5 Best Flooring Companies in Palm Desert, CA

Popular Types of Flooring

There's a flooring material for every design preference and price point. In this section, we'll break down the most common types.

Hardwood Flooring

Homebuyers across Palm Desert seek out hardwood flooring for its beauty and durability. It's available in several varieties to accommodate different designs, from walnut and cherry to maple and oak. However, it's one of the most expensive flooring materials and requires significant upkeep. At a minimum, you'll need to use specialty cleaning products regularly and restore its finish every few years. Since it's susceptible to water damage, it's also not suitable for laundry rooms, basements, or bathrooms.

Engineered Wood Flooring

Engineered wood gives you the charm of hardwood without the strict maintenance. They use a plywood foundation with a layer of real hardwood on top – ultimately cutting your costs. While it's more resistant to warping versus true hardwood, it can sound hollow to walk on and can't be refinished more than once.

Laminate Flooring

Laminate is another affordable flooring option, consisting of a particleboard base, wood or tile finish, and protective plastic coating. It's easy to clean, scratch-resistant, and available in many different styles and colors. However, it chips easily and is susceptible to moisture damage.

Vinyl Flooring

Maintenance with vinyl floors is uncomplicated. You can purchase them in luxury vinyl tile (LVT) or luxury vinyl plank (LVP) styles, with each option equally durable. They also come at a reasonable price point, somewhere between laminate and engineered wood.

Tile Flooring

Tile flooring is ideal for bathrooms, kitchens, and other moisture-prone areas. It provides years of life with minimal maintenance needs, and is available in many materials, colors, and patterns. However, it might not work well for living rooms and bedrooms since it's cooler and more slippery to walk on. Pricing varies between styles, with ceramic less expensive than porcelain.

Stone Flooring

Stone floors are among the most waterproof available. You can choose from a variety of bold design options, including granite, marble, travertine, and sandstone. However, like hardwood, it can be expensive and difficult to clean.

Linoleum Flooring

Linoleum is made from cork and linseed oil and can endure for many years if maintained properly. It’s a cost-effective option with many design possibilities. However, the softer material is easier to damage, and it's known to discolor with sunlight exposure. It’s also not suitable for moisture-prone spaces like kitchens and bathrooms.

Carpet

Carpet is the most affordable flooring option. It can make a space feel more cozy and is great for muffling sound. You don’t have to fret about scratches or dents, and the cushioning makes it a safer choice for babies and toddlers. However, the fibrous material easily holds onto stains, moisture, and odors, which isn't ideal for allergy sufferers in Palm Desert's perennially-high pollen levels.

How to Choose a Palm Desert Flooring Company

Choosing the proper installer significantly affects your new floor's quality. We recommend assessing different companies using the following criteria.

Reputation and Reviews

The most crucial thing to research about any flooring company is its reputation. You can learn more about previous clients' experiences from review sites like Yelp, Google, Trustpilot, and the Better Business Bureau (BBB). Even the best flooring installers will have both positive and negative reviews. Look for how an installer responds to complaints and interacts with others. If it works toward a satisfactory resolution and acts in good faith, that's an encouraging sign. However, if it's argumentative or has a high negative-to-positive review ratio, it's best to avoid working with it.

Portfolio and References

Most flooring contractors keep portfolios of their past projects. We recommend requesting a copy so you can look over the crew's workmanship. It's also good practice to ask for references from former customers. Once you have their contact information, contact them to ask about their experiences.

Specialization and Services

Look for a provider that specializes in the type of flooring you're interested in. For example, a crew might be experienced with carpet but not tile. An installer's service offerings can also make a difference. At the very least, you should choose a provider that offers to dispose of your old flooring materials. However, businesses can also offer hardwood refinishing or design advisory.

Cost

Cost is vital to consider, but it should be less important than quality in your selection process. We recommend getting three to five different quotes for your flooring job to compare pricing and workmanship. Many companies offer on-site and online estimates to simplify the process.

Warranties and Guarantees

You should look for two different warranties in your company search. A manufacturer's warranty protects you in case of a product defect, while an installer's warranty covers workmanship. While a few manufacturers and contractors have lifetime warranties, most are still restricted to a specific time period (often ten years.) If you'd like additional coverage, you might be able to pay extra for an extended warranty.

Estimated Timeline

You don't want your flooring work to last longer than necessary. Get an estimated timeline up-front and ask about potential delays. Express your expectations clearly and secure any guarantees in writing.