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Flooring Installation FAQs


Flooring Contractor FAQs in Raleigh

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There’s no better way to freshen up your space and add value to your home. But before you update your flooring, there are many choices to make. We’ve rounded up some flooring contractor FAQs in Raleigh to help you with your decision-making process. If you want more information, check out our web pages dedicated to different kinds of flooring.

No matter the flooring you choose, you can trust the qualified contractors hired by Footprints Floors to do the job right.

FAQs

The first thing to figure out when updating your flooring is what flooring is right for the space. For a bathroom or kitchen where there will be lots of moisture and potentially water on the floor, something like tile or vinyl flooring is ideal because it’s durable and water-resistant. Hardwood flooring is a classic choice for other areas of your home, but you still need to choose between solid or engineered hardwood. Consider the upkeep of different flooring and the wear — do you have young kids or pets? Does the room receive much sun? Answer these questions first to help you decide the kind of flooring that will suit your needs.

It depends! Laminate and vinyl flooring can be installed directly over existing flooring, and solid hardwood can be glued directly onto concrete. Consider factors like the age and condition of your existing flooring and whether it will serve as a sturdy base for new flooring.

Contrary to popular belief, it is not difficult to care for wood flooring. You can simply vacuum hardwood floors to remove grit and debris and use a damp cloth or mop to wipe away dust. To reduce potential scratches, ensure footwear (i.e., heels) has proper plastic caps to prevent scratches, or ask guests to remove their shoes. As a bonus, you can switch up the look of your hardwood floors at any time through staining or refinishing.

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.

This is another “it depends” situation. Solid hardwood flooring is more expensive than engineered hardwood. However, solid hardwood can be sanded and refinished more than engineered hardwood, so it may last longer. Engineered hardwood is more affordable and is more resistant to moisture and humidity. If you live in a place with high humidity or greatly varying temperatures, engineered hardwood flooring may be the right choice. Both look beautiful and are easy to take care of.

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.

We hope these flooring contractor FAQs in Raleigh have been helpful to you as your start your flooring journey. Contact Footprints Floors for a free estimate when you've found flooring you love. You can feel confident in a job well done with our licensed and certified contractors.

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Footprints Floors provides flooring installation services in Raleigh for both old and new homes. We handle the demolition and removal of the old flooring, as well as the necessary prep work for new flooring. We will even remove baseboards and reinstall them after completing the flooring installation.

Covering everything from design and installation to clean up, our team helps increase the value of your property with brand new hardwood floors. Contact us today to request a free estimate!

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What Our Customers Say

Best in class service and craftsmanship! Don't look around elsewhere. Amanda and the whole crew at Footprints were a pleasure to work with. Flexible and very professional. Absolutely would recommend them!
Alex Kern 11/28/24 — google
We had LVP installed with Footprint Floors, and we could not be happier. Amanda came by to give an initial quote, along with some flooring suppliers they recommend (one of which we purchased from). The pricing was good, along with the fair warning that if the subfloor was not level, they would need to level it that would come with additional cost (labor plus materials). Once we had our material, we were then booked in for install. Amanda’s team did a tremendous job. They got the floor up quickly, found the floor was not level, and took the time to show me. They leveled it, and got the new floor installed. We’ve had it completed for a couple of weeks, and it’s perfectly flat, and couldn’t be happier. We have a couple more jobs around the house that will be done in time, and Amanda and her team will be who we select for that work. 10/10 would recommend for price, quality, and being great humans!
Mike Parker 11/22/24 — google
My wife and I decided to replace the carpet that was on the 2nd floor of our house as well as our stairs. We were originally thinking about LVP. We got several quotes from local flooring companies and all of them installed and sold the flooring — with the exception of Footprints. Footprints only installs the flooring and the more I researched flooring options, the more I realized that the installation was extremely important. Shawna was the representative from Footprints that provided the quote. She is also the one that told us to consider Laminate flooring, which is what we went with. But we only went with that after doing research and deciding that this was the best option for us. Footprints does have relationships with a couple of flooring stores in the area and we were able to talk with a few of the experts in order to help us make a decision. The great thing about this is that neither Footprints nor the flooring stores cared which flooring we chose, plus we were given the discount that Footprints would have gotten if they would have sold it to us. Shawna did preface her quote with the statement that if our floors weren’t level then there would be an additional cost to level them with self leveler that is poured onto the floors. Shawna was the only one that mentioned this but it made sense. And I researched it and it is indeed important to do this because if you don’t then you may have issues with your Laminate or LVP flooring later on. As it turned out, our floors weren’t level so there was an additional cost and it extended the installation. But Shawna explained everything very well and showed me what needed to be done. The installers that she brought in were excellent and it was easy to see that they really cared about doing a good job. And Shawna came to my house every day so that she could personally see the progress and keep me informed as well as answer any of my questions. I think the pictures speak for themselves but we are extremely happy with the results. We highly recommend Footprints!!
Ray Phillips 11/22/24 — google
Footprints was great to work with and provided excellent craftsmanship!
Amy Koch 11/21/24 — google
(Translated by Google) This company is extremely responsible and they do quality work. And it has a very efficient and knowledgeable work team. (Original) Esta compania es sumamente responsible y hacen un trabajo de calidad . Y tiene equipo de trabajo muy eficientes y con mucho conocimiento.
Mayra Calderón 09/19/24 — google
What a wonderful process! Very professional and the floors far exceeded our expectations. We are so pleased with the final results.
Amy Weaver 08/23/24 — google
I can't express how thrilled we are with our decision to choose Footprint Floors for our home renovation project. From the moment I conducted a quick online search, Amanda's prompt and attentive service stood out. She promptly scheduled an on-site visit the very next day to assess our needs and provide expert recommendations on replacing our upstairs carpeting with luxurious LVP flooring. Amanda's expertise streamlined the entire process, seamlessly coordinating material orders from the vendor, eliminating any hassle or coordination on our part. We simply provided our desired completion date, and her team effortlessly accommodated our timeline. On the installation day, her skilled crew arrived promptly at 9 AM and diligently worked throughout the day, with Amanda herself remaining on-site to provide regular updates and ensure our complete satisfaction. The end result was nothing short of perfection – precisely the stunning flooring we had envisioned. Footprint Floors delivered exceptional value, outstanding communication, and an overall seamless experience that far exceeded our expectations. If you're considering replacing carpeting in your home, do yourself a favor and choose Footprint Floors. You won't be disappointed with their professionalism, quality craftsmanship, and unwavering commitment to customer satisfaction.
Laura McCarthy 08/4/24 — google
After getting several quotes for adding hardwood floors, repairing sections of existing hardwood floors and finishing all the floors, Footprints Floors has had the best prices. Shawna Eikenberry and Amanda Wilkins were very knowledgeable about the products and process of repair and installation, and stating the pros and cons of the options available. They were responsive (and patient) to all of our calls before and after the contract was signed. They provided a schedule for the work describing what would be done and what we needed to do with recommendations on care and maintenance after the installation. They were on schedule throughout the entire process. It has been a pleasure working with them and I am highly recommending Footprints Floors.
David Neil 06/20/24 — google
Simply put, a great business. Over the past several years we've contracted different businesses for significant home improvement projects, but not always with a 100% satisfaction. Thankfully, as it turned out, we saved the best for last. First off, our flooring project manager, Amanda, was very professional, knowledgeable, approachable, and kept consistently engaged throughout. She visited everyday to check in on her work crew to ensure their resource needs were met and that any questions we had were answered. Great communication, she was articulate, practiced her craft well, and discussed every decision with us no matter how trivial. We could not have asked for a better work crew. A special shout-out to Darwin and Nahoon for their workmanship, sticktuitiveness, HONESTY, and overall work ethic. They identified several sub flooring areas that needed repair before flooring could be laid down. This prolonged our project timeline of course, but instead of overlooking (hiding) these critical issues to rush through the job, they were forthcoming with us, adjusted their efforts as needed, and WORKED HARD to finish our project like total pros. I cannot express how much this meant to me, as we had to address similar issues like this with less than scrupulous businesses on previous projects. In fact, this back and forth tussle had become so common, we were starting to believe this dysfunctionality was the norm until contracting with Footprints. They're as honest as the day is long. Of their installation staff, I'd say that if we were building a new house from top to bottom, we’d take special steps to make sure they were included as project leads. We were so pleased with the final result, that when the job was done we sent the installers away with giftbags. Never felt compelled to do that before, ever. In short, Amanda and Shawna are experienced flooring experts. They run a well-oiled operation. They offer a wide range of flooring options and employ highly skilled, conscientious installers. It's been at least 2+ months, and we still absolutely love our floors. We cannot believe we waited as long as we did to take the plunge, and we are so thankful we bumped into this group of talented professionals. Literally zero complaints with the end result, and we would highly recommend. Reach out to Shawna or Amanda for our contact information if you’d like to reach out to us for further details on our successful project. We'd be glad to share. Chris and Shelley in Garner, NC
Plateav 06/19/24 — google
I had several boards that needed to be replaced. Did a google search for a flooring company. Picked 3 that had good ratings, and started calling in no particular order. The first company never returned my call. The second company set up a free estimate the day I called but never showed up the next day. You can see who did respond, show up, and did an excellent job. I value my time and my money and Footprints Floors valued that also. They were able to come out for the estimate within 3 days, get me the estimate the same day they saw the damage and schedule the work within a week. The team that came out knew the job and knocked it out with no issues, and excellent cleanup. Would recommend them over and over, I actually just texted their site to my squad who are all home owners and will be sharing in my community FB Group. Thanks again for your excellent work.
Angela Black 06/11/24 — google
We had the most amazing experience using Footprints Floors! I had purchased a 113 year old home & at the time Amanda came out to look at my home - I just knew if anyone could help us make these sloping floor’s perfect again her company could! It’s because of her expertise that we would hire a contractor to fix what we would discover were bad floor joists & subfloors. We had 5 different contractors work on our home & Footprints Floors was one of the only ones who we didn’t have to fire & start over with. Then after a long wait for the construction to get our floors ready for Amanda, she & her crew came in and transformed my hone in just 4 days!!! No easy task! From just raw wood subfloor to a beautiful home in less that a work week! We chose luxury vinyl plank flooring w/ 5 inch baseboards. The results are incredible! And the price for these magnificent floors to be installed was beyond reasonable! I highly recommend Footprints Floors to anyone who needs quality floors installed w/ nothing less than perfection!
Lisa Leventhal 06/8/24 — google
Shawna was a pleasure to work with and we look forward to working with her again on some future projects. The entire process from quote to project completion was seamless and rally fast considering the amount of work done. Their communication is frequent, their crews are extremely talented, and the final product was even better than expected. We had our red oak floors stripped and sealed without stain and wood flooring added to a master bedroom that was carpeted. The transition from the original floor to the new floor matches perfectly as if the entire area was wood from the beginning. The owner is on the job daily to check progress and the entire project was done in just over four days. We truly appreciate the quality of work that was done and highly recommend Footprints for your flooring needs.
Randy Deming 05/24/24 — google
Shawna and Amanda were super responsive and communicative during the whole process. Their crew, plus Shawna, showed up on time ready to work! Great attention to detail and knocked out a sizeable project in one day. We love how transformed our rooms are now!
Andrew Goldsmith 05/22/24 — google
Shawna and the team at footprints were fantastic! We had purchased flooring that we wanted to install and they delivered, answering every question along the way! The carpet we hated is gone and we’re left with a beautiful, perfectly laid laminate floor. Looking forward to having them work on more projects for us in the future!
Patricia DaSilva 05/15/24 — google
We hired Footprints to replace the flooring in our new home and we couldn’t be happier with the results! Shawna was incredibly communicative throughout the process, letting us know what to expect, notifying us whenever they discovered an issue and what was being completed each day. There were multiple issues with our subflooring but the team was able to fix each of them and still finish by the original timeline! Our floors and stairs look amazing and working with Shawna, Amanda and their crew was an absolute pleasure! 20/10 would recommend to anyone!
Jassimyn Broe 03/22/24 — google
Had a great experience with Footprints and Amanda’s team. We purchased Mohawk Laminate Wood Flooring from Costco for our Bonus Room (over 300sqf). We also wanted the carpeted stairs (to Bonus) replaced with Oak Hardwoods with stain that match the rest of the house. Footprints finished the job in 2 days. The workers were professional and polite, the communication from start of the job (quote) to end (making sure we were happy with the work) was great. Love, love my new flooring!
Alex Flynn 03/6/24 — google
My wife and I recently decided to remove the carpet from our bedroom and replace with hardwood-style laminate. Neither of us have ever looked into any sort of “flooring” job, and had no idea what to expect, as far as cost, timeline, options, etc. We came across Footprint Floors, and decided to get a consult from them. Simply from the consult, we immediately knew we wanted to go with Footprint! Amanda came out and spoke with us, patiently answered all of our questions, and explained everything thoroughly. She had samples, talked us through the different styles and what worked best for us, and helped us settle on the perfect one! Only a short (roughly) two-weeks later, and the entire job was completed with perfection! Between the consult, the ordering process, the initial work, and the final completion, Amanda and her team were phenomenal, and updated us every step of the way. They were quick, incredibly communicative, and cost efficient! The floors in our bedroom look incredible, and we could not have asked for a better experience. 10/10 job, and would definitely recommend to anyone that has interest in redoing their floors. Next time we need any flooring done, we will definitely be calling Amanda back!
David Britt 02/21/24 — google
My wife and I had a great experience with sales and service. Price was fair, good quality and installation was very professional.
Tom Crotty 02/15/24 — google
I’d give Amanda and her team a 10 🌟 review if I could. If you need new flooring do yourself a favor and give Footprints a chance. Craftsmanship and communication were 💯!!
Michael Durling 02/9/24 — google
Working with Amanda and her Footprings Flooring team was incredible. They did such a great job with installations and Amanda was very knowledgeable and patient with answering all my questions. I was quoted 5 working days to get everything installed and they had it done in 3! Working with Footprint Floorings was a breeze and I would recommend it to anyone!
Sarah Koralewski 01/28/24 — google

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Footprints Floors is a one-of-a-kind residential flooring installation and restoration business. We offer high quality flooring installations and, with over a decade of dedication, we have quickly become the largest flooring contractor by striving to bring a higher level of customer service and sophistication to an industry where it was severely lacking. Our family-owned business is focused on customer satisfaction and quality results, all while passing savings on to you and yours through our low overhead model.

Footprints Floors is a one-of-a-kind residential flooring installation and restoration business. We offer high quality flooring installations and, with over a decade of dedication, we have quickly become the largest flooring contractor by striving to bring a higher level of customer service and sophistication to an industry where it was severely lacking. Our family-owned business is focused on customer satisfaction and quality results, all while passing savings on to you and yours through our low overhead model.

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