Glue-down
The standard on a concrete slab, after the moisture test. It is the method nearly every Toronto loft uses when the adhesive is condo-rated and the board allows it.
Toronto loft hardwood for the long room
- Width
- 10¼"
- Slab
- Glue-down
A loft condo is the open plate. 9¼ inch under about 700 sq ft.
After every slab is moisture-tested.
A Toronto hard loft or soft loft tower is a long room. King West, Liberty Village, and Distillery sightlines run with few interior walls, across a 600–1,200 sq ft plate, on 10¼ inch plank.
3/4 inch European white oak, stain match when you order, supply from $10.25/sq ft.
The long room.
King West, Liberty Village, and Distillery District lofts share long, unbroken sightlines and few interior walls. Floors Toronto typically recommends 10¼ inch straight plank because narrower widths create excessive seam counts across a 600–1,200 sq ft open floor plate. A wide face reads as one continuous surface beneath exposed brick and ductwork.
Smaller loft units under roughly 700 sq ft take 9¼ inch. At that size, 10¼ inch would feel disproportionate to the room.
Grade ABC’s natural knots and mineral streaks generally complement exposed brick, steel beams, and raw ductwork. Grade AB stays available when the owner wants a calmer, more minimal contrast against those industrial finishes.
Then the slab.
Concrete is the default subfloor in nearly every Toronto loft, whether a converted industrial building or a newer soft loft tower. Moisture testing is required before glue-down adhesive. Older hard loft conversions in the Distillery District and King West sometimes carry higher residual slab moisture than newer construction. The test is what prevents adhesive failure and protects the 3/4 inch European white oak from moisture-related cupping.
Freight elevator access is booked with building management alongside the install date, typically 1–2 weeks before the crew arrives, when a delivery crosses the building’s weight or volume threshold.
Alteration forms, the certificate of insurance, and acoustic targets are on the Toronto condo guide.
- Moisture-test the slab before glue-down is scheduled.
- Book freight access with the install, typically 1–2 weeks ahead.
- Install the method that loft’s documents already allow.
Glue-down versus float.
Floating
Possible with acoustic underlay where the corporation’s documents allow it. Floors Toronto confirms the approved method against that loft’s condominium documentation before the plan is final.
Loft specification.
| Attribute | Typical loft spec | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Width | 10¼ inch straight plank | 9¼ inch for smaller soft lofts |
| Grade | ABC common | Complements exposed brick and ductwork |
| Install method | Glue-down | Standard on a concrete slab |
| Moisture testing | Required before adhesive | Especially in hard loft conversions |
| Finish | UV-cured aluminum oxide | Standard on every order |
| Stain | Free custom matching | Match to exposed steel or brick tones |
The next step.
Share your loft’s square footage, slab condition, and freight elevator access window. Floors Toronto scopes width, grade, and stain around your building’s specifics.
Keep reading.
Related project galleries.
See how these specifications translate into finished rooms. Each case study links colour, area, pattern, and project scope with real installation photography from Floors Toronto.
Etobicoke · Straight plank
Etobicoke straight plank — Soft White
Etobicoke straight-plank engineered oak renovation — supply, acclimation, and method matched to subfloor.
5 photosABCnail-down
Toronto · Chevron
Toronto chevron — Mist Oak
Toronto chevron feature or whole-room install — precise mitres, batch-locked stain, UV-cured finish.
8 photosABglue-down
Toronto · Straight plank
Toronto straight plank — Soft White
Toronto straight-plank engineered oak renovation — supply, acclimation, and method matched to subfloor.
5 photosABCglue-down
Questions, answered.
What plank width works best in a Toronto loft condo?
10¼ inch straight plank is the most common recommendation for open-plan Toronto lofts because it reduces seam count across long, unbroken sightlines typical of converted industrial buildings and soft loft towers. Floors Toronto also supplies 9¼ inch for smaller loft units under roughly 700 sq ft where 10¼ inch would feel disproportionate to the room.
Do Toronto hard loft conversions need special moisture testing before hardwood installation?
Yes. Older hard loft conversions in the Distillery District and King West sometimes carry higher residual concrete slab moisture than newer construction, so Floors Toronto tests every slab before scheduling glue-down adhesive. This single step prevents adhesive failure and protects the 3/4 inch European white oak from moisture-related cupping after installation.
Which grade suits exposed brick and ductwork in a Toronto loft?
Grade ABC's natural knots and mineral streaks generally complement exposed brick, steel beams, and raw ductwork better than the more uniform Grade AB in a Toronto loft setting. Floors Toronto still offers Grade AB for owners who prefer a calmer, more minimal contrast against those industrial finishes.
How does Floors Toronto handle freight elevator delivery for loft installations?
Floors Toronto coordinates delivery timing with building management in advance to book freight elevator access, which most Toronto loft buildings require for any material delivery over a set weight or volume threshold. This scheduling step is confirmed alongside the install date, typically 1–2 weeks before the crew arrives on site.
Is glue-down the only installation method for Toronto loft condos?
Glue-down is the standard method for Toronto loft condos because nearly every unit sits on a concrete slab, but floating installation with acoustic underlay is also possible where corporation bylaws allow it. Floors Toronto confirms the approved method with your loft's condominium documentation before finalizing the installation plan.
(07) — Start your project
Tell us about your space.
What do you need?
Supply and install. Our oak, then our crew: measure, moisture, method, and a written 5-year workmanship warranty.
- Reply within 1 business day
- Stain match included when you order
- Itemised, no-obligation quote
- Insured crews, 5-year workmanship warranty
The quote request is in.
We reply within one business day. If the job includes install, the reply separates supply from the method and the subfloor. If you want samples, we send them on the real oak. If a site measure is needed, we book it from that reply.
If you chose a colour photo, email the file to tymur@floorstoronto.ca with your name so the match can start. The form stores the file name, not the picture.