Flooring Contractor FAQs in Minneapolis

Different rooms need different types of flooring. Here’s a quick guide:

• Kitchen & Bathroom: Tile or vinyl is best, as they are water-resistant and easy to clean.
• Living Room, Bedroom & Hallways: Hardwood (solid or engineered) or laminate adds warmth and stands up well to daily use.
• Basement: Vinyl or engineered hardwood is ideal since they handle moisture better than solid wood.

In some cases, yes.

Laminate and vinyl can often be installed over existing floors, and solid hardwood can be glued directly to concrete. However, it also depends on the condition and stability of your current flooring. It needs to be level, clean, and free from damage or moisture issues to support the new materials.

If you’re unsure, the Footprints Floors team can evaluate your existing floors and provide honest recommendations during your free estimate.

Hardwood isn’t the most difficult flooring to maintain, but it does require a bit more care compared to vinyl or tile. Here’s what you need to do:

• Cleaning Your Floors: Sweep or vacuum regularly to remove dust and debris that can cause scratches. For deeper cleaning, use a damp mop and a wood-safe cleaner—just be sure to avoid standing water, which can lead to moisture damage.
• Protecting Your Floors: Use felt pads under furniture legs and avoid dragging heavy items across the floor. Ask guests to remove shoes, especially high heels or heavy-soled footwear, to prevent dents and surface wear.

One of the best qualities of hardwood flooring is that it can be refinished to restore its original beauty and shine. For best results, trust a professional like Footprints Floors to handle the refinishing process.

You probably bumped into three terms when looking up hardwood flooring online: "painting," "staining," and "refinishing." "Painting" is obvious, but what about the others? A wood stain, usually applied by hand, is used to darken the color of the wood. The "finishing" process involves applying varnish and a coating of sealant, which adds gloss and protects the wood. "Refinishing" is the process of redoing your current flooring finish, revitalizing, and rejuvenating it.

Refinishing or restoring existing wood floors can save you tons of money! If you have old wood flooring that doesn’t look great, it can be tempting to rip it out and start over. But wood flooring is resilient and made to last. Most damage can be repaired, and refinishing or restoring can make wood floors look new. If you’re unsure whether your wood flooring can be saved, the experts at Footprints Floors can assess it.

Both solid and engineered hardwood have their advantages and disadvantages. It comes down to what works best for your home and lifestyle:

• Solid Hardwood: Solid hardwood is made from a single piece of wood. It's thick, durable, and can be sanded and refinished many times. It’s best for upper-level or main-floor areas (like living rooms and bedrooms) where temperatures and humidity are more stable.
• Engineered Hardwood: Engineered hardwood is made of multiple layers of wood with a real hardwood surface. It’s more resistant to moisture and temperature changes, making it a better option for basements, concrete subfloors, or homes in humid climates.

Laminate flooring is a budget-friendly type of layered flooring that can be made to look like pretty much anything. It’s typically made up of wood fibers compressed into a board or a plywood board. The board is then covered in an “image” layer — basically, a photo of whatever you want the flooring to look like (stone, wood, etc), and a “wear” layer, or protective layer. Some laminate may also have a backing layer made of cork or felt. Laminate is an affordable way to get the look of more expensive wood or stone flooring. It’s pretty durable, making it a great choice for homes with pets or kids, and it’s easy to clean. However, prolonged exposure to water can cause the wood part of the laminate to warp, making it unsuitable for rooms like bathrooms.

Laminate’s wood component makes it susceptible to water damage. Vinyl is an entirely synthetic material, which means it’s waterproof. As long as laminate is installed correctly, it’s fairly water-resistant, but still probably not a suitable choice for bathrooms or mudrooms where water might linger. Vinyl is extremely durable and comes in various of colors, textures, and styles. Both laminate and vinyl are great choices for homes with high traffic from kids and pets, and they’re easy to take care of — but whereas vinyl can go in any room in your home, remember to keep laminate out of the bathroom.

There is a much wider variety of colors, textures, and designs in tile flooring than in hardwood. Tile floors have a lifespan of over a century. Whether you're looking for a traditional or modern look, there is a tile pattern to suit you. Regarding durability, aesthetics, maintenance, and cost, tile is an excellent choice. It's also considered one of the most eco-friendly options for flooring in your home.

Ceramic tiles are made up of clay or other minerals that have been tightly compressed and heated in an oven. They can be glazed or unglazed and come in a variety of colors, shapes and sizes. Porcelain tiles are ceramic tiles that have been heated at an even greater temperature, making them more durable and less porous. Porcelain tiles are better suited for rooms with high moisture content like bathrooms, but their durability makes them an excellent choice for any room. However, ceramic tile is more affordable and still offers great durability.

The best flooring options for kitchens are tile and luxury vinyl. Both are water-resistant, durable, and easy to clean, making them ideal for areas where spills, moisture, and heavy use are common.

Engineered hardwood can also be used in kitchens, but it requires more care to prevent water damage. It’s a good choice if you want the look and warmth of wood, but requires more maintenance.

The cost of installing hardwood flooring can vary depending on several factors, such as the type of hardwood, the size and layout of your space, the condition of the subfloor, and any prep or repair work needed before installation.

At Footprints Floors, we’re committed to honest communication and transparent pricing. We’ll walk you through every step of the process, so there are no surprises–just clear expectations and quality results.

The best type of hardwood flooring depends on your home, lifestyle, and design preferences—but there are a few standout choices:

• Oak: Oak is a timeless favorite known for its strength and beautiful grain. White oak, in particular, has been trending for its smooth texture and neutral tone.
• Maple: Maple has a lighter, more uniform appearance with minimal grain, giving it a clean and contemporary look. It’s slightly harder than oak and stands up well to daily wear.
• Hickory: Hickory is one of the hardest domestic hardwoods, making it extremely durable. Its bold, varied grain adds rustic charm and character, which works well in farmhouse, craftsman, or more traditional spaces.

Not sure which wood is best for your space? The team at Footprints Floors can help guide you during your free estimate.

Here are a few pros and cons of hardwood flooring to help you decide if it’s the right choice for your home:

• Durable & long-lasting: With proper care, hardwood can last for decades.
• Timeless appearance: Real wood adds warmth and character to any room.
• Boost home value: Hardwood is often seen as a premium feature by homebuyers.
• Can be refinished: Instead of replacing, you can sand and refinish to restore or update the look.

• Higher upfront cost: Hardwood can be more expensive than other flooring options.
• Sensitive to moisture: Not ideal for bathrooms, basements, or areas with high humidity.
• Maintenance required: Needs regular cleaning and occasional refinishing to stay in top shape.
• Can scratch or dent: Heels, pet claws, or heavy furniture can leave marks if not protected.

Hardwood floors can last anywhere from 20 to over 100 years. However, this lifespan depends on the type of wood and how the floor is used and maintained. For example:

• Solid Hardwoods (Oak, Hickory, Maple): These materials can last 50 to 100 years with proper care and can be refinished multiple times over their lifespan.
• Softer Woods (Pine, Fir, Douglas Fir): These typically last 20 to 40 years and are more prone to dents and wear, especially in high-traffic areas. Refinishing is possible, but may be limited due to their softer nature.
• Engineered Hardwood: Engineered floors usually last 20 to 30 years, depending on the thickness of the top veneer layer. Some can be refinished once or twice, but others may not be suitable for refinishing at all.

These are just a few examples—every hardwood type is unique with different maintenance needs, wear resistance, and refinishing potential. To better understand how long your floors could last, contact a flooring professional like Footprints Floors for expert guidance.