A floor is only as good as what is under it. Most complaints about new floors, like hollow spots, clicking joints, gaps and squeaks, trace back to an uneven or loose subfloor rather than the flooring itself. Cowgirl Construction installs flooring across Calgary and handles the carpentry around it (stairs, transitions and baseboards), so the finished room looks complete.
Choosing a floor for a Calgary home
- Luxury vinyl plank (LVP): water-resistant, warm underfoot and forgiving over concrete, which makes it a popular choice for basements, kitchens and busy family homes.
- Laminate: affordable and scratch-resistant, but standard laminate is not waterproof.
- Engineered hardwood: real wood on a stable core. It handles Alberta's dry winters better than solid hardwood and can go over concrete with the right method.
- Solid hardwood: can be sanded and refinished many times, but moves more with humidity and should not go below grade.
- Tile: the go-to for bathrooms, entries and laundry rooms, and the best partner for in-floor heat.
Weighing LVP against wood? Read LVP vs hardwood in Calgary homes.
Subfloor preparation
Before any floor goes down we check flatness, look for loose or squeaky subfloor and confirm moisture conditions on concrete. Fixes can include screwing down subfloor to stop squeaks, adding underlayment, or levelling low spots with compound. Skipping this step is the most common reason new click floors fail.
Calgary's dry climate and wood floors
Indoor air in Calgary can get very dry in winter. Wood floors shrink a little when it is dry and swell when it is humid, which can open small gaps in winter. Letting wood acclimatize, keeping indoor humidity reasonable and leaving the right expansion gap all help. It is also why many Calgary homeowners choose engineered hardwood or LVP.
Stairs, transitions and trim
New floors usually mean new stair nosings, transition strips at doorways and baseboard or shoe moulding to cover the expansion gap. We handle the baseboards and trim and stair conversions as part of the same job.
Frequently asked questions
Can you install flooring I bought myself?
Yes. We can install flooring you supply, or quote supply and install. We will check quantities so you have enough for cuts and waste.
Do I need to remove my old flooring?
Usually, yes, especially carpet and anything glued down or uneven. Some floating floors can go over existing hard flooring, but it raises the floor height at doors and stairs. We will recommend what works for your rooms.
How long does flooring installation take?
Many main-floor installs take a few days, plus time for removal and subfloor prep. Stairs add time. Your quote will include a schedule.
What flooring is best for basements?
Water-resistant products such as rigid-core LVP are common over concrete. See our basement flooring guide.
