5 Best Flooring Companies in College Park, MD

New flooring can significantly alter your space's character. Whether you're remodeling a single room or upgrading your whole home, a College Park flooring contractor can give you valuable style guidance and professionally install your new coverings. These College Park, MD flooring installers offer a knowledgeable team, excellent value, and a comprehensive selection.

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

The appeal of hardwood floors stands the test of time. With options including maple, oak, walnut, cherry, and more, it can fit any design without sacrificing durability. Despite its allure, hardwood comes with a higher price tag. You also need to stick to a consistent refinishing schedule every few years, filling in the gaps with specialty wood cleaners. The more time you invest in maintenance, the longer your floors will last.

Engineered Wood Flooring

Engineered wood provides you the durability and look of hardwood without the extra maintenance. Typically, it uses a layer of real hardwood attached to a plywood substrate. While it's more resistant to warping versus true hardwood, it sounds more hollow to walk on and can't be refinished more than once.

Laminate Flooring

Laminate floors come in tile and wood finishes, but they all have a particle board base. A strong plastic coating gives them resilience against scratches and simplifies cleaning. However, it's more susceptible to water damage and chipping.

Vinyl Flooring

Vinyl flooring has excellent water and fading resistance and requires minimal upkeep. Popular options include luxury vinyl plank (LVP) and luxury vinyl tile (LVT), with both having equal strength and long-lasting nature depending on the model you buy. The price for installing vinyl flooring sits comfortably between wood and laminate.

Tile Flooring

Tile flooring is ideal for kitchens, bathrooms, and other moisture-prone areas. It provides years of life with little need for maintenance, and is available in many materials, colors, and patterns. However, it requires intensive prep work before installation and can be cool and sleek to walk on. Pricing depends on the material you pick, with porcelain being more expensive than ceramic.

Stone Flooring

Granite, travertine, marble, and sandstone aren't just for the outdoors. Inside, they can give you a bold look and unparalleled water resistance. However, like hardwood, it can be expensive and difficult to clean.

Linoleum Flooring

Linoleum is made from linseed oil and cork and can last for many years if maintained properly. It’s a cost-effective option with many design possibilities. However, the softer material is easier to dent or scratch, and it's known to fade with sun exposure. It’s also not suitable for areas with excess moisture like kitchens and bathrooms.

Carpet

Carpet is the most affordable flooring option. It can make a space feel more comfortable and is great for muffling sound. You don’t have to worry about scratches or dents, and the cushioning makes it a safer choice for young children. However, the fibrous material easily retains stains, odors, and moisture, which isn't ideal for pet owners or those with allergies.

How to Choose a College Park Flooring Company

Choosing the appropriate installer will impact your new floor's quality. We recommend evaluating 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, the Better Business Bureau (BBB), Trustpilot, and Google. Every flooring contractor will have a mix of positive and negative feedback online. If a company resolves complaints in an amicable and satisfactory way, it's generally a good sign. However, if you find more outright complaints than compliments, it's better to avoid working with it.

Portfolio and References

A good flooring company will be eager to show you portfolios of its previous work. Closely inspect each listed project and ask questions as you have them. It's also customary to ask for references from previous customers. Once you have their contact information, reach out to ask about their experiences.

Specialization and Services

Look for an installer that specializes in the type of flooring you're interested in. For example, a crew might be experienced with carpet but not stone. Equally important is a company's service offerings. At the very least, it should offer cleanup and haul-away for your old flooring materials. However, if you're feeling lost in all the material, color, and style choices, you can also look for contractors with design teams.

Cost

While price shouldn't be the most important factor when choosing a flooring installer, it's still important to find one that honors your budget. We recommend getting quotes from three to five companies to compare labor costs. You can do this fully online or by requesting free in-home estimates.

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. Depending on the installer and flooring brand you pick, warranty protection could be limited to a fixed term. In other instances, it continues for the life of the floor. Ask an installer about its warranty terms, including extensions that could give you additional coverage.

Estimated Timeline

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

Other Flooring Resources

• Best Flooring for Kitchens
• Best Laminate Flooring
• What Is the Cost to Refinish Hardwood Floors?

Sources

• National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics