Best Flooring Companies

Flooring can make a huge difference in the atmosphere of your home, and a good floor can also improve your home’s overall value. To choose the right flooring for your space, start by evaluating each room — not every type of flooring is best for every type of room.

Hardwood 

Hardwood is a classic. It brings warmth and natural beauty to a space, and it’s highly customizable. It comes in several different species and stains, with all kinds of features to choose from. It is a bit expensive, however, at $3 to $6 per square foot (before installation).

Here are some hardwood customization options to consider:

• Wood species: There’s a variety of tree species used to make hardwood flooring, including oak, walnut, ash and maple. Exotic woods like Brazilian cherry or teak, mahogany and tigerwood may be harder to find — and more expensive.
• Plank size: Plank sizes used to be fairly straightforward, with most planks measuring either 2 to 3 inches wide, but current flooring trends lean toward wider planks of anywhere from 4 to 6 inches, depending on the style and size of the space.
• Grain pattern: The grain is determined by the species of tree and the method used to saw it. There are four different sawing methods used to slice hardwood floor planks: plain sawn, quarter sawn, rift sawn and live sawn. Each method results in a different grain pattern, so compare the styles and confirm that your flooring company offers the method you want before committing.

Engineered hardwood is a great option if you’re interested in hardwood but want a more affordable option. Engineered hardwood is created using layers of hardwood and plywood, while hardwood is solid wood with no layers.

Engineered hardwood has the same look and finish as true hardwood floors, but its materials and installation typically cost a bit less. Engineered flooring does have a shorter life span than true hardwood flooring, however, so hardwood might be the way to go if you’re looking for longevity and can afford the investment.

Types of hardwood flooring

There are different grades of hardwood flooring, including:

• Clear hardwood: This is the highest grade of hardwood flooring. It tends to be the most uniform in size and appearance.
• Select and better hardwood: This hardwood has uniform color and few visible imperfections.
• #1 common hardwood: This option has a higher chance of showing imperfections and varies in board color and length.
• #2 common hardwood: This type of flooring has notable color variation and imperfections like knots and pinholes.
• Cabin-style hardwood: Cabin-style hardwood has a rough-hewn appearance with checking and unfilled knots and wormholes.
• Shorts: These have the highest concentration of color variation, imperfections and other visual characteristics.

Best uses for hardwood

Living rooms, entryways, bedrooms, dining rooms and offices are all great places to install hardwood floors. Although spills might deter you from installing hardwood floors in your kitchen, there are new sealants and finishes that can help repel water on wood.

There’s also the risk of nicking your floor by dropping pots and pans or other heavy objects, but hardwood is still a popular option if you’re willing to handle the upkeep. Exotic hardwood flooring is popular among upscale buyers with large budgets who want a statement-style, enduring flooring option.

Hardwood pros and cons

What’s the best flooring for the money?

Though it’s expensive, hardwood flooring is a classic choice that can improve your home’s value. If you’re trying to sell your home or increase its overall worth, hardwood flooring is definitely worth considering.

Laminate

Plastic laminate can be laid as a floating floor with no nails or glue required for quick, easy installation. Each tongue-and-groove plank has a dense fiberboard core topped with resilient, scratch-resistant plastic laminate. It comes in many different faux finishes and colors that resemble natural wood and stone. It typically costs $1 to $5 per square foot before installation.

While laminate is definitely a more affordable alternative to hardwood or tile floors, it doesn’t have the long lifespan of other floor types because it’s prone to chipping. If you’re looking for a flooring option that can stand foot traffic from visitors, kids and pets for a solid 20 years, though, laminate flooring is definitely worth considering.

12-mm vs. 8-mm laminate flooring

Laminate flooring is typically 8 or 12 millimeters thick, and both options have advantages and disadvantages. Decide which is best for you based on the following:

• Price: 8-millimeter laminate is more affordable.
• Durability: 12-millimeter laminate tends to be more durable.
• Feel: 12-millimeter laminate has a foot feel similar to hardwood floors.

Best uses for laminate

Laminate flooring is a great option for homes with pets or kids — it’s durable, easy to clean and inexpensive. It’s susceptible to moisture damage, though, so you may want to avoid installing it in moisture-prone areas, like laundry rooms and kitchens, unless you invest in a waterproof or water-resistant option.

Laminate pros and cons

Tile

Tile comes in many forms and styles, from natural stone options like marble and limestone to decorative styles like cement or glass tiles. Each type has benefits and common uses, and some tiles are better suited for certain spaces.

Depending on the tile you get, you might spend $3 to $6 per square foot (before installation). Some types of tile and their popular uses include:

• Cement tile is a popular modern flooring choice due in part to its repeated appearances on home renovation shows like “Fixer Upper” and “Home Town.” Typically, ceramic tiles feature art or designs with Mission- or Moroccan-style influences. They’re long-lasting and durable, and as long as they’re properly installed and maintained, they won’t stain or scratch easily. They’re great for small spaces like laundry rooms or entryways.
• Ceramic tile is an affordable alternative to porcelain tile. However, ceramic tile isn’t as durable as porcelain. It’s also more porous, so installing it in a moisture-prone area like a bathroom or an outdoor living area isn’t advisable.
• Glass tile comes in an array of colors and patterns, including classic subway styles and intricate mosaic designs. It has a light-reflecting effect, which can make a small room seem larger. It’s impervious to water so it doesn’t stain, making it a good option for the bathroom. Glass tiles can be slippery, but using small tiles helps curb slipperiness.
• Natural stone tiles are luxurious and fit a variety of spaces, from bathrooms to kitchens. Because they’re made of an all-natural material, they tend to be more expensive than other types of tile. Popular options include marble, limestone and slate.
• Porcelain tile is dense and less porous, so it’s popular for bathroom floors. Many porcelain floor tiles are manufactured to mimic the look of natural stone and wood, so it’s a durable alternative to flooring types that may not be suitable for high-moisture areas.

Porcelain vs. ceramic tile

We consider both porcelain and tile affordable flooring solutions. Porcelain tiles are denser and heavier than ceramic tiles, however, so you can often tell which type of tile it is just by holding it.

If you can’t tell and are unable to test the weight of the tile, take a look at its edges. Porcelain tiles will have the same consistency and finish throughout, while ceramic tiles tend to have a glazed finish.

Best uses for tile

With so many materials and styles to choose from, tile is a great flooring option for almost every room and space. For buyers who want to customize their flooring, tile offers variety and flexibility other flooring types can’t surpass.

Tile pros and cons

Carpeting

Carpet is one of the most popular flooring materials. Fabric twist is a better indicator of carpeting quality than weight — uncut carpet piles are good for high-traffic areas and resist stains well. Some retailers also sell carpeting that can be used outdoors.

You can also buy carpet tiles, which allow for lots of customization — you can mix colors and patterns to create a unique design. Carpet prices range widely — it may cost anywhere from $2 to $15 per square foot before installation.

Carpet quality

Use the following factors to determine carpet quality:

• Face weight: The weight of the carpet pile per square yard, measured in ounces.
• Density: How close the fibers are stitched into the carpet backing.
• Type of fiber: The natural or synthetic fiber used in the carpet’s construction.
• Fiber twist: The number of times the fiber strands are twisted together.
• Style: Common styles include Berber, frieze, saxony and cut-and-loop.

Nylon is the most durable indoor carpet material, which means it withstands general use and cleaning better than other options on the market. However, nylon is also susceptible to staining. Be sure to find out if your nylon carpet includes a stain-resistant treatment before buying.

Best uses for carpet

Carpet is a great flooring choice for bedrooms, closets and living rooms. Unlike hardwood, carpet absorbs sound. The installation is typically fast, and you might be able to get a good deal through a wholesale or discount carpet company because it’s such a popular flooring choice.

Carpet pros and cons

Vinyl flooring

Vinyl flooring is waterproof and comes in a variety of looks and styles, including wood and tile lookalikes like LVT (luxury vinyl tile), LVP (luxury vinyl plank) and sheet vinyl. There are even scratch-resistant varieties, making vinyl a great flooring choice for heavy-traffic rooms. It has a long life span — up to 25 years if it’s properly cared for.

Most vinyl flooring costs between $1 and $5 per square foot before installation. Vinyl flooring can be purchased in a variety of forms, including sheets, planks and tiles.

How thick should my vinyl flooring be?

Vinyl flooring comes in a wide variety of sizes, generally ranging from 2 to 8 millimeters. You should determine the thickness of your flooring based on how tall you want your floors to be and the amount of money you want to spend. In general, the thicker your vinyl floors are, the more expensive they’ll be.

Best uses for vinyl flooring

Because it’s waterproof and easy to clean, vinyl flooring is great for laundry rooms, kitchens, game rooms, living rooms and other areas with a lot of foot traffic. It’s also great in spaces where you might do a lot of standing — it’s softer and easier on the joints.

Vinyl pros and cons

Certain flooring may fit your aesthetic more than others, but choosing flooring isn’t just a matter of taste and style — you’ll also have to consider costs and financing options.

1. Determine your budget

While some flooring and carpet companies specialize in discount products, others position themselves in the upscale market. When determining your budget, be sure to understand all pricing considerations.

• Seasonal sales: Smart shoppers can take advantage of seasonal sales to purchase materials for less.
• Measurements: Be aware that carpet was traditionally priced by the square yard (there are nine square feet in one square yard), but in recent years many retailers have been advertising square-foot prices. When shopping, make sure all products are priced with the same square-area calculation.
• Resale value: Solid hardwood floors, if maintained in good condition, typically add more to the resale value of a home than any other type of flooring. In fact, according to the National Association of Realtors’ 2022 Remodeling Impact Report, for interior projects, the highest percentage cost recovered was from refinishing hardwood floors (147%). The cost recovered from new wood flooring was 118%. Natural stone tiles are also highly desirable to homebuyers.
• Energy bills: Most flooring has little insulation value, so it won’t dramatically affect your energy savings. Carpeting has an R-Value of about 1.0, but when installed over dense polyurethane-foam padding it can triple the insulating value to about 3.0. Stone and tile feel cool underfoot in summer and will hold and radiate heat in winter if installed over a radiant-heat system.

2. Take home flooring samples

Flooring samples let you see the color, thickness, construction and quality of the flooring before purchasing it. Samples are especially important for customers who shop for flooring online.

• Price: Flooring samples are free from many companies, while others charge a nominal fee — usually less than $5. Of course, you can view and handle flooring samples at flooring stores and home improvement centers, and some retailers will let you take samples home if you promise to return them.
• Analysis: You should consider texture, style and color when comparing samples; you can also test them to see how easily they scratch, dent and stain.
• Availability: Most retailers have flooring samples on hand for you to take home, while manufacturers and online sellers will ship samples to you.

3. Compare flooring material options

Some manufacturers make just one or two types of flooring, while others offer a broader range of products. And although there are retailers who focus on one product category — tile, for example — most stores sell and install virtually every type of flooring.

• Hardwoods: You can sand and refinish solid hardwood floors so they don't have to be replaced. Engineered hardwoods are easier to install and come in more wood species and colors.
• Ceramic, porcelain and stone tile: These materials are extremely durable and, when properly installed, waterproof. Tile is most popular in bathrooms, kitchens and foyers.
• Carpet: Carpeting offers soundproofing, insulation, affordability and a soft, cozy feel for bare feet. It also goes down quickly with a minimal amount of mess and disruption to your home.

4. Consider custom flooring

Homeowners increasingly have the option to design their own flooring, but expect to pay more for this privilege.

• Design floors yourself: Online tools and in-store design help can assist in custom-designing the style, color and pattern of your new floor. Just be sure to check the flooring samples before ordering.
• Have a company design your floors: Several dealers customize flooring using photos, sketches and artwork provided by homeowners.
• Best materials for customizing: Carpet tiles and ceramic and porcelain tile are ideal for customization. This is done by placing the tile in unique designs, patterns and colors.

5. Compare flooring installation options

Several companies offer free flooring installation as part of a deal, while others subcontract the job to third parties. Never assume a seller will take care of the flooring installation; get it in writing and ask about the following:

• Insurance: Installers should be insured and bonded to show homeowners they meet minimum standards and have coverage in the case of a faulty installation or worker injury. Being bonded offers protection if an installer fails to finish the job.
• Fees: Be sure to ask about any additional charges for delivery, moving of furniture or removal and disposal of old flooring.
• Warranty: Many installations come with warranties. As with all warranties, these provide varying levels of coverage for various lengths of time. For example, if a homeowner makes an alteration to the flooring after installation or improperly cleans it, they risk voiding their warranty.

6. Decide if you should finance

Dealers frequently offer financing through specialty credit cards. Others provide financing through loans — either their own or through local banks.

• Interest-free offers: Interest-free offers are a good idea if you know you can pay off the bill before the term expires; otherwise, expect hefty interest charges.
• Interest rates: Local flooring and carpet companies often charge higher interest rates than national companies, so read the terms of the loan carefully.
• Requirements: A down payment from 1% to 10% and a minimum purchase amount are common prerequisites for financing through a loan; store credit cards tend to require minimum purchase amounts but no down payments.

» MORE: How to choose a home remodeling contractor

We analyzed the past three years of consumer reviews of flooring companies on our site and discovered that the overall satisfaction rating was 4.5 stars.

Other key takeaways from our review analysis of flooring companies on ConsumerAffairs:

• A company’s punctuality makes the biggest positive difference to flooring customers. Reviewers who mention speedy service give companies better reviews than when they mention other aspects.
• On average, reviewers who mention refunds and payouts leave less favorable star ratings.
• Reviewers had the highest percentage of complaints about issues with reliability: 90% of reviews that mention reliability issues are negative.