Wickham Hardwood Flooring in Mississauga and Barrie

Solid hardwood is a single piece of wood through and through. It is nailed or stapled to a wood subfloor and can be refinished many times, which makes it a lifetime floor for a main or upper level. What it does not like is moisture or a concrete slab, because solid wood moves with humidity. Engineered hardwood has a real hardwood top layer over a cross-layered plywood core, which keeps it far more stable when the seasons change. That stability is what lets engineered go where solid should not: over concrete, in a basement, or with in-floor heating. The top layer is still real wood, so it looks identical underfoot; the difference is in where each one can safely be installed.

Hardness decides how well a floor resists dents from furniture, pet claws, and dropped items, and it is measured on the Janka scale. Among the Canadian species Wickham works in, red oak sits around 1290 and white oak around 1360, hard maple around 1450, and hickory around 1820, which is one of the hardest domestic woods. Yellow birch, around 1260, is a little softer with a fine, even grain. A harder species like maple or hickory suits a busy family home or a space with large dogs, while oak and birch give you more visible grain to take a stain. We will walk you through which species fits your household.

Wickham floors come prefinished, with a cured surface applied in the factory that is tougher and more consistent than a finish brushed on site, and it means no sanding dust or curing time in your home. Looks range from pale natural maple through warm and dark oak stains, in different gloss levels from matte to satin. A lower gloss hides everyday scuffs and footprints better, which is worth knowing for a busy floor. Plank widths vary, and a wider plank reads more open and modern while a narrower strip gives a more traditional look.

Solid Wickham is nailed or stapled down to a wood subfloor on or above ground level. Engineered Wickham can be nailed, glued, or floated, which is what makes it the option over concrete or below grade. Either way, real wood needs to acclimatize in the room before it goes down, and the home needs to stay within a sensible humidity range year-round so the floor does not cup in a damp summer or gap in a dry winter. An expansion gap around the edges lets the floor move with the seasons. Our crews manage the acclimatization, the subfloor prep, and the fit as part of the install.

Wickham suits living rooms, bedrooms, hallways, stairs, and main floors where you want the look and longevity of real wood. Engineered Wickham opens up basements and slab-on-grade floors that solid wood cannot handle, and works with in-floor heat. For a bathroom, a laundry, or any space that gets regularly wet, we would steer you to tile or vinyl instead, since standing water is the one thing hardwood will not tolerate. Bring your room measurements to either store and our team will match the species, build, and finish to your home, and our in-house crews can install it.

In simple terms: Wickham is real Canadian hardwood you buy once and refinish rather than replace. Choose solid for a main or upper floor you want to keep for life, or engineered if you are going over concrete, into a basement, or over in-floor heat. Pick a harder species like maple or hickory for a busy home, keep the room humidity steady, and avoid wet rooms.