Flooring FAQ's

Vinyl and laminate flooring is best for busy homes with children and pets. The durability of both options is unbeatable. If you’d like to look into this more, take a look at our blog on the advantages and disadvantages of different flooring types.

This is a great question! The answer is that it’s different for everyone. We know that’s not the answer you were looking for here, but we do have details on how to figure out what determines the cost. You can read more about that here.

This is based on how many rooms you are getting new flooring, the condition of your home and current flooring, and what type of flooring you purchased. Our managers are happy to give you an estimated time based on your situation. Our goal is to always get your new floors installed as quickly and efficiently as possible!

When you’re looking for soft carpet, it’s best to determind what feels best to you during your in-home consultation. Just because you want your carpet to be soft, doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll prefer the softest carpet that is sold. We suggest going with a type of carpet that is most comfortable to your touch. If, after that, you would like to add an element of more softness, a nice faux fur or luxe shag rug is the perfct touch!

Frequently, people struggle between choosing between colors because they’re afraid their new flooring will will quickly go out of style. Luckily, there are colors that encompass many of the most recent styles in one. Our gray and tan mix-toned vinyl flooring is a great choice because you get both brown and neutral tones so if one becomes more popular than the other,  you can decorate accordingly and the matching tone will stand out in your floors. 

The major difference between laminate and vinyl flooring is their core materials. Vinyl floors are made out of all synthetic materials and the core of laminate is made from wood products. While laminate is more natural looking, vinyl has a better resistance to moisture. For your bathroom and kitchen, vinyl is best and laminate works well in your living room or bedroom! 

There are both advantages and disadvantages to installing floors yourself. While doing it yourself allows more flexibility and cost effectiveness, hiring a professional can save you time and ensure that the job is done safely and correctly. Take a look at our blog to learn more information on this! 

Different types of floors require different methods of cleaning. For example, your hardwood floors should be dusted and polished with a soft mop, and your carpet should be vacuumed and periodically deep cleaned. But regardless of what type of flooring you have ing your home, it’s important to implement a regular cleaning schedule to make sure they are well cared for and will last a long time. For advice on cleaning for all types of floors, check out our guide here.  

Absolutely! Carpet can add a sense of style, comfort, and value to most rooms and also has practical appeal as well. It can provide extra insolation to reduce your heating costs and absorb echos and sounds to make your home less noisy. There is no other type of floor that gives you the softness, comfort, and warmth like carpet can! We have a carpet buying guide to help you choose which is best for your space. 

Each type of flooring has a different lifespan. For example, carpet normally lasts around 10 years, but laminate, wood, or tile can last around 25-30 years if well-maintained. Look out for the typical wear and tear signs to know that it’s time to replace your floors. Rips, tears, stains, water damage, cracks, and peeling are all common signs that it is probably damaged beyond repair and it’s time to call us! 

During your consultation, our flooring professionals will discuss measurements, cost estimates, design, and scheduling your installation. We will make sure to have everything covered before starting on your new floors!

Making sure your carpets are well maintained is the best way to ensure that you’re getting you money’s worth and to keep them looking nice for many years! It’s important to minimize dirt, vacuum regularly, and spot clean to keep carpets looking great. For more information, check out our blog post on caring for your carpet here.

Vinyl flooring is one the most durable options and also has waterproof properties. Rooms like kitchens, bathrooms, or basements are prone to spills and waterproof floors can be very helpful and easy to clean! Vinyl is also a great choice wherever there is a lot of outdoor traffic in your home like entryways or mudrooms. 

While it may be tempting to save some cash when undergoing major home improvement projects, making the investment in high-quality floors will pay off long term. Lower quality floors are known to show signs of wearing earlier and can also be less aesthetically pleasing. Check out our blog on the benefits of quality floors to learn more! 

A lot of the common options for flooring are great choices to use on your stairs. Some of the best options are hardwood, laminate, tile, and carpet. Regardless of your choice, the most important thing to consider is the durability and easy maintenance. The choice ultimately comes down to your lifestyle, the traffic the area gets, and design style & preferences. 

Also commonly known as luxury vinyl plank or luxury vinyl tile, luxury vinyl is a waterproof flooring with a wood-like appearance. It usually has great warmth and texture to it and is durable and wear-resistant. 

Using floor protectors on the bottom of your furniture and appliances is a great way to avoid scratches and wear and tear. Area rugs and floor mats near your doors are also a good option to stop people from tracking dirt, mud, water, etc. inside. 

When you’re choosing flooring for your kitchen, it’s important that whatever option you decide is durable and spill-proof! This is a high traffic area of many homes and it’s prone to moisture. Some of the best options are laminate, vinyl, tile, and hardwood. Check out more info on this in our blog post on kitchen floors! 

Short answer, yes! When you have pets around, you’ll need to be more vigilant with cleaning up messes as soon as possible to avoid stains and making sure odors are eliminated so they don’t linger. Having your carpets cleaned regularly can also help eliminate any stains that might happen along the way. 

While both are great options for almost any room, porcelain tile floors are slightly more durable and ceramic tiles are a more cost-effective option. They are both easily customizable and come in a wide variety of patterns and colors. 

Both vinyl and laminate have options that are waterproof, but vinyl has more that are similar or even better than laminate. Vinyl is made from mostly synthetic materials and laminate from mostly wood which makes laminate more susceptible to water damage.  

Indents in your carpet can come mostly from heavy furniture and lots of foot traffic. To avoid them being long lasting, rotate the position of your furniture, try to work them back with a hard edge, or use a steam cleaner.  

With pets, especially dogs, you’ll want a floor that’s both durable and comfortable for your furry friends! Make sure that whatever you choose isn’t too hard on their paws or slippery while also cozy. We can help you make the right choice when you come by our showrooms. In the meantime, check out our blog on the advantages and disadvantages of popular flooring types. 

At Dalton Flooring, we  recommend and sell a few quality brands such as Shaw, Mohawk, Dream Weaver, Bruce, and more. We believe that choosing quality is key with your floors and they will last longer when you do. Check out our blog post on what brands we sell and why high quality flooring is usually your best option here.

Solid hardwood is exactly what it sounds like, a solid plank cut to size. Engineered hardwood has many layers of which the top is finished hardwood and the base layers are plywood or wood substitutes. One major benefits of engineered hardwood is that it prevents the floor from warping because of moisture.

Even on the most scratch resistant floors, it’s a good idea to still use a mat to protect them! Over time, scratches and marks can happen which will shorten the life of your floors. We say use a mat to prevent the wear and tear.

It’s recommended that you have your carpets cleaned once every year and a half to keep them clean and looking as fresh as possible! If your carpet is walked on frequently or there are regular stains, consider having them cleaned more often. 

One of the most important features for your bathroom floor is to make sure it’s waterproof! A few great choices for this are tile, luxury vinyl, or waterproof laminate. This can also be said for your kitchens since it’s a water-prone area of the home.

Regular cleaning is important to take care of your grout! To prevent dirt from accumulating, using a mop and mild soap works well enough but there are also products on the market to help seal the lines.

It is recommended that you do not sand or refinish engineered hardwood to avoid permanent damage to them. Traditional hardwood is where to look if you want to refinish your floors in the future.

Large area rugs can run on the expensive side but there are many pros! They are currently very trendy and can add a pop of color to any room. They’re also great for warming up or making a hard surface more comfortable or cozy. Show off your sense of style with a rug! 

If your carpet is soaking wet, like after a flood, it’s probably best to replace the pad underneath. For just your carpet, consider calling a professional cleaner to see if it’s worth salvaging! 

Yes, sunlight can have an impact on the color of your hardwood over time. It can depend on the type of wood you have so it’s best to consult the professionals to make sure you have the best floors for the areas of your home with a lot of light exposure.

Luxury vinyl is extremely durable against dents, scratches, moisture damage, and more. Day to day activities are not likely to damage your floors, it would take dragging a large piece of furniture across your floors to cause serious damage. It is also very easy to replace luxury vinyl if you need!

A few of the more popular options for hardwood include walnut, cherry, red oak, white oak, maple, hickory, ash, birch, beech, teak, and bamboo. Each type has advantages such as its price point, color, patterns, and hardness.

There are many ways to increase the lifespan of your carpet! A few things you can do are scheduling regular professional cleanings, vacuuming weekly, making sure you thoroughly dry after spills, and more. To learn more, check out our blog post on when it’s time to replace your carpet here. 

Whether it’s a small or major burn mark on your carpet, it’s important that you take care of it as soon as possible! For small burns, there are a few at home remedies you can try, but for those larger marks, it’s best to call a professional. Check out our blog post on the specifics you can do to clear them up!

Vinyl comes in three types: planks, sheets, and tiles. To choose the right one it all depends on your lifestyle, taste, and budget. Read more on the benefits of each here. 

For those fury friends at home, it comes down to durability and comfort. You’ll want to make sure that your choice checks both of those boxes to make sure your floors hold up but are also comfortable to walk on! We are able to help you choose the right floors for all of your pets! 

Kids are notorious for spilling everything! A durable carpet is a must with small children at home. We recommend PET Polyester. There are multiple colors to match decor and, with proper installation and maintenance, can last many years. 

Staining your hardwood floor can add style and character to any room. The most important tip is to consult a flooring dealer to know which stains work best with your particular hardwood, as some stains take to wood easier then others. 

Waterproof flooring means water won’t penetrate the flooring no matter how long it stays there. Water resistant flooring refers to the flooring material that protects the flooring substrate from water infiltration. Both are great choices, although waterproof flooring tends to be more expensive.

There are pros and cons to each. Installing flooring first can cut down on the time of installation since you won’t need to make cuts for cabinets and appliances, although you end up paying for the flooring that won’t be seen under cabinets. Installing cabinets first will decrease the chance of scratching your brand new flooring but will leave you with a set layout you’d have to stick with in future renovations. 

Grout can be damaged over time, but there are ways to fix it yourself or by consulting a professional. Some grout cracks can be filled with caulk or grout. When using grout, it’s important to match the color exactly. Whether you choose to DIY it or consult a professional, repairing grout is essential to maintain your flooring. 

Letting your hardwood product acclimate is an important step not to be overlooked. Most manufacturers recommend that any hardwood product be placed in the space that it will be installed for no less than 72 hours. It is also recommended that the boxes are stacked no more than 4 high with at least 6′ of space around all sides.

No! You should never steam hardwood floors. The moisture from the steam will damage your hardwood floor and cause them to warp. Some steam cleaning manufacturers will promote their product as being safe for sealed hardwood floors, but there are no major hardwood floor manufacturers that recommend using steam cleaners on hardwood floors. Refer to the manufacturer of your floor for cleaning options that are appropriate.

The loose fibers found on carpet or in your vacuum is from the fibers left in the carpet from the manufacturing process. Removing those loose fibers doesn’t affect the carpet life or appearance. With regular vacuuming, most shedding disappears within the first year after installation. 

If your room’s humidity is very low a static charge can build up in your carpet as you walk across it. A humidifier is a great and affordable option to increase the humidity in your home. 

Laminate is a multilayered and affordable flooring product made from tightly compressed wood  fiber and designed to look like wood, tile or stone. Laminate flooring generally has four layers: the backing layer, the core layer, the image layer, and the wear layer. Laminate can be a great choice for many different buildings because it offers an affordable way to get a desired look such as hardwood or stone. It can also be installed at all grades and with a variety of installation methods. 

Engineered hardwood floors are wooden floors made with multiple layers of wood adhered together rather than one plank cut from a single timber. This creates flooring planks that are available in multiple sizes and thickness.

Engineered hardwood flooring is very durable because it is constructed with multiple layers of wood. The durability is determined by the hardness of the the hardwood veneer species, as some species are harder than others. 

Parquet floors are a specific type of wood flooring. This type if flooring is unique because of its geometric patterns composed of small pieces of wood.  Parquet floors are installed piece by piece. 

Modern hardwood flooring comes in a wide range of colors, grain patterns, finishes, and styles. They can be pale, glossy, dark, or weathered. The differences depend on whether the floor is hand-scraped, wire-brushed, or smooth. With so many options to choose from it’s important to take your time!

That depends on what kind of finish the wood floors have. Softwoods (pine, cedar, redwood) are more non-porous than others. When softwoods are applied as flooring they are usually treated or coated with a finish that keeps moisture out which increases durability and lifespan. 

Thankfully now days, there are many options for wood looking floors at a fraction of the cost. There is Luxury Vinyl, EVP, Laminate, and Ceramic Wood. Luxury Vinyl can look like real wood because the top layer is made of a design layer with a photographic image of wood laid on top. EVP (Engineered Vinyl Plank) is made from engineered planks and also mimics the look of real wood. Laminate has wood looking flooring available in sheet and tile form, both are durable choices. Ceramic wood is made  from ceramic powder that is shaped into tiles once the powder is moistened than solidified. To find which flooring option is best for you going to look at all the options is your best bet.

As with any flooring, proper maintenance and upkeep is essential to keep your floors in good condition. With regular maintenance your vinyl floors can last for decades. 

Luxury Vinyl Tile Flooring (LVT) is a type of vinyl flooring designed in individual tiles. As with all vinyl flooring products, they provide many benefits: Easy to install, durable, high foot comfort, good insulation, water resistant, economical, and vinyl is a great fit for families. 

This depends on some things like the type of carpet, the flooring underneath, and the shape/size of the room. With so many factors going into installing carpet the best answer is to let professionals handle it so the carpet can come out looking great!

Carpet density is measured by how close each carpet fiber is tufted into the carpet backing. Generally speaking, carpets with higher density are considered better quality as it will feel thicker when walked on. 

Cleaning carpets on your own is an option, but most flooring companies recommend professional carpet cleaning for a number of reasons: The equipment used by professionals is much stronger than any you will find. Professionals also know how to correctly clean the carpet without damaging which will actually expand the life of your carpet. If able to hire a professional carpet cleaner, we certainly recommend to.

Staining your hardwood floors can really make a huge difference in your home! Deciding whether to stain it light or dark is usually a personal preference. Light stains can take rooms appear more spacious and bright, creating more of a clean feel, but will also show imperfections more. Using a dark stain will definitely hide imperfections but will create a warm and cozy feeling to a room. 

Laminate flooring can be a great choice for homeowners! There  are pros and cons to most flooring products. Some pros for laminate flooring is that the price is very affordable compared to other flooring options. Laminate can easily block moisture and is super easy to clean while being very durable for high traffic areas. There are many colors and variations to choose from, so consulting a flooring professional is your best bet!

Hardwood flooring is naturally resistant to normal wear and tear, although different types of wood can handle wear and tear better than others. The Janka hardness rating scale is how the hardiness and durability of wood is ranked. The higher the ranking, the harder the wood which makes it more durable. Some of the highest rated woods are mesquite, mahogany, and hickory. 

Yes! Luxury Vinyl is a great choice for bathrooms! The most important quality to look for when finding a floor for the bathroom is if it’s waterproof. And luxury vinyl is 100% waterproof. It’s also very affordable and very durable. Overall, luxury vinyl is a great option for bathrooms.