Hardwood Flooring
What’s the Difference between a Solid and Engineered Hardwood Floor?
Solid hardwood floors are made from a single piece of wood. They’re thicker, can be sanded and refinished multiple times, and have a long lifespan. However, they expand and contract with humidity, which is why professional flooring contractors in Minnesota always leave a small gap around the edges during installation. Learn more in our guide on solid vs engineered hardwood flooring.
Is a Hardwood Floor Safe for a Home with Pets?
Yes, hardwood flooring can work in homes with pets if properly maintained. Scratches may appear over time, but many homeowners appreciate the natural patina and character that comes with real wood. To protect your floors, use rugs or mats in high-traffic areas, trim your pets’ nails, and refinish the floor when needed.
Can Hardwood Flooring Be Installed in Any Room?
Both solid hardwood and engineered hardwood floors are typically suitable for most spaces in the home. It is not recommended to install hardwood flooring in rooms prone to moisture such as bathrooms and laundry rooms. Engineered hardwood flooring is the best choice for spaces more susceptible to humidity and moisture such as a basement.
Carpet Flooring
What Types of Carpet are Available for Installation?
Carpet comes in many fibers (nylon, polyester, wool, etc.) and styles (cut pile, loop pile, cut-loop). Each has its own durability, softness, and look. Our flooring installers in Minneapolis and St. Paul can help you pick the right carpet for your space. See our breakdown of the types of carpet flooring for a detailed guide.
Do I Really Need the Carpet Padding to Install Carpet?
100% Yes, you do! A carpet pad is necessary to protect your new carpet installation. The pad keeps the underside of your carpet from wearing against the sub-floor, which is often wood or cement. It also absorbs the impact from footsteps and furniture, lessening the stress on the carpet and improving the lifespan. In addition offering protection, the right carpet padding provides thermal insulation and reduces sound within the room, helping make living spaces more comfortable.
How do I Choose the Right Carpet to be Installed for my Room?
If you’re carpeting a high-traffic area, consider durable nylon or loop pile styles. For bedrooms, plush carpet offers comfort. For rooms with kids or pets, stain-resistant options are best. You can also compare carpet vs hardwood flooring and carpet vs vinyl flooring to see which is right for your home.
Does a Room Need to be Square to Install Carpeting?
Not at all! Carpeting can be cut to any shape it needs to be for proper installation. Our professional carpet installation team takes care to accurately measure the dimensions of each space to ensure carpeting is installed perfectly no matter the shape or size of the project.
Is There Any Preparation Needed for Carpet to be Installed?
Remove small items and furniture where possible. For larger furniture, our carpet installation team will handle moving it on installation day.
Laminate Flooring
What is Laminate Flooring Made Of?
Laminate flooring consists of multiple layers pressed together: a moisture-resistant base, a photographic design layer (that looks like wood or tile), and a durable wear layer for protection. It’s a budget-friendly and eco-conscious flooring option. Read about top laminate flooring trends to see the latest looks.
How Does Laminate Flooring Compare to Solid Hardwood Flooring?
To compare the two quite simply, laminate is more affordable than hardwood. It’s typically up to half the cost of a traditional solid wood product. Laminate flooring is also easy to install. Thanks to its click-lock design, it can even be a good DIY project for more experienced home renovators. In many cases, installation doesn’t even require glue. Finally, unlike hardwood, laminate is often resistant to scratches and fading, and some modern styles are also waterproof. See our comparison of laminate vs hardwood flooring.
Which Flooring is Waterproof?
Some laminate products come with waterproof layers. These resist spills and moisture but vary by brand. Our flooring contractors can recommend the best waterproof laminate options for kitchens, basements, and entryways.
Is There a Laminate Option that Looks like Wood Flooring?
Yes! In fact, there are many natural looking options to choose from. Plank laminate can mimic the look of natural hardwood floors, so if there is a specific species of wood desired, it can certainly be achieved through laminate planks.
Vinyl Flooring
What’s Meant by the Terms LVP and LVT Flooring?
These are acronyms you’ll hear tossed around when talking about vinyl flooring, and more specifically for luxury vinyl flooring. LVT stands for luxury vinyl tile, while LVP sands for luxury vinyl plank. LVT typically looks like tiles, and LVP typically looks like wood planking. For a deep dive, check out our luxury vinyl flooring guide.
Where Can I Install Luxury Vinyl Tile and Luxury Vinyl Plank Flooring?
Just about anywhere! Vinyl floors are easy to install, and many products are specifically designed to withstand moisture, wear and tear in any room. You can install vinyl in entryways, kitchens, living rooms, laundry rooms, mudrooms bathrooms, bedrooms, basements and more. Just be aware of the specific limits of the product you choose. Explore our breakdown of the best basement flooring options or see how luxury vinyl plank compares to sheet vinyl.
Is Vinyl a Durable Option for Floors?
Yes, LVP and LVT flooring are both durable choices. To add protection for high traffic areas it is important to choose plank or tile with the proper wear layer. A thick wear layer offers wide protection against spills, stain, scratches and overall wear from foot traffic. To avoid mistakes, read our tips on common mistakes when installing vinyl plank flooring.
What is the Difference Between a WPC Floor and a SPC Floor?
WPC and SPC stand for Wood Plastic Composite and Stone Plastic Composite. These engineered luxury vinyl planks are both 100% waterproof and incredibly durable.
Wood Plastic Composite features a waterproof core at the center of the plank. During the installation process, the WPC planks are connected through interlocking ridges. The waterproof layer connects seamlessly for complete protection without the need for glue. Using new technology, WPC planks are engineered to look exactly like natural wood in every species and shade.
Stone Plastic Composite is similar to WPC, the most notable difference being the special rigid core. The SPC rigid core is completely waterproof and extremely durable. Favored for commercial projects, the rigid core will protect well against denting. The drawback to SPC is there are some applications where SPC flooring may feel too tough stand on for long periods – resulting in discomfort. WPC is recommended for the home and retail spaces as it offers similar protection to SPC, but feels softer and more comfortable.
Tile Flooring
What Types of Tiles are There?
There are many different types of tiles to choose from. The most popular tile types include: ceramic, porcelain, glass, mosaic and stone. See our full guide on the types of tile flooring.
What’s the Difference Between Porcelain Tile and Ceramic Tile?
Ceramic tile is very durable and made from clay. It is heated under pressure until hard. Porcelain tile is actually a specific type of ceramic tile, made from porcelain clay that’s been subjected to extremely high heat and pressure. This gives it noticeably more strength and moisture resistance.
Which Type of Floor Tile Should I Choose for My Space, Natural Stone, or Ceramic?
You’ll often see stone tile cut to show the natural rock texture, with all of its variations and “flaws” (which are part of the appeal). This unique, natural beauty is tough to match with a manufactured product like ceramic tile, which lends itself to a more uniform appearance. In short, two ceramic tiles in the same style will be roughly identical, while two stone tiles in the same style may vary significantly. Stone is also more porous than ceramic tile, meaning it may be susceptible to stains. Finally, natural stone, especially more exotic varieties, tend to cost more than ceramic tile.
Which Floor Tiles are Best for a Kitchen?
Porcelain tile is excellent for high-traffic kitchens since it’s durable and water-resistant. Natural stone is beautiful but requires sealing and maintenance. See more in our article on tile flooring for kitchens in 2025.
Can Tile Be Used for Walls Too?
Absolutely! Tiles are commonly used for backsplashes, bathroom walls, and shower surrounds.
What’s the Best Tile for Shower Walls?
Water-resistant ceramic and porcelain are top choices. For a modern touch, glass tile works well, while natural stone creates a spa-like look.
A and tend to be slick when polished.
Can tile be used for projects other than floors?
Absolutely! Tile can be incorporated in a number of different ways. Wall projects are the most popular use of tile after floor installation.
What kind of tile is best for a shower wall?
Picking out wall tile for a shower project is exciting! The most important factor to shop for in wall tile is water resistance. With so many waterproof options to choose from, there is no need to sacrifice style for practicality. Ceramic and porcelain tile are solid options both for a variety of styles and durability. For an easy to clean, modern design, glass tile is the way to go. Finally, stone tile will give shower walls a natural look which may be polished or left alone to retain the stone’s texture.
Waterproof Flooring
Are Waterproof Floors Difficult to Clean and Maintain?
No, Waterproof floors have no grime or dirt traps, making it exceptionally easy to clean. It can mimic the look of your favorite floors including wood and tile. We recommend using the manufacturer’s cleaning products to keep your floors looking their best.
Are Water Resistant Floors Susceptible to Scratches or Scuffs?
The top layer of water resistant flooring is called a wear layer. Any wear layer will help protect against high traffic wear, pets and furniture. The thicker the wear layer is, the better protection the flooring will have against scratches and scuffs. In the case of commercial use, a thicker wear layer is preferred. Thick wear layers are also standard for retail stores, offices, hotels and much more. Compare waterproof vs water-resistant flooring to understand the differences.
Which Flooring Protects Best Against Stains in Case of Frequent Spills?
When an area sees high spill activity, nothing can compare to wood plastic composite flooring. Not only does WPC add the most protection from water; since the material does not absorb water, spills can be easily wiped up. Although it may not be necessary, for especially staining liquids such as wine or coffee, a mild cleanser is recommended.
Get Started with Pro Flooring Installers
Whether you’re upgrading to hardwood, carpet, laminate, vinyl, tile, or waterproof flooring, our flooring contractors in Minneapolis, St. Paul, and across Minnesota are here to help.