Blog / Flooring
How Long Does a New Floor Take?
Time on site for laminate, vinyl, hardwood, tile, staircases and refinishing, what makes a job run longer, and how far ahead to book.
Quick answer
Those are our numbers from real jobs across Toronto and the GTA, not an industry average. Here’s the time on site for each kind of job, what makes a job run longer, and how to plan the week around it.
Time on site, job by job
| Job | Time on site | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| Laminate or click vinyl | 1 to 3 days for most homes | Laminate floats, so you can walk on it the same day |
| Hardwood or engineered hardwood | 1 to 3 days for most homes | Glued or nailed boards take longer than a floating floor |
| Floor tile | 1 to 3 days for most homes | Depends on the area and layout; grout and sealing follow once it cures |
| Herringbone or chevron | Longer than a straight floor | The number of days comes with your quote |
| Staircase, one flight | About 3 to 4 days | The same with a landing; a curved flight takes about a week |
| Refinishing a hardwood floor | A few days | The drying of the finish sets the schedule |
| Refinishing stairs | Usually 5 days or more a flight | Each coat has to dry before the next |
| A condo unit | 1 to 3 days | Once the board approves the floor and the elevator is booked |
Laminate and vinyl: the quickest floors
Laminate and click vinyl float. The boards lock together over an underlay instead of being glued or nailed down, so a crew covers a room quickly, and laminate can be walked on the same day. Most homes are done in one to three days.
Glue-down vinyl takes longer than click, because the subfloor has to be flatter and the glue is part of the job. The difference is covered in click vs glue-down vinyl.
Hardwood and tile
Hardwood and engineered hardwood are usually one to three days too. A glued or nailed floor takes more time per room than a floating one, and an open main floor with lots of doorways takes longer than a few square bedrooms.
Tile takes the most labour of any floor. The subfloor has to be flat and rigid, the layout is set out before the first tile goes down so the cuts fall where they should, and grout and sealing follow once it has cured. Most homes are still finished in one to three days, depending on the area and the layout. See tile installation cost in Toronto.
Staircases
About three to four days for one flight, and a landing doesn’t add time. You can still use the stairs overnight and whenever you’re home while the work is under way. A curved flight takes about a week. Refinishing existing hardwood stairs takes longer than capping them, usually five days or more a flight, because each coat has to dry. See staircase renovation in Toronto.
Condos: the paperwork takes longer than the floor
The install itself is one to three days for most units. What takes time is everything before it: the board wants the floor’s sound rating, your installer’s insurance certificate and a service elevator booking, and work happens inside set hours. Start the paperwork before the flooring arrives. Our guide to condo flooring in Toronto covers what boards ask for.
What slows a job down
- Subfloor levelling. Dips and humps are fixed before the floor goes down. Any levelling is on your written quote.
- Patterns. Herringbone and chevron are laid board by board at an angle.
- Lots of doorways and transitions. Every doorway is another set of cuts and a trim piece.
- Stairs done with the floor. Worth doing together so they match, but count the stair days on top of the floor.
- Furniture. Rooms go faster when they’re empty. We can move furniture and appliances if you’d rather not, and it’s on the quote.
Taking up your old floor is part of the job and included in the price, so it doesn’t need its own day booked.
From first call to finished floor
- Free measure. We bring samples, measure every room and check the subfloor.
- Fixed written quote. The price and what it covers, with nothing added on the day.
- Booking. Most homes are booked within a week or two, and everything is confirmed in writing before we order material.
- Installation. One to three days for most homes, with a clean-up at the end of every day.
One point of contact runs the whole thing, from the first quote to handing the rooms back.
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to install flooring in a house?
Most homes take one to three days for laminate, vinyl, hardwood or tile. Staircases add about three to four days a flight, and herringbone takes longer than a straight floor.
How long does it take to install hardwood floors?
Usually one to three days for most homes. Glued or nailed hardwood takes longer per room than a floating floor, and herringbone or chevron longer again.
Can you walk on new flooring right away?
Laminate floats, so you can walk on it the same day. After refinishing a hardwood floor, the rooms stay out of use between finish coats while it dries.
How long does it take to refinish hardwood floors?
A few days. Sanding and staining go quickly; the drying of the finish coats sets the schedule.
How far ahead do I need to book?
Most homes are booked within a week or two of the quote, and everything is confirmed in writing before we order material.
Do I have to move out during installation?
Usually not for a new floor: we clean up at the end of every day, and you can use the stairs overnight during a staircase job. For refinishing, plan around the rooms being out of use while the finish dries, and the smell while it cures.
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