01
Moisture
Laminate's core is pressed wood fibre. On concrete we test, then lay 6-mil poly or an underlay with a built-in barrier.
No. 05 · Sample board
Laminate flooring
A hard-wearing, budget-friendly floating floor with a wood look, best in dry rooms over a flat base.
$4.50–$8 per sq ft, installed
What the price is made of
Material and labour per square foot of floor, the same split you'll see on our written quote. Waste is added to the material you order, not to the labour.
- Material
- $2–$4.50
- per sq ft ordered
- Labour
- $2.50–$3.50
- per sq ft of floor
- Installed
- $4.50–$8
- per sq ft, before prep
Worked example: a 12 x 15 ft room
- Floor area: 12 ft x 15 ft 180 sq ft
- Material to order: 180 sq ft + 10% waste 199 sq ft
- Material: 199 x $2 to $4.50 $400–$900
- Labour: 180 x $2.50 to $3.50 $450–$630
- Before prep and removal $850–$1,530
Line totals rounded to the nearest $10. HST extra.
About waste 10% for cuts at walls and around doorways.
Stairs $95 to $150 per step, depending on nosing, open sides and landings.
What's not in the number yet Removing the old floor, levelling and any subfloor repairs. They're separate lines, and the estimate tool adds them.
Run your own roomsHow we install it
Our approach to laminate
Laminate is the value floor we recommend most often for bedrooms, offices and living spaces. The better laminates are very scratch resistant, and some have sealed, water-resistant edges, but the core is still pressed wood fibre. Keep it out of bathrooms, lay it on a flat floor, and it will hold up for years.
A good choice for
- Bedrooms, home offices and living rooms on a budget
- Homes with pets: high AC-rated laminate resists scratches well
- Rental units that need a durable, affordable floor
Think twice for
- Bathrooms and laundry rooms, where edges can swell
- Basements with any history of water
- If quiet matters and the budget can't stretch to a good underlay
Honest prep notes
The three things that decide whether laminate lasts. We check each one at the free measure and write what we find on your quote.
Read the full prep guide02
Subfloor
Floating floors need a flat base. Dips make joints peak or click apart, so we level before we lay.
03
Acclimation
Boxes lie flat in the room for 48 hours before install, at normal room temperature, unopened unless the maker says otherwise.
Every laminate quote includes
- Flatness check and levelling where needed
- Underlay with a built-in vapour barrier over concrete
- Expansion gaps hidden under trim
- Transitions and quarter-round
- Packaging and offcuts hauled away
What we carry
- 12 mm, AC4
- Our pick for busy homes and pets. Solid feel underfoot.
- 8 mm, AC3
- Fine for bedrooms and offices at a lower price.
- Water-resistant laminate
- Sealed edges that tolerate spills for hours, not floods.
- Herringbone laminate
- The pattern look without the hardwood price; more labour.
Install day, step by step
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01
Level
Straightedge on every room, high spots ground and low spots filled.
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02
Underlay
Vapour barrier on concrete, sound underlay upstairs.
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03
Install
Click-together rows, staggered joints, gaps at every wall for movement.
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04
Trim and walk-through
Transitions, quarter-round, and a walk-through before we leave.
Questions about laminate
All questionsLaminate or luxury vinyl?
Laminate is usually harder to scratch and a little cheaper. Luxury vinyl handles water far better. For bedrooms and offices, laminate is great value; for kitchens, baths and basements, we recommend vinyl.
Why does some laminate sound hollow?
Floating floors click above the subfloor, and a thin underlay lets them drum. A denser underlay and a flat subfloor fix most of it. We bring underlay samples so you can hear the difference.
Can laminate go in a kitchen?
A water-resistant laminate can, if spills are wiped up. Under a dishwasher or near a sink that drips, we would steer you to vinyl or tile.
Other floors
Free within 45 km of Kingston
Ready to price your laminate?
We bring samples to your home, measure every room with a laser, take moisture readings, check how flat the floor is, and send a written quote within two business days.
Rather talk it through? Call (613) 555-0146. Priya answers weekdays, 8 to 5.