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New evidence uncovered by a yearlong investigation by Mongabay and Earthsight reveals the corrupt deals made by Brazil’s largest flooring exporter, Indusparquet, and its suppliers. The company was charged in two corruption lawsuits in Brazil over its use of public officials to gain access to …
Wood Flooring Current market In a Presently published report by Stratagem Industry Inights, titled “Worldwide Wood Flooring Market Size, Suppliers, Offer Chain, Product sales Channel and Consumers, 2022-2030”, the analysts have presented an in-depth overview of the Wood Flooring Market place. The report is an …
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There’s nothing like the look of hardwood floors, but maintaining them can be quite the chore. They don’t take kindly to spills, and they are easily scratched by day-to-day foot—and paw!—traffic. Plus, hardwood floors are often pricey to install.
It’s no wonder, then, that vinyl plank flooring is such a hit with homeowners. Vinyl plank flooring, or VPF for short, is a much more durable and affordable option to create beautiful interior spaces for the home.
Depending on your needs, you’ll need to choose between regular vinyl flooring or luxury vinyl, says Stacy Lewis, owner and interior designer at Eternity Modern. Luxury vinyl is the heftier choice, and you usually have many options for color and style. Then, there’s the floor’s finish.
“For heavy foot traffic areas such as living rooms and kitchens, I recommend getting vinyl plank flooring with an enhanced urethane finish,” Lewis says. “They have a high-gloss look and are damage-resistant.” However, for lower traffic areas, no-wax finishes are best, she says.
We researched dozens of vinyl plank flooring types, considering factors like type, length and width, wear layer thickness, durability, and range of finishes. In addition to Lewis, we also talked to Todd Saunders, CEO of FlooringStores; Shoshanna Shapiro, owner and principal designer at Sho and Co.; and Ben Gold, founder of Recommended Home Buyers.
Our top choice overall is the Shaw Primavera Luxury Vinyl Plank Flooring, a good long-term choice that is 100{6b977529af4b490fe19a3f85472c6203ccfa467a56646e317a890c6580e8b827} waterproof and scratch-, skid-, and mark-resistant. Plus, it has easy click lock installation and is available at a good price.
Here are the best vinyl plank flooring choices for your home.
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The Home Depot
Why You Should Get It: It’s appropriate to install in any room in the house.
Keep in Mind: Order samples, as colors online might differ in person.
Just because you see the word “luxury,” doesn’t mean you have to treat this vinyl plank flooring by Shaw with kid gloves. The Primavera Luxury Vinyl Plank Flooring has the look of real hardwood, but with a sturdy 20-mil wear layer, it can prevent scratches, scuffs, and even skids, making it our overall pick for the best vinyl plank flooring. (Mil means “one-thousandth of an inch” and is the measurement of the vinyl plank’s thickness.)
Shaw Primavera can easily be laid down over wooden or concrete subfloors. It features an Armourbead finish that offers up to six times scuff resistance, so you can install it in just about any high-traffic area in your home. Choose matching or coordinating trim and molding to create seamless spaces.
Even better? This luxury vinyl plank flooring has a Soft Silence acoustical pad attached, which cuts down on noise while upping the comfort level you’ll feel with every step. It’s also FloorScore certified, meaning that any emissions released by the installed floor planks will not affect the air quality in your interior spaces.
Price at time of publish: $5 per square foot
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The Home Depot
Why You Should Get It: It offers superior resistance to mold and mildew.
Keep in Mind: It’s not as scratch-resistant as other options.
This rigid core click lock luxury plank flooring from Home Decorators Collection will really make the look of your space click (pun intended). It has an authentic wood look, but it’s 100{6b977529af4b490fe19a3f85472c6203ccfa467a56646e317a890c6580e8b827} waterproof, so you can install it in high-traffic areas, like the kitchen. It’s not quite as effective as other choices when it comes to preventing scratches, stains, and slips, but for a lower-cost pick it does a good enough job, making it our choice for the best vinyl plank flooring on a budget.
It offers mold and mildew resistance, making it a good option for your basement. But with a sound-reducing layer that comes attached, you might also consider this for the upper floors in your home to manage noise levels. With a wear layer thickness of 12 mil, it feels as good underfoot as it looks.
The click-and-lock installation method—which means it can be added to any subfloor—makes this a good project for DIYers to tackle.The brand also makes coordinating trim pieces, including end caps, stair noses, T-moldings, and reducers that make it even easier to create a beautiful space.
The brand offers a lifetime warranty for residential installations, protecting homeowners from product defects as well as wear and tear over time. The 7-inch wide planks come in a variety of neutral wood-grain colors, ranging from light to dark, so it’ll fit in with any wall and cabinet colors.
Price at time of publish: $3 per square foot
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Lumber Jack Direct
Why You Should Get It: It’s sturdy enough for commercial applications.
Keep in Mind: You might have to wait for availability.
Armstrong has a long-standing reputation in the flooring industry, and it continues on with more modern applications like vinyl plank flooring. Armstrong Rigid Core Essentials Luxury Vinyl Plank Flooring stands out because its rigid core technology is a solid choice for busy households. It can ward off scratches, stains, and scuffs—so well, in fact, that it can also be used for commercial applications.
This rigid-core vinyl plank flooring from Armstrong is also waterproof, so you can install it in just about any room in the home, including high-moisture areas like the kitchen, bathroom, and even the laundry room. Another advantage of the rigid core technology is that it allows for an easy, click-in installation over any type of subfloor.
These planks are thick, tough, and built to last—you’ll feel the support with every step. They come in a variety of colors, so it’s easy to find the right look for your home’s floors. And being that they are able to hold up to moisture and heavy foot traffic, you can feel confident to install it anywhere in your home.
Price at time of publish: $3 per square foot
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Lowe’s
Why You Should Get It: It offers a different aesthetic from others on the market.
Keep in Mind: It’s better for larger spaces.
Many of the best vinyl plank flooring options on our list feature planks that are around 6 or 7 inches wide. If you want a bit of a different look for your flooring, you could choose a wider plank, like the 9-inch Cali Longboards flooring.
This option features a variety of wood grain pattern options for an authentic look but with added strength for high-traffic households. The hefty 20-mil wear layer wards off human and pet traffic, plus it’s 100{6b977529af4b490fe19a3f85472c6203ccfa467a56646e317a890c6580e8b827} waterproof. If you thought you were limited to tile in the kitchen and bathroom, you’ll be happy to know that this vinyl plank flooring from Cali is a beautiful option.
This one is among the wider VPFs on the market, and at 9 inches, it’ll offer a bold look for your floor. It’s a great option for flooring in expansive, open-concept spaces like the basement—if you’re looking to put a floor in a smaller space, you may want to instead opt for a plank that’s regular width or perhaps even narrower to make the space look bigger.
Installation is made quick and easy thanks to interlocking pieces that can stay as a floating floor or be glued down to the subfloor.
Price at time of publish: $6 per square foot
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Lowes
Why You Should Get It: It can make small spaces seem larger.
Keep in Mind: It’s not billed as skid-resistant.
A narrower plank offers a different aesthetic and can even make a smaller space appear much bigger. This vinyl plank flooring from Smartcore, an exclusive Lowe’s brand, comes in a 5-inch width that is slimmer than many of the other options on the market.
If you want the look of real hardwood but you live in the real world that your household traffic needs something stronger underfoot, Smartcore is a good choice. The luxury vinyl plank flooring comes in more than 10 colors, all featuring a realistic wood look thanks to beveled plank edges. But it’s also 100{6b977529af4b490fe19a3f85472c6203ccfa467a56646e317a890c6580e8b827} waterproof, so you can install it in any areas at high risk for moisture and spills, including the kitchen, bathroom, and laundry room. It’s also easy to clean.
The planks have a padding attached, making it easy to install right over a subfloor. For additional soundproofing, protection against moisture, and increased comfort, the manufacturer recommends adding an additional Smartcore Soft and Sound layer underneath during installation—not a bad idea for upper floors or the basement.
This vinyl plank flooring has GreenGuard Gold certification because it meets the strict air quality emissions for indoor spaces. The brand also offers a five-year limited residential installation warranty.
Price at time of publish: $3 per square foot
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wayfair
Why You Should Get It: Microban technology keeps mold and mildew at bay.
Keep in Mind: It’s pricier than other options.
One of the reasons homeowners are in love with wood flooring is because of the rich, glorious grain. The Adura Max flooring from Mannington is vinyl, but it looks like the real deal with saw marks and knotholes.
The best part of this beautiful luxury vinyl plank flooring is that it is waterproof thanks to the hydroloc core, which means you can install it in the kitchen or bathroom where moisture and spills happen on a daily basis. It also has Microban technology to keep mold, mildew, and odors caused by moisture away, making it our choice for the best vinyl plank flooring for bathrooms and kitchens.
The Adura Max is also a great choice for moisture-prone rooms because it offers slip resistance. It has a pre-attached under-layer that absorbs sound (up to 30{6b977529af4b490fe19a3f85472c6203ccfa467a56646e317a890c6580e8b827}) and can be easily installed over concrete, wood, or vinyl subfloors.
The wear layer is made of ScratchResist urethane with aluminum oxide, so you won’t have to worry about dropping that hairbrush when you’re getting ready in the morning or that kitchen utensil when cleaning up after a meal. With a wear layer of 20 mil, this vinyl plank flooring from Mannington can withstand heavy foot traffic from humans and pets.
Price at time of publish: $7 per square foot
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The Home Depot
Why You Should Get It: It lives up to its name and is truly “life-proof.”
Keep in Mind: It’s a bit difficult to install compared to other click-lock flooring.
Lifeproof’s Sterling Vinyl Plank Flooring is ready to take on the wear and tear of everyday life in your home, which is why we named it our choice for the best vinyl plank flooring for homes with pets and kids.
This vinyl flooring checks off all the boxes that you’d want for high-traffic areas: It’s waterproof, has anti-microbial protection, and stands up to scratches, stains, and even dents. It’s an especially good vinyl plank flooring choice for households that see foot traffic of all kinds, from high heels to little sneakers to multiple paws and claws.
Lifeproof features a rigid core with a 6-mil wear layer. The under-layer is already attached to the planks, which interlock for installation on any subfloor, be it concrete, vinyl, tile, or plywood. Though it offers the look of real wood—and other products in the Lifeproof brand resemble marble and other stones—this vinyl plank flooring is skid-proof, making it safe for kids and their furry friends to run and play on safely and without damage to the floor.
Lifelock comes in a variety of colors and styles, so it’s easy to find the right match for your home’s aesthetic. This brand of vinyl plank flooring is exclusive to Home Depot, and the brand stands by its product—there’s a lifetime warranty for residential installations.
Price at time of publish: $4 per square foot
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The Home Depot
Why You Should Get It: It has an easy peel and stick application and is very budget-friendly.
Keep in Mind: The 4 mil layer is a bit thinner than other VPF on the market.
Add another vinyl plank flooring option to the category “lives up to its name.” With this luxury plank flooring from TrafficMaster, you can have the best of both worlds in your home—the look of real wood floors with the strength of vinyl.
The surface has a coating of ceramic beads that forms a barrier against scratches and stains, so sharp heels and scratchy claws are welcome. It’s water-resistant, so it’s a good option for kitchens and baths, and it’s easy to install over any subfloor—no underlayer is needed.
The GripStrip installation makes this floor’s installation a no-brainer for DIY warriors—just peel and stick. The TrafficMaster vinyl plank flooring is easy to clean and maintain with just a dust mop or vacuum. It comes in more than a dozen colors, all of which offer the authentic wood grain look you’re aiming for in your home.
It’s backed by a 30-year warranty, so you’re guaranteed to enjoy the look of your new floors for a very long time.
Price at time of publish: $4 per square foot
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The best vinyl plank flooring for most people is the Shaw Primavera Luxury Vinyl Plank Flooring. It’s 100{6b977529af4b490fe19a3f85472c6203ccfa467a56646e317a890c6580e8b827} waterproof and is scratch-, skid-, and mark-resistant, making it ideal for long-term use in high-traffic areas. Plus, it’s available at a nice mid-range price and boasts easy click lock installation for the DIYer.
There are three main types of vinyl plank floors: luxury vinyl plank, rigid plank flooring, and waterproof flooring. While all three types have similar characteristics—most will tout some degree of water resistance—you’ll want to make sure that you’re getting the type that’s appropriate for a particular area in your home. For the kitchen, bath, basement, and other areas prone to moisture and spills, you’ll want to go with vinyl plank flooring with excellent waterproofing capability.
The length and width of the planks will vary by brand and your personal choice, but there are some considerations for homeowners. “Generally speaking, smaller planks are going to be more labor-intensive to install,” says Todd Saunders, CEO of FlooringStores, though he notes that they’re “easier to get a clean look with, especially in rooms with lots of awkward corners to work around.” He also says they’ll likely be slightly more expensive per square foot, so keep this in mind for your budget.
Keep in mind that the thickness of the plank is in millimeters (mm) while the wear layer thickness is in mil—these are two different measurements, and they’re not measuring the same thing at all. Plank thickness measures the thickness of the actual plank, while wear layer thickness measures the clear layer of vinyl that’s applied to top of the plank to protect it. When it comes to durability, you’ll want to pay attention especially to the wear layer thickness—the thicker the better when it comes to high-traffic areas in your home.
“It’s best to go with a blended pattern that incorporates multiple colors from the rest of the room in a way that will effectively hide scratches, scuffs, and dirt,” Saunders says. While there is a wide selection of colors and finishes on the market, he notes that there are some manufacturers who will even print custom planks with your choice of wood grain pattern.
As for choosing between light or dark colors, here’s Gold’s advice: “Lighter coloring always makes the area feel bigger, but it’s harder to maintain cleanness because the dust is more visible.” His suggestion is to put darker areas in high-traffic areas like the kitchen and save the lighter colors for less-frequented rooms in your home.
Laminate and vinyl flooring are both more affordable and durable alternatives to hardwood floors. Vinyl flooring is made up of multiple layers to create a durable, waterproof finish. A vinyl core is topped by a wear layer and a printed vinyl layer that features the wood grain look.
Laminate flooring is made up of layers of synthetic material; an inner core board has a photo image layer—this provides the wood grain look—and is topped with another layer for protection. However, not all laminate floors are waterproof. When deciding which of the two is best for your space, you’ll have to consider the level of moisture for those particular rooms, especially when deciding on flooring for the kitchen and bath.
Mil (one-thousandth of an inch) is the measurement of the vinyl plank’s thickness. The thicker the plank, the more protection you’ll have against damage. “For the average house, 12 mil is a perfect choice,” says Ben Gold, founder of Recommended Home Buyers, who has more than five years of experience with remodeling homes. He mentions, though, that if you’ve got pets or heavier foot traffic, look for VPF that has 20 mil.
If you plan to place heavy furniture and appliances on top of vinyl planking, it’s better to use adhesive rather than a floating installation to ensure better stability.
“LVP may be wipeable, but it is thin, hard, and buckles at pinch points,” says Shoshanna Shapiro, owner and principal designer at Sho and Co. She notes that a floating floor installation will likely be damaged if you try to put a heavy appliance like a refrigerator or a kitchen island on top of it.
This article was written by Barbara Bellesi Zito, who writes about home and garden topics for various lifestyle publications. To write this article, she researched dozens of vinyl plank flooring types, considering factors like type, length and width, wear layer thickness, durability, and range of finishes. Barbara also consulted Stacy Lewis, owner and interior designer at Eternity Modern; Todd Saunders, CEO of FlooringStores; Shoshanna Shapiro, owner and principal designer at Sho and Co.; and Ben Gold, founder of Recommended Home Buyers.
When it comes to finding the best type of flooring for your living room you are faced with a nearly endless array of colors, textures and materials. Finding the best type of flooring will of course depend on the style of your room and interiors; the …
Hardwood flooring is a sought-following commodity. It can be mounted by skilled DIYers or industry experts. In possibly case, it allows to be ready prior to starting installation. Jaw-dropping options can promote a household in a heartbeat. A penthouse condominium with ground-to-ceiling windows and a …
Photo: istockphoto.com
There has been a gradual shift over the last decade or two from carpeted flooring to hardwood flooring as the most popular option for homes. The main reason for this shift is that hardwood is simply easier to maintain for a longer period, so homeowners can enjoy the look and feel of the floors for years to come before having to think about repairs or updates. Hardwood flooring is also available in diverse styles, colors, and textures, providing customers with various options to suit their preferences. Although it’s possible for DIYers to tackle hardwood flooring projects to save on installation costs, it’s always better (and safer) to leave any work pertaining to the home’s semipermanent infrastructure to a professional installation company. Homeowners will want to consider this list of the best hardwood flooring installation companies and take some time to learn more about what to look for in a professional installation service to find the right option for their home.
Photo: istockphoto.com
It’s important to take the time to learn more about hardwood flooring companies and what they have to offer before deciding on one of the best flooring companies. Consider the company’s service area, the type of hardwood it carries, scheduling modes, and more.
The service area of a hardwood flooring company depends heavily on the number of locations the company has statewide or nationwide. Most major hardwood flooring installation companies have a wide service area, with many available to customers across the U.S. Before looking at the products offered by a flooring installation company, take a few seconds to find out where the company operates. It can be frustrating to find the ideal flooring material at a certain company, only to find out later that the company doesn’t work in your area. Most companies will have a ZIP code locator tool on their website so customers can quickly determine if their home is within the service area. But if the company website doesn’t provide this information, homeowners can also call and ask a customer service representative.
Flooring installation companies carry several popular types of hardwood, including solid hardwood, engineered hardwood, bamboo, cork, and hybrid flooring. A plank of solid hardwood is wood all the way through. Comparatively, engineered wood is a thin layer of hardwood over a piece of plywood. Solid hardwood can be refinished over and over. In contrast, engineered hardwood can only be refinished a limited number of times (sometimes only once) before the top layer of hardwood is worn away. But engineered hardwood is often less expensive and easier to install than solid hardwood without compromising looks. Bamboo and cork flooring are more eco-friendly options. Hybrid flooring is more akin to laminate or vinyl plank flooring, and it’s an excellent choice for affordability, durability, and water resistance.
Not every company carries every type of hardwood flooring. If a customer is set on bamboo flooring, they’ll need to prioritize their search by looking for companies that sell and install bamboo flooring. Some installation companies do not carry flooring products at all, and homeowners will need to purchase the materials from a third party.
Deciding on hardwood with the right look for a home may seem like a simple process, but flooring materials may look different under harsh store lighting or on a computer screen than in the home. With this in mind, many hardwood flooring installation companies provide in-home shopping services. The customer books an appointment with a flooring expert to meet at the home and look over a wide range of product samples.
This service makes it easier to see exactly how different products will look with a home’s lighting and with the existing aesthetic. Additionally, the flooring expert can use this time to take measurements and may be able to provide an estimate at the end of the appointment. If a customer doesn’t have the time for an in-home appointment to review flooring options, some companies will also allow the customer to order free samples that they can then consider at their leisure. Ordering samples also allows customers to see different flooring options at different times of day, which may sway their opinion one way or another.
Knowing the cost of the materials and labor isn’t just important but is also necessary before a customer can proceed with the installation. With this in mind, many flooring installation companies offer in-home shopping services where a customer can pick the flooring material they want from a range of samples. The flooring expert will then take measurements to create an estimate.
However, if a customer decides on the flooring product in-store, they will likely need to book an appointment to have a flooring installation professional visit their home and take measurements to create this estimate. While some companies may provide a basic estimate based on the material and approximate room size, this price could increase or decrease significantly depending on the actual dimensions of the room. Customers will want to ask for a detailed breakdown of the costs and services so they can be certain there aren’t any hidden fees.
Keeping a home in a state of continual unrest for an undefined period is difficult for any customer, so any home renovation project should have a projected timeline. When booking, a homeowner will want to speak to the customer service representative to get a basic idea of the installation timeline. If the customer service representative doesn’t have a definitive answer, the homeowner can ask to speak to one of the installers to find out this information.
Typically, the timeline for installing hardwood is longer than for other flooring types because hardwood requires about 3 to 5 days to acclimate to the home’s temperature and humidity level before it can be installed. After this acclimation period, the installers can get to work removing the trim, molding, and old flooring before preparing the subfloor, laying the underlayment, and installing the first row of hardwood floor. Customers can expect an average installation timeline of 7 to 10 days for the whole project.
The average cost to hire a hardwood flooring installation company ranges from $2,500 to $6,750, so it’s important to get an estimate before the work begins. Customers can research various flooring companies and look into each company’s pricing and financing options. Customers can also speak to the customer service staff to ask questions about any services that are unclear or hidden fees and set up an in-home appointment to get an accurate estimate. This estimate will help customers decide whether they can afford to go ahead with the flooring renovation or if they will need to pursue financing options to pay for the work.
Another important factor to speak to the customer service staff about is whether the materials and labor are covered under warranty. Most flooring material comes with a manufacturer warranty that guarantees the quality of the material for a specific period. However, this warranty does not cover any issues with the actual installation, so if the floor buckles or peels due to faulty installation work, the product warranty will not cover repairs.
Many flooring installation companies offer labor warranties, while some companies even have service plans covering damages that would fall outside of a standard warranty. It’s also a good idea to find out if the flooring installation company has liability insurance or a surety bond to protect the customer’s property and investment.
This list of the best hardwood flooring installation companies was selected based on product selection, service area, installation timeline, scheduling convenience, and overall quality.
Photo: empiretoday.com
Why It Made the Cut: Empire Today stands out with its exclusive hardwood flooring options, comprehensive service plans, and all-inclusive price estimates.
One of the most important factors for many prospective customers is having a firm understanding of the overall cost. Empire Today recognizes this need and provides customers with an all-inclusive price estimate that includes moving furniture, removal and haul away of old flooring, new floors, padding or underlayment, thresholds, trim, professional installation, and final cleanup.
Empire Today offers a range of solid and engineered hardwood flooring options, including the exclusive WhisperHOME product line designed to reduce sound and increase temperature retention. However, customers looking for solid hardwood may not find as many exotic or unique options available through Empire Today. Empire Today’s service plans cover damage beyond the product warranty, including stains, scratches, dings, and warping, making the plan a good option for families with kids or pets.
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Photo: llflooring.com
Why It Made the Cut: LL Flooring provides up to four free samples and an augmented reality visualizer tool to help customers feel confident about their flooring choices.
Finding the right flooring for the home can be difficult, especially when a company doesn’t offer in-home shopping options. However, LL Flooring makes up for this limitation by providing customers with an augmented reality visualizer tool. The tool allows customers to view a wide range of floor options in their homes without needing an in-home shopping appointment. This makes finding the right hardwood flooring option easier and less disruptive before scheduling an installation appointment.
If the augmented reality visualizer tool isn’t enough, customers can also order up to four free samples to get a better look at the flooring in the proper lighting. Additional samples are available, though customers are required to pay a surcharge for these materials. It should also be noted that while LL Flooring has a wide selection of hardwood, including exotic wood and unfinished solid wood, the company does not provide warranty information. It’s recommended to ask about the warranty before booking an estimate appointment. Customers can book this appointment online or by phone, and those who live near an LL Flooring showroom can also visit a location in person.
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Photo: nationalfloorsdirect.com
Why It Made the Cut: By keeping prices low and offering to beat written estimates from competitors, National Floors Direct makes new flooring affordable for prospective customers.
The cost of new hardwood floors throughout the home is enough to prevent many people from investing in this renovation project, but National Floors Direct aims to help customers afford an upgrade in their homes with a $150 online booking discount and no additional charges to move furniture or install premium underlayment. The company will also beat any competitor’s legitimate written estimate by 15 percent for comparable flooring products. National Floors Direct does not mention warranty information, so it’s recommended to speak to a customer service representative to get clear details on service and warranty coverage before booking. National Floors Direct offers in-home shopping, and customers can book an in-home shopping or estimate appointment online or by phone.
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Photo: homedepot.com
Why It Made the Cut: With a wide variety of flooring products and over 2,300 locations, The Home Depot is fully equipped to provide reliable flooring installation services nationwide.
Whether the goal is to install cork, bamboo, engineered, or solid wood floors, The Home Depot delivers these options to customers. While the company is known for its large, warehouse-style home improvement stores, The Home Depot home services department focuses on home renovation services, like hardwood flooring installation.
The company has a far-reaching service area with over 2,300 locations across the U.S. A Home Depot installation comes with a lifetime labor warranty, so customers can rest easy knowing that any labor-related installation problems are covered. However, the company does not have an in-home shopping option, which can make it difficult to decide on a hardwood flooring product. It’s also worth noting that The Home Depot charges a $50 fee for in-home measurements, but this is deducted from the overall cost of the installation if the customer proceeds with The Home Depot.
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Photo: mrhandyman.com
Why It Made the Cut: The experienced installation professionals at Mr. Handyman assess the existing floor, repair what can be fixed, and replace what can’t.
Not every hardwood floor needs to be replaced just because it has some scratches, dents, or dings. Mr. Handyman makes a point of employing industry professionals with an average of 10 years of experience to help customers assess their existing floor. If the current floor is still in decent condition, the installation professional may suggest minor repairs to fix the floor instead of pressing for a costly floor replacement.
Mr. Handyman is an installation, repair, and refinishing company, so it does not sell hardwood floors. Customers will need to purchase the flooring material from a third party, which could delay the installation timeline. Scheduling is handled over the phone, allowing customers to speak directly with customer service representatives to find out any pertinent information about the installation process, including the 1-year installation warranty.
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With transparent, all-inclusive price estimates and comprehensive service plans, Empire Today is an ideal flooring option, especially for customers who may be concerned about hidden fees and shoddy work. For individuals who want to see a wide range of flooring options without booking an in-home appointment, LL Flooring is the right choice with its augmented reality visualizer tool and the option to order up to four free samples.
Selecting the top hardwood flooring installation companies required extensive research into a wide range of installers, product offerings, warranties, and operational standards in order to narrow down the choices to the top five. The best hardwood floor installation companies were selected for several important factors, including service area, flooring options, transparent pricing, and warranties, as well as extra features that help to serve the customer better.
The quality of a flooring company only really matters to a customer if the company services the area where the customer lives, so it was necessary to choose companies with a strong nationwide presence. It was also important for companies to have a wide variety of hardwood flooring types or exclusive product lines, though this wasn’t necessary for selection. Other factors, like price-match offers, in-home shopping, and a high level of industry expertise were also considered during the final selection of the best hardwood floor installation companies.
Jumping into a hardwood flooring project without properly researching the installation companies isn’t a good idea. There can be factors that a customer hasn’t considered, like hidden costs or the installation timeline. Before hiring a hardwood floor installer, customers will want to check with customer service representatives to find out if the installers are properly insured and if there is a labor, material, or service warranty that helps to protect the customer’s investment.
It’s also recommended to request an up-front price estimate breakdown so that the customer knows exactly what they are paying for and what services are included in the overall price. Customers should make sure that the company carries or can source the flooring material that they want for the home. Customers can also inquire about a basic timeline for the installation and get a definitive answer on whether the installers will clean up after the installation or if this task is left to the customer to handle.
Having a budget for a flooring project is one of the best ways to ensure that a homeowner doesn’t spend more than they want for a new floor. But a homeowner needs to have an idea of the average cost of hardwood flooring in order to make a reasonable budget. The cost of hiring a top flooring installation company will range from about $2,500 to $6,750, depending on the size of the project and the type of hardwood flooring material. Material costs can range from inexpensive options at just $6 per square foot to expensive products that can exceed $25 per square foot. Costs to move furniture, clean up, or take measurements may or may not be included in the overall price, so it’s recommended to request a price estimate breakdown before hiring a company.
There are many reasons to hire a professional hardwood flooring installation company, but the most obvious is that expert flooring installers know what they are doing. These expert individuals work in the flooring industry every day, giving them a high level of knowledge and experience that helps them complete flooring installations quickly, efficiently, and with a quality that may elude the average DIYer.
While a DIY job may be acceptable for the current residents of the home, prospective home buyers will often be willing to make a higher offer for homes with a professional-quality hardwood flooring installation. Additionally, there are a large number of hardwood flooring companies that provide warranties on the labor and materials, as well as some companies that go a step further by offering a service warranty that covers damages or problems that would generally fall outside of a standard warranty.
Customers won’t want to settle for the first hardwood floor installation company they come across. Before deciding among the top flooring companies, consider the answers to some of the most frequently asked questions below.
In order to find a top-quality hardwood flooring expert, it’s necessary for a customer to research potential options to determine the best hardwood flooring installation companies that are available in their area. Customers can look for hardwood flooring companies that offer the services or features they are looking for, like virtual consultations or flexible warranty plans. Top options include Empire Today, LL Flooring, National Floors Direct, Mr. Handyman, and The Home Depot flooring installation.
It’s recommended to wait at least 6 hours before walking on a new hardwood floor in socks and 24 hours before walking on the floors with shoes. Ideally, homeowners should wait a full 48 hours before moving the furniture back into position and about a week before putting carpets or area rugs in place. This allows homeowners to spot any problems with the new hardwood floor installation.
It’s hard to spot mistakes or problems with the installation if a homeowner doesn’t know enough about how to install hardwood floors, so it’s important to take some time to understand the basic process before hiring a company to complete the work.
The process begins by removing existing baseboards, trim, and the old flooring. The new hardwood should be allowed about 3 to 5 days to acclimate to the home’s environment before the installers begin laying the first boards into position. The starting point will usually be along an exterior wall because these walls are more likely to be square than existing interior walls.
Installers will leave a ¾-inch expansion gap around the perimeter of the room, then lay out the floorboards to ensure that there is a good variation in the boards’ color and length. With the flooring laid out, the installers begin moving the boards into place and fastening them to the subfloor with a pneumatic nail gun. The last few boards are generally nailed in manually to avoid uneven nail holes or shifting floorboards. Any holes are filled with wood putty, and the baseboards and trim are replaced. Finally, professional installers will typically clean up the area and provide details on when the homeowner can walk on the floor or replace furniture.
An experienced DIYer could handle a hardwood flooring project, but this doesn’t mean that it’s an easy renovation task to complete. The best engineered wood flooring is easier to work with than solid hardwood flooring because it is lighter and more flexible, and it can be nailed or glued down. If a homeowner prefers hardwood flooring to engineered wood, then they will need to use a flooring nailer to install the new hardwood. The hardwood may need to be sanded and finished, depending on the product.
The length of time it takes to fully install a new hardwood floor depends heavily on the size of the project and the type of hardwood floor. Hardwood first needs to acclimate to a home’s conditions before it can be installed. Some hardwood flooring products can acclimate to the home within 3 to 5 days, while other options may require up to a week to fully acclimate before they can be installed.
Larger projects will generally take longer to complete than smaller projects. If a homeowner is installing hardwood throughout the entire home, they can expect the installation work to take about 3 to 5 days to complete, while a single room may only take 1 to 3 days to finish. On average, the entire process takes 7 to 10 days.
The process typically starts by visiting the showroom or booking an in-home shopping appointment to choose the right flooring product for the home. If a customer selects the material in-store, then they will need to book an appointment for a flooring professional to take measurements and provide an estimate.
Once the customer agrees to the installation, the installation company sets up a delivery date for the material, which will need to sit in the home to acclimate for several days before installation. After the hardwood is acclimated, the flooring professionals will start taking up the old floors, cutting, measuring, and laying the new floors over a period of 2 to 5 days.
When the job is done, the flooring company will typically clean up and help move the furniture back into position.