain Tile

Denser, harder, and more water-resistant than ceramic.

### Cost in Ottawa

- **Materials:** $5-15 per sq ft

- **Installed:** $12-25 per sq ft

- **Bathroom (50 sq ft):** $600-1,250

### Pros

- Extremely durable

- 100% waterproof

- Huge variety (including wood-look)

- Easy to clean

- Long lifespan (30+ years)

### Cons

- Cold underfoot

- Hard on feet/joints

- Grout maintenance

- Slippery when wet (unless textured)

- Difficult installation

- Can crack if substrate moves

### Ceramic vs Porcelain

| Factor | Ceramic | Porcelain |

|--------|---------|-----------|

| Density | Lower | Higher |

| Water absorption | 3-7% | <0.5% |

| Durability | Good | Excellent |

| Cost | Lower | Higher |

| Outdoor use | No | Yes |

| Best for | Walls, light floors | Floors, wet areas |

### Heated Floors

Tile is ideal for radiant floor heating:

- **Cost:** Add $8-15/sq ft

- **Running cost:** Minimal (just bathroom)

- **Luxury feel:** No cold floors in Ottawa winter

---

## Laminate {#laminate}

### Overview

Photograph of wood on HDF core. Budget-friendly but limited durability.

### Cost in Ottawa

- **Materials:** $2-5 per sq ft

- **Installed:** $5-10 per sq ft

- **1,000 sq ft home:** $5,000-10,000

### Pros

- Most affordable option

- Easy DIY installation

- Decent durability for price

- Many styles available

### Cons

- Not water resistant (swells when wet)

- Sounds hollow when walking

- Can't refinish

- Shows wear over time

- Lower perceived value

### When Laminate Makes Sense

- Rental properties

- Temporary flooring

- Very tight budgets

- Low-moisture areas only

---

## Room-by-Room Guide {#room-guide}

### Kitchen

| Option | Recommendation |

|--------|---------------|

| Best overall | LVP (waterproof, comfortable) |

| Premium choice | Tile (most durable) |

| Avoid | Solid hardwood (moisture issues) |

### Bathroom

| Option | Recommendation |

|--------|---------------|

| Best overall | Porcelain tile |

| Alternative | LVP (waterproof, warmer) |

| Avoid | Laminate, solid hardwood |

### Living Room

| Option | Recommendation |

|--------|---------------|

| Best overall | Hardwood or engineered |

| Budget option | LVP |

| Premium | Wide plank hardwood |

### Bedrooms

| Option | Recommendation |

|--------|---------------|

| Best overall | Hardwood (quiet, warm) |

| Alternative | LVP or carpet |

| Consider | Carpet for warmth/sound |

### Basement

| Option | Recommendation |

|--------|---------------|

| Best overall | LVP (waterproof) |

| Alternative | Tile |

| Avoid | Solid hardwood, laminate |

### Entryway

| Option | Recommendation |

|--------|---------------|

| Best overall | Tile (handles salt, snow) |

| Alternative | LVP |

| Avoid | Hardwood (salt damage) |

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## Ottawa Climate Considerations {#climate}

### Humidity Fluctuations

Ottawa has extreme humidity swings:

- Summer: 70-80% humidity

- Winter: 20-30% humidity (with heating)

**Impact on flooring:**

- Solid hardwood: Gaps in winter, cupping in summer

- Engineered: More stable

- LVP: Most stable

### Winter Salt and Snow

Entry areas get:

- Road salt tracked in (damages hardwood)

- Snow melt (moisture)

- Sand and grit (scratches)

**Best entry flooring:** Tile or LVP with area rugs

### Basement Moisture

Most Ottawa basements have some moisture:

- Concrete sweating

- Minor seepage

- High humidity

**Only use:** LVP, tile, or engineered with vapor barrier

### Radiant Heat Compatibility

| Material | Works with Radiant |

|----------|-------------------|

| Tile | Excellent |

| LVP | Good (check specs) |

| Engineered | Good (check specs) |

| Solid Hardwood | Not recommended |

| Laminate | Some products ok |

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## Installation Tips

### Prepare Your Subfloor

- Must be flat (1/8" variance per 10 feet)

- Clean and dry

- Address any squeaks

### Acclimatization

- Hardwood: 3-7 days in home before install

- LVP: 24-48 hours

- Tile: None needed

### Hiring Installers

| Material | DIY Difficulty | Recommend Pro? |

|----------|---------------|----------------|

| LVP | Easy | Optional |

| Laminate | Easy | Optional |

| Engineered (click) | Easy | Optional |

| Hardwood | Difficult | Yes |

| Tile | Difficult | Yes |

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*Ready to upgrade your floors? [Contact us](/contact) for a free consultation and quote.*