How to Choose the Right Flooring for Your London, Ontario Home

Picking the right flooring for a London, Ontario home isn't the same as picking flooring in Vancouver or Arizona. Our climate — humid summers, cold winters, and the constant freeze-thaw cycle — affects how every flooring type performs. So does the fact that many London homes have basements that see some degree of moisture.

Here's an honest breakdown of what works, what doesn't, and what each option actually costs installed.

Ontario Climate Considerations

London sees temperature swings from -20°C in January to +35°C in July. That kind of range causes materials to expand and contract. Here's how that affects your flooring choice:

• Solid hardwood expands and contracts with humidity. In a well-heated London home with humidification, it works fine on main floors. Without humidity control, you'll see gapping in winter and cupping in summer.
• Engineered hardwood handles temperature and humidity swings much better because of its layered plywood core. It's the better choice for London homes without whole-house humidity control.
• Luxury vinyl plank (LVP) is dimensionally stable — it barely moves with temperature or moisture changes. This makes it the best all-around choice for Ontario, especially in basements, mudrooms, and kitchens.
• Laminate is stable in normal conditions but does not handle standing water. A burst pipe or flood will ruin laminate flooring beyond repair.
• Tile is completely unaffected by moisture or temperature. It's the permanent option for bathrooms, entryways, and anywhere water is expected.

Flooring Options Compared

Solid hardwood

The classic. Oak, maple, and hickory are the most popular species in Ontario. Solid hardwood can be sanded and refinished multiple times over its life — a well-maintained hardwood floor can last 50+ years. It adds real value to a home and is the preferred flooring for main-level living areas in the London market.

Best for: Living rooms, dining rooms, bedrooms (main floor and above). Avoid in: Basements, bathrooms, kitchens with heavy water exposure.

Engineered hardwood

A real hardwood top layer bonded to a plywood core. Looks identical to solid hardwood once installed. The layered construction makes it more dimensionally stable, so it handles Ontario's humidity swings better. Most engineered floors can be refinished once or twice. It can also be installed over concrete with a moisture barrier, making it an option for slab-on-grade builds.

Best for: Anywhere you'd put hardwood, plus condos with concrete subfloors. Avoid in: Basements with moisture concerns, full bathrooms.

Luxury vinyl plank (LVP)

The most versatile option for Ontario homes. Modern LVP looks remarkably close to real wood or stone, is 100% waterproof, and costs significantly less than hardwood. It's comfortable underfoot, quiet with an underlayment, and easy to maintain. The rigid-core versions (SPC) are tough enough for high-traffic areas and pets.

Best for: Basements, kitchens, mudrooms, bathrooms, rental properties, high-traffic areas. Avoid in: Nothing — it works everywhere, though hardwood purists may prefer the real thing for main living areas.

Laminate

Laminate has come a long way from the thin, hollow-sounding floors of the 2000s. Good laminate now has realistic textures and solid construction. It's the most budget-friendly option that still looks like wood. However, it is not waterproof — water-resistant at best. Once moisture gets into the core, it swells and can't be repaired.

Best for: Bedrooms, home offices, low-traffic rooms on upper floors. Avoid in: Basements, bathrooms, kitchens, entryways.

Ceramic and porcelain tile

Completely waterproof, nearly indestructible, and the only flooring material that handles in-floor heating particularly well. Porcelain is denser and more suitable for entryways where road salt and grit get tracked in. The downside is that tile is cold and hard underfoot — though in-floor radiant heat solves the cold problem.

Best for: Bathrooms, entryways, mudrooms, laundry rooms, kitchens. Avoid in: Bedrooms (unless with radiant heat).

Best Flooring by Room

• Living room / dining room: Hardwood (solid or engineered) is the top choice. LVP if budget is a concern.
• Kitchen: LVP or tile. Hardwood works if you're careful about water near the sink and dishwasher.
• Bathroom: Tile or LVP. Never hardwood or laminate.
• Bedroom: Hardwood, engineered, or LVP. Carpet if you want warmth underfoot and don't have allergies.
• Entryway / mudroom: Tile or LVP. Needs to handle salt, snow melt, and grit from boots.
• Basement: See below — this deserves its own section.

Basement Flooring

Basements in London are below grade, which means they're in contact with the ground and exposed to moisture — even in dry basements, the relative humidity is higher than the floors above. This rules out solid hardwood and makes laminate risky.

The best options for London basements:

1. Luxury vinyl plank (LVP) — the most popular choice by far. Waterproof, warm enough underfoot, and can go directly over concrete with an underlayment. If your basement ever gets water, LVP survives. It dries out and goes back to normal.
2. Engineered hardwood — works in dry basements with a proper moisture barrier. Gives you the real-wood look. But if you ever get water, you're looking at a potential replacement.
3. Tile — bulletproof against moisture. Works well in basement bathrooms, laundry areas, and utility zones. Consider radiant in-floor heating to deal with the cold factor.

Whatever you choose for the basement, always test the concrete for moisture first. A simple plastic sheet taped to the floor for 24 hours will tell you if there's moisture coming through the slab. If there is, address it before installing any flooring.

Cost Comparison

Material and installation costs in the London, Ontario area (2026 pricing):

These prices include removal of old flooring, subfloor prep, underlayment, transitions, and trim re-installation where needed. Pricing varies with the specific product, room complexity, and how much prep work the subfloor needs.

Installation Process

Regardless of which flooring you choose, the process follows a similar sequence:

1. Old flooring removal — carpet, tile, laminate, whatever is there comes out. We handle disposal.
2. Subfloor inspection and prep — the subfloor needs to be flat, dry, and structurally sound. Plywood subfloors may need screwing down to eliminate squeaks. Concrete subfloors may need levelling compound.
3. Moisture testing — especially important on concrete. We test moisture levels and install a vapour barrier if needed.
4. Underlayment — a foam, cork, or rubber pad goes down for sound dampening and minor irregularity correction (for floating floors).
5. Installation — the flooring goes in. Most LVP and engineered floors are click-lock (floating installation). Solid hardwood is nailed or stapled. Tile is set in thin-set mortar with grout.
6. Trim and transitions — baseboards go back on, transition strips go between rooms, and any quarter-round or shoe moulding gets installed.

A typical room takes 1 to 2 days. A full main floor (living, dining, kitchen, hallway) takes 3 to 5 days depending on prep work. Basements are usually 2 to 4 days.

For more details on our flooring installation services, visit the flooring page or request a free estimate.