5 Best Flooring Companies in Berkeley, NJ

New flooring can dramatically alter your space's character. Whether you're remodeling a single room or upgrading your entire house, a Berkeley flooring contractor can offer you valuable style guidance and professionally install your new floors. See which flooring companies in the Berkeley, NJ area offer the best selection, pricing, and service.

Popular Types of Flooring

Flooring varies greatly in price and design. Here's what to know about each type.

Hardwood Flooring

Homebuyers across Berkeley seek out hardwood flooring for its beauty and durability. It's available in several varieties to accommodate different designs, from cherry and walnut to maple and oak. However, it's among the priciest of flooring materials and requires consistent maintenance. At a minimum, you'll need to use specialty cleaning products regularly and refinish the floor every few years. Since it's susceptible to water damage, it's also not suitable for bathrooms, laundry rooms, or basements.

Engineered Wood Flooring

Engineered wood gives you the charm of hardwood without the strict maintenance. They use a plywood base 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 floors come in tile and wood finishes, but they all have a particle board base. A strong plastic coating gives them defense against scratches and simplifies cleaning. However, it's more susceptible to water damage and chipping.

Vinyl Flooring

Maintenance with vinyl floors is as simple as it gets. You can purchase them in luxury vinyl tile (LVT) or luxury vinyl plank (LVP) styles, with each option equally resilient. 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 offers years of life with minimal maintenance needs, and is available in many colors, materials, and patterns. However, it might not work well for living rooms and bedrooms since it's cooler and more slippery to walk on. Pricing fluctuates between styles, with ceramic less expensive than porcelain.

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 cared for 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 sun exposure. It’s also not suitable for areas with excess moisture like kitchens and bathrooms.

Carpet

Of all flooring options, carpet is one of the most affordable. It lends a cozy feel to a room and muffles noise effectively. Unlike hard floors, carpet removes concerns about scratches or dents, and the extra padding is much safer for young children. However, carpet requires a good amount of effort to keep clean, especially if you have pets. The fibrous material retains stains, dampness, smells, and pollen, making it less suitable for allergy sufferers.

How to Choose a Berkeley Flooring Company

Choosing a flooring company is just as influential as choosing a design. To ensure you get the most value, consider each of 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 Trustpilot, Yelp, the Better Business Bureau (BBB), and Google. Even the best flooring installers will have both positive and negative reviews. Look for how a company deals with complaints and interacts with others. If it works toward a satisfactory resolution and acts in good faith, that's a good sign. However, if it's argumentative or has a high negative-to-positive review ratio, it's advisable to avoid working with it.

Portfolio and References

A trusted flooring company will be happy to show you portfolios of its previous work. Examine each listed project and ask questions as you have them. Portfolios might also include references from past customers. Ask for their contact information so you can discuss their interactions and thoughts about the company.

Specialization and Services

No two companies have the same experience or product offerings. You should find one that specializes in the material or type of floor you're interested in. 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, style, and color 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 respects your budget. We recommend getting quotes from multiple companies to compare rates. You can do this fully online or by requesting complimentary on-site 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. While some manufacturers and contractors have lifetime warranties, most are still tied 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 needed. Get 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