Can I Use Hardwood Flooring In My Condo?

When thinking of updating your condo, it is important to understand the necessary steps that will be involved with the condo before you can go ahead with your new hardwood floor.

Here are a few things that need to be considered with your condo that you wouldn't consider with your standard home:

• Access into the security gates if there is one
• Available parking spot and access for delivery of your hardwood flooring
• Timing of the delivery needs to be known to provide access to the elevators for the delivery team
• It's important to book enough time (and include some flex room) when scheduling the delivery of your hardwood flooring
• Check the allowable working hours for installation and what tools are acceptable for your installation. 
• Check to see if saws are allowed to be used if there is a designated area this can be done. This may increase the install time if cutting can not be done on site

As most condos have a concrete subfloor, engineered hardwood flooring is required for your home. It is important to consider the condition of the concrete prior to installation as well. If possible we recommend taking up a piece of the current flooring to view and understand the subfloor better. Concrete subfloors also absorb airborne and structural noises and will require a sound barrier underlayment or glue with a sound barrier with your hardwood flooring. It is important to check with your condo board and review the classifications - Impact Insulation Class and Sound Transmission Class Rating.

What are some things I should know about board lengths for my condo?

 It is important for you to confirm the maximum height that will fit in the elevators prior to ordering your hardwood floor. Typically, these are 8' or 9' in some situations. This is important as our engineered hardwood flooring has extremely long lengths, with boards up to 12' long. We will ship materials with maximum lengths in order for a smooth delivery of your hardwood flooring. The long lengths in the engineered will help to create a nice solid feeling looking floor. It will also help to provide visual continuity in your space while providing a natural looking hardwood floor. 

What Types of Installation should I use for my condo?

There are three different types of installation that can be used in your condo:

1. Full Glue down- you can learn more about a full glue down here. Simply put, the engineered hardwood floor is glued directly to the concrete

2. Double Glue down - The approved underlay is glued to the concrete sub floor and the engineered hardwood is glue to the underlay. 

3. Floating (Edge Glued) - This requires the approved acousti-tech underlayment with edge gluing. Learn more about this install in our help center. 

All three of the different installation types have their pros and cons, so its important to understand the differences of each method. Overall outcome, Cost, and Project time are factors to consider when looking at the different methods.

How is the Heating Season Different in my Condo? 

Living in a condo means that sometimes it can be very hard to have temperature and humidity control in your unit. Often there are central systems that can contribute, making it very difficult to control the relative humidity in your home. This is especially important as engineered hardwood flooring is not a bulletproof option! Your engineered floor has a solid hardwood surface on the top, which will still move and behave like a solid wood product. If your condo unit becomes too dry and well below the recommended relative humidity range it can crack. It's important to choose a product that will handle and hide any cracking that may occur. Check out the realities of engineered flooring.

Comparing Engineered Floors for your Condo 

It's important to compare some different engineered hardwood flooring options on the market. As the majority of the products available are manufactured in China, they are not made to stand up to our climate or perform for long periods of time. To learn more about engineered flooring, check out some Engineered Hardwood FAQs to help with your decision making process. Check the wear layer, inquire about lengths, warranty, and if your hardwood flooring has the ability to be refinished as a good rule of thumb. 

So go for it! Have that dream floor that your condo is begging for!