A Canadian Flooring Service Contract is a legally binding agreement between a flooring contractor (or flooring company) and a property owner that defines the scope of flooring installation, repair, or refinishing work to be performed. It covers the type of flooring material, square footage, subfloor preparation, installation method, material sourcing, project timeline, warranty terms, and payment structure.

Flooring installation contracts in Canada are governed by provincial contract law and, where the contract involves the sale and installation of materials, may also engage provincial sale of goods legislation for the materials component. Many provinces classify flooring installation as a home improvement. In Ontario, the Consumer Protection Act, 2002 (S.O. 2002, c. 30, Sched. A) imposes specific requirements on home improvement contracts, including the right to cancel certain contracts within a cooling-off period. Some municipalities require flooring contractors to hold a city-issued building renovator licence -- for example, the City of Toronto requires building renovators to be licensed under municipal by-law.

The contract is particularly important in flooring work because hidden conditions -- subfloor damage, moisture problems, asbestos-containing materials in older homes (common in 9-inch vinyl tiles manufactured before 1990), or uneven surfaces -- are frequently discovered after work begins. A well-drafted contract addresses how these unforeseen conditions are handled, including change order procedures and additional cost authorizations. Under provincial occupational health and safety legislation, including Ontario Regulation 278/05 (Designated Substances), asbestos-containing materials discovered during renovation must be handled by a licensed abatement contractor. Without written terms, disputes over material quality, installation defects, and unexpected costs are a common source of consumer complaints to provincial consumer protection agencies.

A Canadian Flooring Service Contract is needed when a homeowner is replacing existing flooring throughout the home with hardwood, engineered hardwood, laminate, luxury vinyl plank (LVP), ceramic or porcelain tile, carpet, or natural stone. The contract ensures that material grade, species, colour, pattern, and installation method are documented and that the contractor cannot substitute inferior materials.

When a property owner discovers subfloor damage -- water damage, mould, rot, or structural issues -- during renovation and needs to contract both the subfloor repair and new flooring installation as a coordinated project. Moisture testing on concrete subfloors is critical in Canadian climates and should be conducted in accordance with applicable ASTM standards.

When installing flooring in a new construction home or commercial build-out where the flooring contractor coordinates with other trades and the project timeline must integrate with the overall construction schedule.

When refinishing or resanding existing hardwood floors, which involves specialized dust containment, multiple coats of finish, and extended drying times that affect the homeowner’s ability to use the space. The contract should specify the finish type (oil-based versus water-based polyurethane), number of coats, and cure time requirements.

When a commercial property owner needs flooring for high-traffic areas such as retail stores, restaurants, medical offices, or industrial facilities that require specific material ratings for wear resistance, slip resistance, and accessibility transitions under provincial building codes.

When a landlord or property manager needs flooring replaced in rental units between tenants, often under tight timelines, and must document the work for capital cost allowance (CCA) deductions under the Income Tax Act (R.S.C., 1985, c. 1, 5th Supp.).

Material specifications must identify the exact flooring product by manufacturer, product line, colour, grade, and thickness. For hardwood, this includes species (red oak, maple, walnut, birch -- all common Canadian species), width, and whether it is solid or engineered. For tile, it includes material type (porcelain, ceramic, natural stone), size, and grout colour. All materials should bear appropriate CSA or equivalent certification marks. Substitution clauses should require written approval from the property owner before any material changes.

Square footage and layout details should state the total area to be covered, room-by-room breakdown, and the installation pattern (straight lay, diagonal, herringbone, staggered). A waste factor of ten to fifteen percent for standard installations and fifteen to twenty percent for diagonal or patterned layouts should be accounted for in material quantities.

Subfloor preparation defines the work required before installation: removal and disposal of existing flooring, levelling compound application, moisture testing (critical for Canadian climates with concrete subfloors), plywood underlayment installation, and asbestos abatement if applicable under provincial occupational health and safety legislation.

Pricing must be stated in Canadian dollars and should specify whether the price includes furniture moving, transitions and trim, door undercutting, and old flooring removal and disposal, as these are common sources of unexpected charges. GST/HST must be addressed separately since flooring services are taxable supplies under the Excise Tax Act. The payment schedule typically includes a deposit at signing and final payment upon completion and walkthrough.

Warranty provisions should cover both workmanship (typically one to two years for installation defects such as buckling, gaps, or loose tiles) and materials (manufacturer’s warranty). The warranty should specify exclusions for damage from moisture, improper maintenance, or normal wear and tear. A change order clause establishes the process for authorizing additional work when unforeseen conditions such as subfloor damage or asbestos are discovered, requiring written approval before costs are incurred.