5 Best Flooring Companies in Allentown, PA

Popular Types of Flooring

Whether you're looking for something elegant and subtle or bold and lively, there's a floor for you. Discover the most essential details about each type to guide your decision making.

Hardwood Flooring

Homebuyers across Allentown 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 among the priciest of 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, bathrooms, or basements.

Engineered Wood Flooring

Engineered wood gives you the charm of hardwood without the demand for regular maintenance. They use a plywood substrate with a layer of real hardwood on top – ultimately saving you money. Despite the lower retail cost, it might feel more hollow to walk on, and the slender hardwood layer can only be refinished one time. That said, its lower propensity to warp could still make it a good investment.

Laminate Flooring

Laminate floors come in tile and wood finishes, but they all have a particle board base. A strong plastic coating gives them scratch resistance and simplifies cleaning. However, it chips easily and is susceptible to moisture damage.

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 durable. They also come at an affordable price point, somewhere between laminate and engineered wood.

Tile Flooring

Tile flooring is another classy design that can endure for years. Like vinyl, it requires minimal maintenance and is easy to clean. As such, it's an excellent choice for areas prone to moisture like kitchens and bathrooms. However, it might not work well for living rooms and bedrooms since it's cooler and more slippery to walk on. The cost differs 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, travertine, marble, and sandstone. However, like hardwood, it can be expensive and difficult to clean.

Linoleum Flooring

With proper maintenance, linoleum floors can last for years. It is an affordable choice with many methods for personalization. However, it can readily get dented or scratched and has been known to lose its original coloring when exposed to the sun's rays. Direct sunlight also leads linoleum to lose color over time, and it might not work well for areas with excess moisture.

Carpet

Of all flooring options, carpet is one of the most affordable. It lends a homey feel to a room and muffles noise effectively. Unlike hard floors, carpet gets rid of concerns about scratches or dents, and the extra padding is much safer for young children. However, carpet requires considerable effort to keep clean, especially if you have pets. The fibrous material retains stains, dampness, smells, and allergens.

How to Choose a Allentown Flooring Company

Choosing a floor covering provider 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 Yelp, Trustpilot, the Better Business Bureau (BBB), and Google. Even the most reliable flooring installers will have both positive and negative reviews. Look for how a business 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 good flooring company will be eager to show you portfolios of its previous work. Take a good look at each listed project and ask questions as you have them. Portfolios might also include references from past customers. Request their contact information so you can discuss their experiences and thoughts about the company.

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 hardwood. A contractor's service offerings can also make a difference. At the very least, you should choose a provider that will haul away your old flooring materials. However, companies can also offer refinishing services or design advisory.

Cost

While cost shouldn't be the most important factor when choosing a flooring provider, it's still important to find one that matches your budget. We recommend getting quotes from at least three companies to compare labor costs. 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. Depending on the installer and flooring brand you pick, warranty coverage could be limited to a fixed term. Other times, it lasts for the life of the floor. Ask a company about its warranty terms, including extensions that could give you a few more years of coverage.

Estimated Timeline

Time management is critical for a successful flooring job. Before you agree to work with a company, ask for an estimated timeline and inquire about what hurdles could impact the project. If a company guarantees it'll finish the job by a certain deadline, get that guarantee in writing and state your expectations clearly as the work progresses.