Hardwood Flooring Installation in Ottawa
Solid and engineered hardwood installed properly — moisture tested, acclimated, and laid on a flat, prepped subfloor. Owner on every job.
Get a Free QuoteOttawa homes and hardwood flooring are a natural fit. The look is timeless, the durability is proven, and a properly installed hardwood floor adds real value to any home. Orleans Flooring Co. is an owner-operated flooring business based in Orléans. Joseph Leger — the owner — handles every hardwood installation personally, from the initial subfloor assessment through to the final transition piece and cleanup.
There are no crews passed off to subcontractors on hardwood jobs. When you call Orleans Flooring Co., Joseph is the person who answers, measures the space, checks the subfloor conditions, and does the installation. That matters on hardwood jobs because the decisions made before a single board goes down — how the subfloor is flattened, how long the wood acclimated, which direction the boards run, which installation method suits the conditions — determine whether the floor performs well for decades or starts showing problems within the first year.
Orleans Flooring Co. installs both solid hardwood and engineered hardwood in Ottawa, Orléans, Gloucester, Barrhaven, Nepean, Kanata, and surrounding communities. If you're planning a hardwood installation, call Joseph directly at 613-981-8903 for a straightforward conversation and a free quote.
What Proper Hardwood Installation Requires
Hardwood is less forgiving than LVP. Every step in the process matters. Here is what Orleans Flooring Co. addresses on every hardwood job before and during installation.
Moisture Testing
Wood moves with changes in moisture content. Before any hardwood is installed, Joseph tests both the subfloor and the wood itself using a calibrated moisture meter. The goal is to reach equilibrium moisture content (EMC) — where the wood's moisture level matches the ambient conditions of the space. In Ottawa's climate, interior conditions typically produce EMC values between 6% and 9%. Installing wood that is too wet or too dry relative to the space it will live in creates the conditions for cupping, crowning, gaps, or buckling later on. Moisture readings are documented before installation begins.
Acclimation — 48 to 72 Hours Minimum
Hardwood flooring must acclimate in the installation space before it goes down. Joseph requires a minimum of 48 to 72 hours of acclimation for most solid hardwood products, with some species and wider-plank formats requiring longer periods. The wood is stored flat in the room where it will be installed, with HVAC running at normal living conditions. Rushing this step — or skipping it entirely — is one of the most common causes of premature hardwood failures. No hardwood job is scheduled to begin before acclimation time is built into the project timeline.
Subfloor Flatness — 3/16" in 10 Feet
The industry standard for hardwood installation is a subfloor that is flat within 3/16 of an inch over any 10-foot span (and 1/8" over 6 feet for some engineered products). Ottawa homes — particularly those with older plywood subfloors or concrete slabs with high spots — frequently need work before hardwood can be installed. High spots are ground down with a belt sander or floor grinder. Low spots are filled with floor-levelling compound and allowed to cure fully before installation. This preparation step is not optional — it is what prevents the hollow sound, flexing, and movement that cause premature wear at joints.
Installation Method — Nail-Down, Glue-Down, or Floating
The right installation method depends on the subfloor type, the hardwood product, and the conditions of the space. Solid hardwood over a wood subfloor is typically nail-down using a pneumatic floor nailer — this is the traditional and most stable method for solid wood. Engineered hardwood can be nail-down, full-spread glue-down (particularly on concrete slabs), or floating depending on the manufacturer's specifications and the subfloor conditions. Joseph selects the method that matches the product and the conditions, not the one that is fastest.
Board Direction
Hardwood boards should run perpendicular to the floor joists in most residential installations. This provides structural support across the framing and reduces the chance of the floor feeling springy underfoot. In open-plan spaces, board direction also affects the visual flow of the room — running boards parallel to the longest wall typically makes a room feel larger. Joseph discusses board direction with every client before layout is finalized.
Expansion Gaps at Walls
Wood expands and contracts seasonally, especially in Ottawa's climate where interior humidity shifts significantly between winter heating season and summer. Every hardwood installation requires a proper expansion gap around the perimeter of the room — typically 1/2 inch minimum, covered by baseboard or quarter-round trim. Missing this gap, or filling it with caulk, is a direct cause of buckling and peaking when the wood expands. Transitions at doorways and between rooms are also planned and installed to allow for movement.
What's Included in a Hardwood Flooring Installation
- Subfloor inspection — flatness check, fastener check, squeaks identified and addressed
- Moisture reading — calibrated moisture meter readings of subfloor and hardwood, documented before installation
- Subfloor preparation — grinding high spots, filling low spots with levelling compound
- Layout planning — board direction discussion, starter row placement, visual centering for symmetrical rooms
- Installation — nail-down, glue-down, or floating as required by conditions and product specifications
- Transitions — threshold and T-mold transitions at doorways, top-of-stair nosing, reducer strips at tile or LVP transitions
- Cleanup — sawdust vacuumed, off-cut material removed from site, floor swept and ready for use
Hardwood Flooring Installation — Frequently Asked Questions
How much does hardwood flooring installation cost in Ottawa?
Hardwood flooring installation in Ottawa typically runs between $4.00 and $7.00 per square foot for labour, depending on the installation method, subfloor condition, and complexity of the space. Nail-down solid hardwood over a wood subfloor in good condition is at the lower end of that range. Glue-down engineered on a concrete slab with significant levelling required will be higher. Materials — the hardwood itself — are priced separately and vary widely depending on species, grade, and plank width. Joseph provides a detailed, line-itemized quote after seeing the space. There are no estimates given over the phone without measurements.
What's the difference between solid and engineered hardwood?
Solid hardwood is milled from a single piece of wood, typically 3/4 inch thick. It can only be installed using nail-down or staple-down methods over a wood subfloor and is not suitable for below-grade spaces or directly over concrete. Engineered hardwood is a multi-layer product with a real wood veneer on top and a plywood or HDF core. It is more dimensionally stable than solid wood, handles humidity fluctuations better, and can be installed using nail-down, glue-down, or floating methods — including directly over concrete. For most Ottawa homes where a basement or slab installation is involved, engineered hardwood is the appropriate choice. In above-grade spaces over wood subfloors, both options are viable and the choice comes down to preference, budget, and whether future refinishing is a priority.
Can hardwood flooring be installed in basements?
Solid hardwood should not be installed in basements. The moisture levels and lack of airflow below grade make solid wood too unstable — it will cup, warp, or develop mold over time. Engineered hardwood can be installed in basements, but only when moisture conditions are properly assessed first. Joseph tests concrete slab moisture levels before recommending engineered hardwood for any below-grade space. If moisture readings are elevated, luxury vinyl plank (LVP) is a more appropriate choice — it is 100% waterproof and handles the humidity variation of Ottawa basements without issue.
How long does hardwood need to acclimate before installation?
A minimum of 48 to 72 hours is the standard for most hardwood products, but wider planks, exotic species, and some engineered products benefit from longer acclimation periods of 5 to 7 days. The wood is stored flat in the room where it will be installed, with the home's HVAC running at normal living conditions — not an empty house in winter with the heat turned down. Skipping or shortening acclimation is one of the most common causes of post-installation movement, gapping, and cupping in Ottawa's climate. The acclimation period is built into the project schedule, not rushed.
Do you refinish existing hardwood floors?
Orleans Flooring Co. focuses on installation rather than refinishing. Hardwood refinishing — sanding and recoating — is a separate trade that requires dedicated drum sanders, edge sanders, and dust containment equipment. If you have an existing hardwood floor that needs refinishing, Joseph can point you toward reputable refinishing contractors in the Ottawa area. If the existing floor is beyond refinishing or you are replacing it with new hardwood, Orleans Flooring Co. handles the removal of the old flooring and full installation of new hardwood.
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Ready to Install Hardwood Flooring in Your Ottawa Home?
Call Joseph directly at 613-981-8903 or send a message to get a free, detailed quote. No pressure, no obligation — just a straightforward conversation about your project.
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