What type of home do you live in?

The type of residence will significantly influence the flooring type and installation method you need. In a single-family home, the subfloor will dictate the type of floor you can install. In a condominium, your condo owner's agreement usually has rules regarding soundproofing which have to be considered. In a basement, an engineered floor will be your preferred option.

How many people live in your home?

The more people there are, the greater the traffic and the more durable your finish needs to be. If you have young children or pets, choose a textured hardwood floor or one with character and color variation. Matte finishes also tend to minimize the appearance of dents and scratches.

What kind of furniture is in the room, and what style of décor?

Is there already wood in the room? Are there a lot of furnishings, or just a few? What shades are they? In a new home, the ambiance you’re looking for will largely influence your choice of color, wood species, grade, finish, board width, and direction.

See all species and colors

What type of flooring is right for your room?

The right type of flooring for you depends on the room where it will be installed. Various floor types are available according to your needs: engineered wood, glueless engineered wood, and solid wood. See a dealer for advice on choosing a floor.

We have mouldings that matches all types of floor colors.

Learn more about
Floor Types Moldings.

What rooms are you planning to floor?

Sketch out the rooms where you want to install your hardwood floor.  Indicate the areas of the rooms and make note of stairways, closets, and any obstacles that will require special fitting. Find out what kind of subfloor you have and in what direction the joists run. Remember that engineered flooring is the best choice for basements.

Have you thought about your preferences in terms of look?

Think of the different colors and essences, the chandeliers, the widths of boards and orientation.

• + See details of preferences

  Color

  A stained floor gives a unique feel to each room. Be sure to select stains that will match different décors (especially for exotic woods and natural stains), since your wood floor will outlast any trend in home fashion. But remember that stained wood can be sanded more than once, restained, and refinished to restore the original color of the species or even choose a new one.

  Species

  Each wood species has its own grain, color, and veining. Your choice of species depends on your personal preferences and the effect you want to achieve. The most popular species are oak and maple, followed by yellow birch, white ash, beech, cherry, and walnut. Exotic woods, which are very warm in color and extremely solid, are also available.

  Gloss

  There are three main types of gloss on the market: high-gloss, semi-gloss, matte and ultramatte. A very bright finish tends to highlight marks, while a matte or satin finish makes them less noticeable and delivers long-lasting beauty.

  Duramatt^TM finish by Mirage is offering a silky ultramatte finish that brings out wood's natural beauty, the look of an oiled hardwood floor without the hassles of regular oil application on top of being a hypoallergenic finish for a safe environment.

  Grade

  Grading is a means of rating boards according to variations in the wood's natural color. For example, “Select & Better” grade woods are more uniform in color than the “Exclusive” grade, which present greater, more pronounced natural color variation like hardwood floors with character.

  Width

  Boards are generally available in standard widths of 2 1/4" (57 mm), 2 1/2" (64 mm), and 3 1/4" (83 mm). Widths of up to 7-3/4" (197 mm) are becoming increasingly popular. Your choice will depend on the effect you want to create. Thinner boards make a room look longer, while wider boards make it appear shorter. Remember, however, that a tight grained wood like maple expands with humidity, which may make thinner boards preferable for some uses.

  Length

  Boards are generally available in random lengths from 10'' to 76''. Some board lengths can even go up to 82'' in Engineered floor types! Long board lengths make any room in the house look bigger, and because fewer boards are needed to cover a given area, fewer joints are visible, yielding a spectacular, even look.

  Positioning

  Your wood flooring should ideally be installed at a right angle to your subfloor joists. But you should also consider the shape and size of the room. For example, installing the boards lengthwise may make a long room look even longer, and it may be more flattering to lay the boards diagonally. If you like an original look, choose a floor with patterns.

  Accessories

  Installing a hardwood floor usually requires much more than just prefinished hardwood boards. You'll surely need edgings, stairway nosings, vent flashings, and moldings to join with the walls. Make sure you can get these basic accessories in the same stain and gloss as your flooring.

What should you look for in a specialized dealer?

Does the dealer have a good product and accessory inventory?

How are products delivered? How long will it take?

Does the dealer offer installation?

Can you get cleaning products and the manufacturer’s maintenance guide?

What do you know about the dealer’s and manufacturer’s warranties?

Who should you have install your floor?

Given the importance of your investment in your hardwood floor and the long-term stakes surrounding its installation, it's recommended that you seek out the services of installation specialists. They guarantee their work with no risk of invalidating the manufacturer's warranty. Dealers can refer you to one. Depending on your knowledge and the tools you have available, you may wish to perform the installation yourself. Before starting, ask your specialized dealer for advice and follow the instructions in our installation guides to ensure beautiful results.

Quality hardwood flooring... the difference stands out!

 It’s easy to believe that all hardwood floors are similar, but don’t be mistaken. Only floors that meet the most demanding criteria are recognized as high quality. Before selecting the floor for your project, ask the dealer to open a box in front of you to check for these qualities:

• Make sure the grade you chose with the help of samples is really what’s in the box.
• Lay a few boards on the floor and put them together. They should fit together perfectly and you shouldn’t feel any variation in thickness.
• When put together, the boards form V joints where they meet. These joints must not be too deep, or dirt and dust can collect and make the floor hard to care for.
• The durability of the finish is determined by the quality of the polyurethane and the process used to apply it. The bottom of the joints must also be perfectly coated with varnish or it will collect dirt and water, causing it to darken prematurely.
• Finish needs to be applied in the right amount, not too thin and not too thick, in order to avoid a plastic effect and let the beauty of the wood show through. If the wood is stained, the stain should reach the bottom of the joints to ensure an even floor color.
• Check that the color is consistent from one board to the next and from one box to the next.
• Bright light and sun can cause wood from naturally pale species to yellow. UV protection in the polyurethane finish can reduce and slow this process down.