Hardwood Flooring Installation & Refinishing Contractor in Markham

What a Markham Flooring Contractor Actually Needs to Know

Markham homes have their own pattern of constraints, mostly driven by when they were built and what materials were standard at the time.

Original red oak is everywhere. Markham was largely built in the 1980s and 1990s, and standard builder spec at the time was 2.5″ or 3.25″ red oak strip flooring. Most homes still have it — sometimes under carpet, often visible. Red oak has open grain and warm undertones; it sands and stains differently than white oak. Contractors who only know white oak techniques get the colour wrong on Markham refinishing jobs.

Sanding allowance. By 2026, most 1980s Markham floors have already been sanded once during the home’s lifetime. Red oak strip can typically be sanded 3–4 times before reaching the tongue — we check the remaining allowance before quoting. If the floor is too thin, we say so and recommend replacement.

Pet damage in finished basements. A lot of Markham homes have finished basements where pets have been kept, and the hardwood there often has urine damage that’s soaked through. We can usually tell on the first visit whether refinishing alone will fix it or whether the affected boards need to be replaced.

Stained-to-match additions. Many Markham homes have additions or kitchen extensions added at different times, often with different hardwood. Matching new boards to existing 30-year-old red oak requires the right material source and stain mixing — we keep relationships with mills that produce restoration-width oak.

Engineered vs solid in newer builds. Newer Cornell and Berczy homes often have radiant heat or are over basement slab on grade. Engineered is the right call — we explain why during the estimate so the decision is informed, not pushed.

Two-storey foyers and staircase matching. Markham’s 1990s–2000s homes have two-storey foyers with staircases visible from the front door. Stair stain matching to the upgraded main floor is one of the most common asks. We do on-site stain matching as part of the standard process.

Heritage Unionville constraints. Working in heritage homes on or near Main Street Unionville means dealing with older subfloor conditions, sometimes original wide-plank pine underneath later oak. Restoration of these floors is a specialty — we know what to leave alone and what to refinish.

For more on what works for Markham homes specifically, see our blog post on hardwood flooring in Markham.