FAQs - Flooring / Painting

Luxury vinyl plank (LVP) is our consistent recommendation for GTA basements. It is 100% waterproof, dimensionally stable through Ontario's seasonal humidity swings, extremely durable, and available in high-quality wood-look options that are visually convincing in a well-finished basement. Porcelain tile is appropriate for basement bathrooms and utility areas. For basement bedrooms where warmth and comfort are priorities, quality carpet over appropriate padding is a good choice. We advise against solid hardwood and standard laminate in below-grade spaces.
A single room installation can often be completed in one day. A main floor (typically 600–1,000 sq ft) typically takes 2 to 4 days including subfloor preparation and transition installation. A full home flooring installation or a basement finishing project runs 4 to 7 days depending on scope. Large-format tile installations take longer than plank flooring due to the substrate preparation, setting time, and grouting process.
Yes, the installation area needs to be completely clear of furniture before work begins. For whole-home projects, we work room by room where possible to minimize the disruption. We advise clients on the sequencing in advance so you can plan furniture placement and temporary living arrangements during the installation period.
The honest answer is: it depends on your space. For above-grade main floors and bedrooms in a dry, well-maintained home without pets and with careful moisture management, hardwood delivers a look and long-term refinishability that LVP doesn't match. For kitchens, basements, homes with large dogs, families with young children and unpredictable spills, or any space with moisture concerns, LVP is genuinely the better performing material. We help every client think through these trade-offs honestly rather than defaulting to the most expensive option.
Sometimes. LVP and laminate can float over many existing hard floors if the subfloor height increase is acceptable and the existing surface is flat, firmly attached, and in good condition. Tile and hardwood generally require removal of the existing floor before installation. We assess existing conditions during the estimate visit and advise on whether installation over existing flooring is appropriate for your specific situation.
Site-finished hardwood requires periodic refinishing, typically every 7 to 15 years depending on traffic and wear. Between refinishing cycles: sweep or vacuum regularly to prevent grit from scratching the finish, clean spills immediately, maintain indoor humidity between 35–55% year-round to prevent excessive expansion and contraction, and use felt pads under furniture legs. Pre-finished hardwood has similar maintenance requirements; the difference is in refinishing, site-finished floors can be refinished more completely and with greater control over the final appearance.
Start by considering the fixed elements in each room that won't be changing, flooring colour and material, cabinetry finish, countertop colour, and any furniture you're keeping. The wall colour should complement these rather than compete with them. Consider the natural light available: north-facing rooms with limited direct light benefit from warmer, lighter colours; south-facing rooms can handle cooler or deeper tones without feeling dark. We recommend testing any colour as a large painted swatch on the actual wall before committing, paint chips and digital visualizations don't accurately represent how colour behaves in the real light conditions of your specific room.
A single room takes 1 to 2 days including preparation, drying time between coats, and trim work. A full main floor (open concept living, dining, kitchen) takes 2 to 4 days. A complete interior repaint of a typical GTA home (3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, main floor) typically runs 5 to 10 working days. These timelines assume proper preparation and appropriate drying time between coats, rushing either produces results that don't hold up.
A full exterior repaint of a typical GTA detached home takes 4 to 8 days under good weather conditions, including pressure washing, preparation, priming, and two topcoats. Weather is a significant factor in exterior painting, we don't apply exterior paint in rain, in temperatures below 10°C, in direct hot sun on a south or west-facing surface, or when high winds prevent proper application. We schedule exterior projects with appropriate weather windows and communicate clearly about any weather-related scheduling adjustments.
Most premium interior paints are dry to the touch within 2 to 4 hours and can be recoated after 4 hours. However, paint continues to cure, harden and develop its full durability, for 2 to 4 weeks after application. We recommend waiting 24 hours before moving furniture back against freshly painted walls, and 2 weeks before cleaning painted surfaces. Rubbing a freshly painted wall before it has fully cured will remove paint regardless of how dry it appears.
Yes, and it's our standard specification for interior projects. Modern low-VOC and zero-VOC paints from quality manufacturers perform comparably to conventional paints, they hide well, wash well, and last. The benefit is immediate and real: lower off-gassing of volatile organic compounds means a more comfortable re-occupancy experience, particularly for households with children, allergies, or sensitivities. For rental properties, low-VOC paints also allow faster re-occupancy after painting, which matters when managing tenant turnover.