How Tariffs Are Affecting Hardwood Flooring Prices

If you've been putting off that hardwood flooring project, you may want to move it up your priority list. A wave of new tariffs on wood products moving between Canada and the USA is starting to ripple through the flooring industry, and Vancouver homeowners are already feeling it in quote prices.

Here's what's actually happening, in plain English, and what it means if you're planning a renovation.

What's Changed Recently

Canada is investigating import surges. In April, the federal government directed the Canadian International Trade Tribunal to launch a formal inquiry into imports of wood cabinets, furniture, and hardwood flooring, after Canadian manufacturers reported job losses and business closures tied to a flood of cheaper imported product. That inquiry has up to 270 days to report back, but Canada didn't wait for the final results. In July, it introduced a temporary tariff on some wood product imports while the investigation continues.

The USA has escalated too. Since late August, the USA has been applying steep new tariffs, an additional 50% under Section 338, on a broad list of Canadian wood goods, including furniture, architectural millwork, panels, and cutting tools. Canada has responded with its own counter-tariffs on American wood products and hardware.

Flooring substrates are caught in the middle. Even when a finished hardwood floor itself isn't directly named in a tariff list, the plywood, MDF, and particleboard panels used as cores and substrates in engineered hardwood are affected. That means engineered wood products in particular are exposed to cost creep even when solid hardwood isn't.

More could be coming. USA officials are expected to report back to the White House on hardwood timber and lumber imports by October 1, 2026. That review could lead to yet another round of tariffs before the year is out.

What This Means for Your Project

Material costs are trending upward, particularly for engineered hardwood, which relies on imported panel substrates.

Supply chains are shifting as suppliers on both sides of the border adjust sourcing to manage new duties, which can affect lead times as much as price.

Timing matters more than usual right now. With another potential round of tariffs possible after the October review, locking in materials and pricing sooner rather than later could mean real savings.

Our Take

We watch these shifts closely so our customers don't have to. If you've been weighing whether to start a hardwood project this fall, it's worth getting a quote locked in now rather than waiting for prices to move again. We're happy to walk you through current material options, including where solid hardwood may now be the more cost-stable choice compared to engineered alternatives, and help you plan a timeline that works around any further changes.

Thinking about a flooring project? Contact us for a current quote and a straight answer on how these trade changes affect your specific project.