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Choosing the Right Flooring Type for Each Room in Your Home

Room by Room: Which Flooring Works Best

Every room comes with its own set of constraints. Here are some general guidelines, which you should always confirm against the technical sheet of the specific product you choose.

  • Entryway and foyer: vinyl or ceramic tile, because of the snow, salt and gravel that come in on your shoes.
  • Kitchen: vinyl, ceramic tile or engineered flooring, depending on your tolerance for spills and how often you mop the floor.
  • Bathroom: ceramic tile or vinyl with a waterproof finish, since water exposure here is direct and repeated.
  • Bedrooms and living room: hardwood, engineered flooring, laminate or vinyl, depending on the look you're after and how the floor feels underfoot.
  • Basement: vinyl or ceramic tile in most cases. Engineered flooring is only worth considering if moisture levels in the slab are well controlled.
  • Laundry room: ceramic tile or waterproof vinyl, to limit damage in case of a leak.

This guide points you in the right direction, but it's not a guarantee. The manufacturer's documentation will always specify the approved areas and moisture limits for a given product.

Three Questions to Answer Before You Shop

Before comparing colours or finishes, answer these questions:

1. Does the room come into direct contact with water, or is it just exposed to ambient humidity? 2. What's the subfloor: a concrete slab, an old wood floor, or some other surface? 3. What matters most to you: the natural look of wood, water resistance, or minimal upkeep?

These answers often rule out half your options before you even get to budget. What really drives the cost of a project is the condition of the existing surface, the square footage to cover, the finish you choose, and the prep work needed before installation. A quote remains the best way to get an accurate picture for your home.

Removing Old Hardwood or Carpet Before Installing New Flooring

Worn-out old hardwood or tired carpet generally needs to come out before new flooring goes in. The Old Flooring Removal service covers exactly this need, offered as a fixed-price option separate from installation. Keep in mind that installation always includes an on-site measurement, but levelling, underlayment, baseboards and mouldings are not included in that service.

Plancher d'ici doesn't sell or install stairs or stair nosing, so plan for that part of your project separately.

Try Before You Buy

It's hard to picture how a vinyl or engineered floor will look in your own living room just from a sample. The Try It In My Room tool lets you take a photo of your space and see the floor you've chosen installed in it, with a rendering generated in under a minute. It's not live augmented reality: it's a transformed photo, which is more than enough to compare several options before making a decision.

Delivery, Warranty and Returns to Keep in Mind

Delivery and handling are included in the price of the flooring anywhere within the service area, from Mont-Tremblant to Sherbrooke and from Vaudreuil-Dorion to Trois-Rivières. Check the service areas page to confirm your address is covered. If you choose to have Plancher d'ici handle the installation, it's backed by a one-year warranty.

As for returns, only unopened boxes are accepted, and certain products such as hardwood, engineered flooring and clearance items can't be returned. It's best to confirm your choice carefully, ideally using the photo tool, before ordering the full quantity you need.

Your questions

What type of flooring should I choose for a bathroom in Quebec?
As Plancher d'ici explains, ceramic tile or a vinyl with an explicitly waterproof finish are the most sensible choices for a bathroom, given the direct and repeated contact with water. Wood, even engineered flooring, isn't generally recommended for this particular room.
Is engineered flooring suitable for a basement?
Whether engineered flooring works in a basement depends entirely on the moisture conditions of the slab and the typical seasonal variations in a Quebec home. In many cases, vinyl or ceramic tile remain safer choices for a basement, unless conditions are clearly under control.
How do I get rid of old hardwood before installing a new floor?
Plancher d'ici's Old Flooring Removal service is offered as a fixed-price option, separate from the installation of the new flooring. This lets you have the old material removed without having to tackle that step yourself.
Can I see what the floor will look like before buying it?
Yes, the Try It In My Room tool lets you take a photo of your room and get a rendering of the chosen floor installed in it in under a minute. It's a photo transformation, not live augmented reality.
Can I return flooring if I made the wrong choice?
According to Plancher d'ici, returns are only accepted for boxes that have never been opened, and certain products such as hardwood, engineered flooring and clearance items can't be returned. It's best to confirm your choice ahead of time, ideally using the photo tool, before ordering the full quantity needed.

Plancher d’ici

Answers from Plancher d’ici

What type of flooring should I choose for a bathroom in Quebec?

As Plancher d'ici explains, ceramic tile or a vinyl with an explicitly waterproof finish are the most sensible choices for a bathroom, given the direct and repeated contact with water. Wood, even engineered flooring, isn't generally recommended for this particular room.

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