# Vinyl Plank Flooring Installation Cost, Hamilton and Burlington > What luxury vinyl plank costs installed in Hamilton and Burlington, when it beats laminate, and what the installer needs to see before quoting. Vetted local installer, one form. Source: https://905trades.ca/services/flooring/vinyl-plank/ · Last updated: 2026-08-30 · 905 Trades --- What luxury vinyl plank costs installed, and when it beats laminate. Typical installed cost for 800 sq ft of vinyl plank in Hamilton is **$4,400 to $8,000** ([Hamilton Home Costs, vinyl plank installation, verified 25 Jul 2026](https://hamiltonhomecosts.ca/cost/flooring/lvp-installation/)), a published estimator range for mid-range material with standard access, HST excluded. It is not a quote for your floor. For comparison, the same footage in laminate runs **$3,200 to $6,000** ([Hamilton Home Costs, laminate installation, verified 25 Jul 2026](https://hamiltonhomecosts.ca/cost/flooring/laminate-installation/)). ## What drives the price ### Wear layer thickness Vinyl plank is priced largely by the wear layer, measured in mil. A thin wear layer suits a spare bedroom; a thicker one is worth paying for in a kitchen, mudroom or a home with dogs. The installer will ask about the room before quoting a product line. ### Click-lock versus glue-down Most residential jobs use a floating, click-lock plank over an underlayment, which is faster to install and easier to replace a damaged plank later. Glue-down is used where the floor needs to be fully bonded, such as some basements, and adds labour. ### Subfloor flatness Click-lock plank telegraphs an uneven subfloor more than carpet does. In older Hamilton homes, especially lower-city houses with original wide-board subfloors, a self-levelling compound pass is common before the plank goes down, and that is a real line item, not an upsell. ### Waterproof core, below grade For a basement, the installer will spec a fully waterproof rigid or SPC core rather than a standard WPC plank, because basement slabs move moisture even when they look dry. ## What a quote should itemise - Product line and wear layer thickness, named, not just "vinyl plank" - Underlayment, and whether it is included or a separate line - Subfloor levelling, and the trigger price if it is needed once the old floor is up - Removal and disposal of the existing floor - Transitions between rooms and flooring types ## Permits in Hamilton Installing vinyl plank as a finish replacement does not need a City of Hamilton building permit, according to the [City's building permit page](https://www.hamilton.ca/build-invest-grow/construction-renovation/residential-building-renovation/building-permit). A permit applies only if the subfloor structure, joists, or an opening size is being altered underneath it, which is unusual for a straight refloor. ## When to do it and how long it takes Vinyl plank does not need the multi-day acclimation that solid hardwood does, so it is a practical choice for a fast turnaround between tenants or before a sale. A standard main floor, 800 to 1,000 square feet with a normal subfloor, is usually a one to two day job for an installer, faster than the same footage in hardwood. ## Common questions ### Is vinyl plank waterproof? Most rigid-core and SPC vinyl plank products are waterproof at the surface and the core, but the seams and edges still need to be installed correctly to keep water from getting underneath over time. ### Does it work over ceramic tile? Often, if the tile is flat and sound. The installer checks the existing surface for flatness and any loose tiles before recommending installing over it versus removing it first. ### Vinyl plank or laminate, which is cheaper? Laminate is typically the lower-cost option per the ranges above, but vinyl plank tolerates moisture better, which matters in a kitchen, basement or entryway. ### How long does the floor last? That depends on the wear layer and foot traffic, and is a question worth putting to the installer directly for the specific product being quoted, rather than a general number that does not apply to every product line. See the full cost breakdown on [Hamilton Home Costs, vinyl plank installation](https://hamiltonhomecosts.ca/cost/flooring/lvp-installation/), or compare it against [laminate](https://905trades.ca/services/flooring/laminate/) and [hardwood](https://905trades.ca/services/flooring/hardwood/), or go back to [all flooring](https://905trades.ca/services/flooring/). The flooring partner for the 905 is being confirmed. Send the request anyway: it comes to us, and we hand it to the contractor the day they sign. 905 Trades is paid a referral fee by the contractors it introduces. It does not change your price. You hire the contractor directly, on their quote and their contract. [How 905 Trades works](https://905trades.ca/how-it-works/) ### Not sure vinyl plank is right? See [laminate](https://905trades.ca/services/flooring/laminate/) and [hardwood](https://905trades.ca/services/flooring/hardwood/), or the full [flooring overview](https://905trades.ca/services/flooring/). ## Get this done Send a request: https://905trades.ca/request/ --- 905 Trades is paid a referral fee by the contractors it introduces. It does not change your price. You hire the contractor directly, on their quote and their contract. 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