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Many homeowners spend far more time selecting the color of their paint than choosing the installers of their floors. And it is because of such a simple mistake that homeowners end up paying hundreds of thousands of dollars in early replacements and warped planks as well as warranties that turn out to offer little protection. As you go out to look for your floor at any of the flooring stores in Texas, here’s what you should know first.

Why Does Flooring Go Wrong So Often in Texas Homes?

The high level of humidity in Houston is unforgiving when it comes to cutting corners. Summer relative humidity often exceeds 90 percent, and seasonal fluctuations in temperature place significant mechanical pressure on the ways in which different flooring materials react to expanding and contracting. Even the most renowned brands of solid hardwood flooring in Houston can suffer from gapping, cupping, or lifting in just two years’ time if the subfloor moisture was not properly tested before laying the floor.

However, climatic factors alone do not determine how well the flooring material will hold up in the future. Spacious layouts, heavy furniture, scratching by pets, and wear-and-tear in kitchens create conditions of strain that rarely come up during discussions at showrooms. Homeowners who make their decisions on which material to use for their flooring only based on how the product looks in the lighted showroom without discussing such things as wear layer, water resistance, and installation options will definitely be forced to rethink their decision very soon.

The median amount spent on renovation of floors in the 2023 American Housing Survey carried out by the U.S. Census Bureau is $3,000. These renovations are one of the most frequently done renovations in households. When made in such a climate as that of Texas, they require particular caution and care.

Flooring Type Best Rooms Houston Climate Fit
Luxury Vinyl Plank Kitchens, living areas, high-traffic rooms Fully waterproof; stable in high humidity
Engineered Hardwood Living rooms, dining rooms, bedrooms More dimensionally stable than solid wood
Porcelain Tile Bathrooms, entryways, laundry rooms Moisture-proof; handles heavy daily traffic
Carpet Bedrooms, home offices Soft underfoot; keep away from moisture sources
Laminate Bedrooms, low-traffic areas Scratch-resistant; not suited for wet-prone spaces

What Should You Actually Be Asking Before Choosing a Flooring Store?

Price is generally what most floor covering stores fight on, but what seems like a good quote before installers even come is not really the end of it once movers have to move furniture, floor preparation, and old carpet removal costs start coming in as extra charges. Total and quoted prices are completely different from each other in many stores and this difference is never mentioned on the store’s signage.

Warranties are another issue that has much weight in this business. Installation warranties in the flooring industry range from one to five years. If a retailer offers a lifetime warranty for their installation services, then he makes an entirely different promise than the rest.

Question to Ask Any Retailer Red Flag Answer Strong Answer
Who does the installation? Third-party subcontractors In-house trained teams
Is the quote fully inclusive? Extras billed on the day One price covers everything
What does the warranty cover? One to five years on labor Lifetime installation warranty, in writing
Can I view samples at home? Showroom visits only Specialist brings samples to your space
Do you price-match competitors? No formal guarantee 5% below any written competitor quote

Why Houston Homeowners Keep Coming Back to Floors For Living?

What Floors For Living has invested over 12 years into is the establishment of a post-installation service reputation. Having 26 stores in the greater Houston area and 10,000 floors installed in people’s houses already, Floors For Living earned five straight Houston Chronicle Best Flooring Store awards, as well as 4.9 stars from customers, based on hundreds of reviews. The management has over 75 years of combined experience in the flooring business, which allows the company to provide customers with unbiased advice, such as telling customers about flooring materials that will not work for their house regardless of how it will affect the sales volume.

All the orders come with free furniture moving, hard surface floor preparation, old carpet removal, as well as new carpet installation with nothing added to the list of expenses. The quoted price is the final price with the promise of providing a lower price than your competitors’ written quotes by 5%. With 0% interest financing in the Shaw credit program for all the full-house projects, the budget will be comfortable enough to afford high-quality flooring materials, and you will get a premium floor cleaner for 10 years free of charge in the showroom.

Does Seeing Flooring in Your Own Space Really Change the Decision?

Indeed, it always does. The undertones of any flooring material change considerably depending on the difference between showroom lighting and the natural light in one’s home. The warm-looking plank that seems appealing in the bright showroom may look dull or even too dark when placed on some walls and combined with the furniture. Floors for Living’s shop-at-home service is focused on precisely this issue – a flooring consultant visits your place to bring some samples, assess the lighting in your room and give you a complete quotation all in one go, without the need to buy anything.

This one single visit solves the problem that makes people hesitate in the showrooms for weeks.

FAQ

  • In What Locations Does Floors For Living Conduct Business?

The company operates more then twenty locations throughout the Houston metro area, such as Katy, Sugar Land, The Woodlands, Pearland, Conroe, Kingwood, League City, and Pasadena.

  • What Is Covered By The Lifetime Installation Warranty?

If a defect is found due to any improper installation work, it will be repaired free of cost for life. Full terms: https://www.floorsforliving.com/lifetime-warranty.

  • Is This Quote The Final Price?

Yes. Moving furniture, preparing subfloor, removing carpeting, and installing carpet are all included in the qualifying orders. No additional charges on the day.

  • Is Financing Offered?

Yes, 0% interest financing from the Shaw credit program on qualified purchases. Details at https://www.floorsforliving.com/financing.