FLOORING MATERIAL MANUFACTURERS

The brands to the right are some of the most well-known and reliable. Especially with flooring, the differences in quality are not necessarily immediately apparent. You'll want to make sure the brand you choose is as resistant as possible to damage from traffic, moisture, stains, or scratches. We also recommend brands that come with a strong warranty, even if it increases the overall cost a little. It is well worth the peace of mind and the added protection.

WOOD FLOORING

1. Solid Hardwood: this type of flooring has solid wood throughout the entire platform. It comes either unfinished or prefinished. When unfinished hardwood is installed, it requires some light sanding, optional staining, and sealing, which takes 48 hours to dry. It is extremely durable and lasts for decades, but it cannot be installed in moist areas such as basements or bathrooms.

2. Engineered Wood: this type of flooring contains 80% to 90% plywood and a thin top layer of finished wood. It works better than solid hardwood for rooms with light moisture. It can also be installed as a "floating floor" which means you can have it installed over your existing floor (except carpet). But it is not as durable as solid hardwood, and it can only be sanded a couple of times.

3. Laminate: this type of flooring is comprised of a thin top layer of resin-infused paper on top of a wood-chip composite. It is scratch-resistance and works well in moist rooms. It is also cheaper to have it installed and looks remarkably real, but you cannot sand out scratches and it is a bit slippery.

CARPET FLOORING

1. Cut Piles are the most common types. They are soft, informal, and durable. Saxony, Textured Saxonies, Velvet/Plush, and Frieze are the main types of cut pile carpet.

2. Cut and Loop Piles combine cut and looped fibers and are more appropriate for formal rooms, but they still hold up fairly well in high-traffic environments.

3. Level Loop Piles is very durable and track resistant because of its strong loops. Level loop piles with short and densely packed loops are easy to clean. They prevent dirt from filtering into carpet. This type of carpet is ideal for high traffic areas.

TILE FLOORING

Tiles are available in a wide variety of materials. Travertine, marble, granite, slate, sandstone, limestone, ceramic, porcelain, glass, and saltillo are just a few examples. All tile is quite durable. The choices of size, grout type, and cost are the most difficult thing about choosing a tile floor.

THE INSTALLATION OF NEW FLOORING:

The differences between quality flooring contractors and amateur handymen looking for work should be fairly apparent. Professionals carry the proper licenses and tools to protect your home and they are eager to show a professional-looking portfolio of their own work. They'll also be able to deliver a variety of application options and product choices. They'll explain the procedures for installation, clean-up, maintenance, etc. You can bet the contractors we'll recommend will be able to offer you the peace of mind you'll need to know your home is fully protected. You can also take comfort in the fact that you'll be able to rely on their experience in applying only the best flooring products on the market.

COMPARING CONTRACTORS :

Remodelers Market recommends getting bids from several contractors. Remember, while price is important, choosing the company with the lowest price is not always the best idea.

“Not surprisingly, there are a number of pitfalls to which homeowners can fall victim, including evaluating and hiring a contractor without a personal interview, judging estimates on low price only, selecting products without comparison shopping, and not understanding the basics.”

To learn more about the qualifications we require of our contractors, visit our Screening Contractors page.

USING REMODELERSMARKET.COM:

Although there are plenty of websites that will collect your information and connect you with contractors, none of them consider how many estimates you'd like to receive. Most of them sell your contact information to as many contractors as possible, most of whom are not properly qualified. You'll receive an overwhelming barrage of harassing phone calls and emails from just about every contractor in your area. At RemodelersMarket.com, we ensure you'll only hear from your ideal number of qualified contractors and your satisfaction is guaranteed. To request your ideal number of estimates, click the red button to the right and describe your flooring project!