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Origins Flooring Review (2026)
An installer’s look at Origins engineered hardwood: 25 products in European oak, American walnut and hickory, 3/4 inch thick, and what it costs installed in Toronto.
Quick answer
Where the numbers come from
Every figure below comes from the spec sheets of the 25 Origins products on our site as of September 2026. It is a small range and the sheets are unusually consistent, which makes it easier to describe than most. Where a sheet does not state something, we say so.
The range side by side
A 3/4 inch engineered board is an unusual thing
Most engineered hardwood is 9/16 inch or thinner. Origins is 3/4 inch, the same total thickness as solid hardwood, which has two practical consequences worth understanding.
It sits at the same height as an existing solid floor, so it can meet one in a doorway without a ramp or a transition strip. And it feels solid underfoot in a way thinner engineered boards do not, because there is simply more board between you and the subfloor. What it does not tell you is the veneer thickness, which the sheets do not state and which is what actually decides how many times the floor can be refinished. Ask us before you assume it sands like a solid floor.
Below grade, and what that really means
Every Origins sheet clears the product for installation on, above or below grade. That is a genuine advantage over solid hardwood, which is not rated for basements at all.
It is not permission to ignore the slab. Below grade still means the concrete must be tested for moisture and levelled before anything is nailed or glued to it, and a basement that has ever had water needs that dealt with first. We test while we measure. See our engineered versus solid comparison for where each one belongs.
What to check before you buy
The veneer thickness. Not stated on the sheets. If refinishing matters to you, ask us to check the specific collection before you order.
Your subfloor height. A 3/4 inch board raises the floor more than a 9/16 inch one. That matters at doorways, at the bottom of stairs and under a dishwasher.
Hickory if you want movement, walnut if you want calm. Hickory has dramatic colour variation board to board; walnut is far more even. Both are in the range and a small sample will not show you the spread. Ask to see several boards.
What it costs installed
Origins is nailed or glued, so installation is from $4.90 per square foot including glue and nails. Taking up your old floor is included, the floor itself is priced on top, and the full list is on our flooring installation cost page. For how we install it, see our page on engineered hardwood installation in Toronto.
Browse the range on our Origins flooring page, or see the wider engineered hardwood selection. Send us your square footage for a free quote.
Examples from the collections above: Warm Heritage American Hickory, Maxine Oak Origins XL and Tiffany European Oak.
Buying Origins flooring in Toronto
Our Origins range covers engineered hardwood, and we fit all of it across Toronto and the GTA. For larger jobs we go out as far as Wasaga Beach, Niagara Falls and Castleton. Give us your square footage and we will price the floor and the fitting together, in writing, after a free measure.
Frequently asked questions
Is Origins flooring solid or engineered?
Engineered, but at 3/4 inch it is the same total thickness as a solid board. That means it meets an existing solid floor at the same height, and it is rated for below-grade installation where solid hardwood is not.
Can Origins go in a basement?
The sheets clear every product for on, above or below grade, so yes in principle. The slab still has to be tested for moisture and levelled first, and a basement with a history of water needs that resolved before any floor goes down.
Can Origins be refinished?
The sheets do not state the veneer thickness, which is the number that decides it. A 3/4 inch engineered board usually has a substantial veneer, but we will not promise what the sheet does not say. Ask us and we will check the specific collection.
What widths does Origins come in?
7 1/2 inch on most collections and 6 1/2 inch on one, in random lengths from 16 to 83 inches. Every sheet lists a micro-bevelled edge and a matte finish.
Which species should I choose?
European oak is the even, straightforward choice and covers 16 of the 25 products. American walnut is darker and calmer. American hickory has the most colour variation board to board, which some people love and some people are surprised by – ask to see several boards rather than one sample.
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