5 Best Flooring Companies in Scranton, PA

Many Scranton residents work to preserve their older homes' character. Whether you're dealing with old carpeting or original hardwood, a local flooring contractor can help restore your existing floors' historic charm or install a timeless new solution. See which flooring companies in the Scranton, PA area offer the best selection, pricing, and service.

Popular Types of Flooring

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

Hardwood Flooring

Homebuyers across Scranton 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 basements, bathrooms, or laundry rooms.

Engineered Wood Flooring

Engineered wood gives you the durability and look of hardwood without the extra maintenance. Typically, it consists of a layer of real hardwood fused with a plywood substrate. Despite the lower retail cost, it might sound more hollow to walk on, and the slender hardwood layer can only be refinished once. That said, its lower propensity to warp could still make it a sound investment.

Laminate Flooring

Laminate floors come in wood and tile 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

Maintenance with vinyl floors is a breeze. You can purchase them in luxury vinyl plank (LVP) or luxury vinyl tile (LVT) 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 last for years. Like vinyl, it requires minimal maintenance and is easy to clean. As such, it's an ideal choice for areas prone to moisture like bathrooms and kitchens. However, it might not work well for living rooms and bedrooms since it's colder and less grippy to walk on. The cost differs between styles, with porcelain carrying a higher price tag than ceramic.

Stone Flooring

Stone floors are among the most waterproof available. You can choose from a variety of bold design options, including granite, sandstone, travertine, and marble. Despite its unique flair, it's not easy to clean, and long-term maintenance could be a bit more expensive.

Linoleum Flooring

With attentive maintenance, linoleum floors can endure for decades. It is an affordable choice with numerous methods for adaptation. However, it can easily get dented or scratched and has been known to fade when exposed to the sun's rays. The sun's rays also lead 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 eliminates concerns about scratches or dents, and the extra padding is much safer for young children. However, carpet requires time and effort to keep clean, especially if you have pets. The fibrous material grips stains, dampness, smells, and allergens.

How to Choose a Scranton Flooring Company

Choosing a floor covering provider is just as significant 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 Google, Yelp, Trustpilot, and the Better Business Bureau (BBB). Even the best flooring installers will have both positive and negative reviews. Look for how a provider handles complaints and interacts with others. If it strives for a satisfactory resolution and acts in good faith, that's an encouraging sign. However, if it's dismissive or has a high negative-to-positive review ratio, it's best to avoid working with it.

Portfolio and References

A reputable flooring company will be eager to show you portfolios of its previous work. Take a careful look at 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, contact them 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. An installer's service offerings can also make a difference. At the very least, you should choose a provider that offers to haul away your old flooring materials. However, installers can also offer refinishing services or design advisory.

Cost

While price shouldn't be the most important factor when choosing a flooring company, it's still important to find one that respects your budget. We recommend getting quotes from three to five companies to compare rates. 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 coverage could be limited to a fixed term. Other times, it continues for the life of the floor. Ask an installer 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 delays could impact the project. If a company promises to finish the job by a certain deadline, get that guarantee in writing and convey your expectations clearly as the work progresses.

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