Timber Link Blog

"Can we just go over it—or do we have to tear it out?" That's the question we hear the moment someone brings a flooring sample to the counter. The good news? You don't always have to rip everything out. The better news? When you do, a clean prep job is what makes the new floor last. Here's how we walk Muskoka homeowners and cottagers through tear-out, subfloor prep and getting ready for new flooring—without skipping the steps that matter. 🤔 Tear Out or Go Over? You can save time by installing new flooring over old—if the old floor is in good shape and the new product allows it. Overlay can work when the existing floor is firmly attached (no bounce or soft spots), clean, dry and flat—and when the manufacturer lists that hard surface as an approved substrate. Some floating LVP and laminate lines allow smooth sheet vinyl. Patch dips with floor-patching compound so the surface is smooth before you cover it. 💡 Important: Going over raises the finished floor height. T...

  "What sheen should we get—and which way do the boards run?" That's the question we hear once someone has already fallen for a sample at the counter. The good news? Flooring style is a short stack, not a design degree. Sheen + colour → plank width → pattern → direction. Then match that look to hardwood, engineered, laminate or LVP. Here's how we walk Muskoka homeowners and cottagers through it—without overthinking it. ✨ Start with the Look Underfoot: Sheen (and Why Matte Is Winning) Wood floors usually come in three sheens: glossy, satin and matte. Semi-gloss shows up as a fourth option on some finishes. Glossy bounces the most light. It can look dressy—and it shows every speck of dust, every paw print and every scratch. Satin sits in the middle. Soft glow, easier to live with than a mirror finish. Matte (sometimes called low-lustre) is winning right now for a reason. It reads casual and calm. Dirt and micro-scratches hide better. And it feels less slippery under soc...