Flooring

The best flooring depends on the room, your lifestyle, and your budget. Luxury vinyl plank is the most versatile all-around choice -- it is waterproof, durable, comfortable underfoot, and available in a wide range of styles at accessible price points. Hardwood and engineered hardwood add warmth and long-term resale value and are well-suited to living rooms, dining rooms, and bedrooms. Laminate offers a hardwood look at a lower cost and performs well in dry living spaces. Tile is the gold standard for bathrooms and wet areas. Carpet remains the top choice for bedrooms and spaces where comfort underfoot is the priority. If you are unsure where to start, our Floor Finder quiz can help narrow down the right option for your specific situation.

Durability depends on the space and what you are protecting against. For scratch and dent resistance in high-traffic areas, rigid core LVP with a 12 mil or higher wear layer and tile are the strongest performers. For long-term refinishability and lifetime value, solid hardwood is unmatched -- it can be sanded and refinished multiple times over decades. For moisture resistance, waterproof LVP and tile are both fully waterproof. The most durable flooring for your home is the one that matches the specific demands of the space it is going into.

These three products are the most commonly compared flooring options. Hardwood is genuine wood throughout, adds the most resale value, and can be refinished many times -- but it is sensitive to moisture and sits at a higher price point. LVP is 100% waterproof, highly durable, and the most practical choice for households with pets, kids, or moisture-prone spaces. Laminate looks similar to hardwood, costs less, and resists scratches well, but most laminate is not waterproof and cannot be refinished. For dry spaces where budget matters, laminate is a strong contender. For wet areas or busy households, LVP wins on practicality. For long-term home investment and authentic character, hardwood is the premium choice.

Measure the length and width of each room in feet and multiply to get the square footage. Add 10% to your total to account for cuts, waste, and future repairs -- increase that to 15% for diagonal or patterned installations. Always order enough to complete the entire project from the same production lot, as color and texture can vary between lots. Running short mid-project is a common and avoidable mistake. If you are unsure, our team can help you calculate the right quantity before you order.

The wear layer is the clear protective coating on top of LVP and other vinyl flooring products. It is measured in mils (thousandths of an inch) and is the single most important spec for durability. A 6 mil wear layer suits low-traffic residential rooms. A 12 mil wear layer is the standard recommendation for active households with kids and pets. A 20 mil or higher wear layer is commercial grade. When comparing LVP products at a similar price point, always prioritize the one with the thicker wear layer -- it is what stands between daily life and the decorative layer beneath.

It depends on the product and your comfort level. Click-lock LVP and laminate are among the most DIY-friendly options available -- they float over the subfloor without nails or glue and can be installed with basic tools over a weekend. Peel and stick vinyl and loose lay vinyl are even simpler. Tile, solid hardwood nail-down, and glue-down installations are more demanding and benefit from professional installation, particularly if the subfloor requires significant preparation. Whatever format you choose, proper subfloor preparation is the step most DIYers underestimate -- it directly affects how the finished floor looks and performs.

Waterproof flooring -- such as rigid core LVP and waterproof laminate -- means the plank or tile itself will not absorb moisture or swell when exposed to water. Water resistant flooring can handle light moisture and spills that are cleaned up promptly, but will eventually be affected by prolonged or heavy moisture exposure. For kitchens, bathrooms, laundry rooms, and basements, waterproof flooring is the right choice. Water resistant options are suitable for living spaces and bedrooms where occasional spills are the extent of the moisture exposure.

A ready subfloor is clean, dry, flat, and structurally sound. Use a long straightedge to check for high and low spots -- the standard tolerance is no more than 3/16 inch variation over a 10-foot span. Grind down high spots and fill low spots with a patching compound. On concrete, tape a sheet of plastic to the floor for 24 to 48 hours to check for moisture -- condensation on the underside indicates active moisture that must be addressed before installation. On wood subfloors, check for squeaks, soft spots, and loose panels and repair them before laying new flooring. Good subfloor prep is the most important investment you can make in a flooring project.