Installation Guidelines and FAQ’s
We do everything we can to hire the highest quality conscientious crews in San Diego and here is what you should expect from us and some of the expectations that we are counting on from you to make the installation process as smooth as possible:
Who is San Diego Flooring Pros?
San Diego Flooring Pros is a trusted, family-owned flooring company. The company is led by Dave Bone, a third-generation flooring professional with roots going back to 1957 with an extensive installation background spanning over four decades.
Our vision is to be the trusted resource that clients, friends, and families choose when considering flooring for their home or office. We are passionate about the level of service, professionalism, and commitment to quality that every member of our team brings to each project.
Are you licensed and insured?
Yes. San Diego Flooring Pros is a fully licensed and insured flooring contractor in the state of California (License #1052926). We hire only the highest quality, conscientious crews in San Diego and stand behind every project we complete.
Do you have a showroom I can visit?
Yes, we maintain a showroom that is available by appointment only. This format allows us to give you dedicated, one-on-one attention, discussing your specific project needs and reviewing our extensive product samples without interruption. To schedule your personal consultation, please call or text us at 858-735-4198.
What is your “5 Star Guarantee”?
Our 5 Star Guarantee reflects our commitment to excellence at every stage of your flooring project. From the initial consultation through the final walkthrough, we guarantee professional service, transparent communication, high-quality materials, expert installation, and comprehensive warranty support. If at any point you are not satisfied, we encourage you to contact us directly so we can make it right.
What areas of San Diego do you serve?
We serve the greater San Diego metropolitan area, currently focusing on residential neighborhoods in north county. Please contact us at 858-735-4198 to confirm service availability in your specific neighborhood or zip code.
Do you work on commercial projects as well as residential?
Yes. While we specialize in residential remodel flooring, we also work with some of our commercial clients by referral only. We are not set up for commercial bidding projects but can refer you to one of our trusted businesses. Our team has extensive experience installing flooring in Dental, Doctor and medical offices as well as tenant upgrade flooring for most small businesses.
What is the best flooring for coastal homes in San Diego?
For homes near the coast, where salt air and elevated humidity are constant factors, Engineered Hardwood and Luxury Vinyl Plank (LVP) are the most recommended options. Engineered hardwood offers significantly better dimensional stability than solid wood, resisting the cupping, expansion and contraction caused by moisture fluctuations. LVP provides better waterproof protection, making it ideal for beachfront properties or any room with moisture exposure. If you are unsure which is right for your home, our team can assess your specific conditions and make a personalized recommendation.
What is the difference between engineered hardwood and solid hardwood?
Solid hardwood is a single, solid piece of wood from top to bottom. Engineered hardwood features a genuine hardwood veneer on top, bonded to multiple layers of high-quality plywood or high-density fiberboard beneath. This cross-ply construction gives engineered hardwood superior dimensional stability, especially in wider width flooring, making it far more resistant to moisture and temperature fluctuations than solid wood.
In San Diego’s coastal microclimates, engineered hardwood is often the preferred choice. Both options offer the authentic look and feel of real wood and can be refinished, though engineered hardwood has wear layers ranging from 1mm to 6mm that limits the number of times it can be sanded. 1 to 2mm wear layer cannot be sanded and refinished. On the other end a 6mm wear layer on an engineered platform will give you the same benefits as a solid wood flooring in terms of the number of times it can be sanded which will typically give you the lifetime of the home durability.
Is Luxury Vinyl Plank (LVP) actually waterproof?
Yes and NO. The LVP products we carry are rated as 100% waterproof for surface spills. This makes them an outstanding choice for kitchens, bathrooms, laundry rooms, and any home with active families or pets. While the flooring itself will not be damaged by water, it is still best practice to clean up large spills promptly to prevent water from migrating under the baseboards or into the subfloor, which is not waterproof. It is common sense and most all warranties state that any flooring that takes on water for any length of time will not be reusable. They simply lose their structural integrity. Please read the waterproof warranty before assuming you can install it in a shower.
How does Luxury Vinyl Plank compare to laminate flooring?
Both LVP and laminate offer the appearance of real wood at a lower cost than hardwood. LVP or vinyl plank tends to be softer and quieter underfoot. Laminate, however, typically features a harder, more scratch-resistant wear layer, which can be advantageous in very high-traffic areas. Both now have similar topical moisture guarantees and remain a solid and cost-effective choice for home upgrades in San Diego.
What is the best flooring for homes with young children?
For families with young children, Luxury Vinyl Plank is an excellent choice due to its waterproof nature, scratch resistance, and easy cleaning. Carpet is also a popular option for bedrooms and play areas, providing a soft, cushioned surface that is safer for falls and more comfortable for play. We carry a wide selection of stain-resistant carpets that are specifically designed for active family households.
What is the best flooring for homes with pets?
For pet owners, Luxury Vinyl Plank (LVP) is the top recommendation. Its durable wear layer resists scratches from pet claws, and its waterproof surface makes cleaning up accidents quick and easy. We also carry pet-resistant carpet options engineered to resist stains and odors. Regardless of which product you choose, we recommend keeping your pet’s nails trimmed to minimize surface wear on any flooring type.
Should I choose factory-finished or site-finished hardwood?
Factory-finished hardwood comes pre-coated from the manufacturer with multiple layers of a durable urethane finish, offering a consistent, long-lasting surface that is ready to use immediately after installation.
Site-finished hardwood is sanded and coated on-site after installation, allowing for more customization in stain color and finish sheen. Factory-finished products are generally more durable as they can spray on multiple coats of finish often with an added aluminum oxide coating and require less downtime, while site-finished floors offer a more tailored aesthetic.
We almost always apply the Bona Traffic commercial finish to our projects giving you a very similar performance when refinishing hardwood in San Diego. Our team can walk you through the pros and cons of each based on your specific project.
Can I install hardwood or LVP on my stairs?
Yes. Both hardwood and LVP can be installed on staircases. Stair work is more labor-intensive than flat-floor installation and will be reflected in your project estimate. We have extensive experience with stair installations and can discuss the best approach—whether using stair nosing, bullnose pieces, or wrapped steps—based on your chosen material and design preference. Please note that LVP installed on stairs requires a very high level of precision expertise. We have very experienced crews to assist you with detailed stair installations in San Diego.
How do I get started with a flooring project?
The easiest way to get started is to call or text us at 858-735-4198 or email us at dave@sandiegoflooringpros.com. We will schedule a showroom appointment or an in-home consultation, take measurements, discuss your design goals and budget, and provide a detailed written estimate. We encourage you to think about your timeline, the rooms you want to address, and any specific concerns such as pets, allergies, or moisture exposure before your appointment.
How do I calculate how much flooring I need?
To calculate square footage, measure the length and width of each room in feet and multiply the two numbers together. Add the square footage of all rooms to get your total. We always recommend ordering 10% more material than your measured square footage to account for cuts, waste, and any future repairs. Our team will take precise measurements during your consultation to ensure we have accounted for closets, baseboards, trim moldings, stairs, etc to provide a complete and accurate order.
Should I order extra flooring material?
Yes, always. This not only accounts for waste during cutting, diagonal or pattern layouts that require more material, and the ability to make future repairs using your matching product. Flooring products change over time and often get discontinued and having extra material on hand from the same dye lot also ensures a match if a repair is ever needed.
How long will it take from order to installation?
Lead times vary depending on the product selected and current inventory levels. In-stock products can often be scheduled for installation within one to two weeks. Special-order materials may require additional time. We will provide you with a clear timeline during your consultation and keep you informed throughout the process.
When will your crew arrive, and how long will the job take?
Our installation crews typically arrive between 8:00 AM and 9:00 AM and work until approximately 5:00 PM. While we set a specific start date to the best of our ability, occasional variables such as shipping delays, weather, or prior job complications can arise. We have a strong track record of starting on the agreed date and time.
Regarding duration, smaller carpet jobs can be completed in one to a few days, while larger projects may take several days. Hardwood, vinyl plank, and laminate installations for larger homes can take anywhere from two days to several weeks, depending on the scope of removal, floor preparation, furniture moving, and stair work. We will provide a realistic estimated completion date during your consultation.
How much workspace will your crew need in my home?
Our crews need access to a clean working area for material staging, equipment storage, and cutting. A clean two-car garage or driveway is ideal for this purpose, though it is not strictly required. Once we begin your project, our crews are committed to staying until the work is completed to your highest expectations.
Will the installation create dust in my home?
Yes. Dust is an unavoidable byproduct of flooring installation, particularly during the removal of existing flooring. For hard surface projects, we provide standard dust containment by covering kitchen cabinets, wall coverings, light fixtures, and vents with plastic sheeting. We use HEPA-filter vacuum equipment and make every effort to minimize dust spread. However, we cannot control the wind and fine dust will still find its way into other areas of your home. We will perform a standard wipe-down upon completion, but you should plan for some additional cleaning. If dust is a significant concern—for example, due to allergies or a recent paint job—please let us know in advance so we can discuss additional precautions.
Will you need to trim my doors or replace my trim molding?
Possibly. Some doors may need to be trimmed at the bottom to accommodate the height of your new flooring. Door casings may also need to be replaced or repaired if the new flooring height differs from the previous flooring. This is particularly common when transitioning from thicker flooring to the newer, thinner luxury vinyl plank profiles. We will identify any such needs during the installation and discuss them with you.
Do I need to prepare my subfloor before installation?
All flooring requires a clean, dry, and level subfloor. Low spots can be filled with a patching compound, and high spots can be reduced with sanding. For Luxury Vinyl Plank (LVP) with a rigid core, the product is NOT forgiving of minor subfloor imperfections and can often be installed over existing hard-surface flooring but will have to be leveled to perfection. For LVP, hardwood and laminate, the subfloor must be thoroughly prepared to manufacturers specifications of ⅛ in 10ft. We handle all subfloor preparation as part of our installation process.
What is acclimation, and why does it matter?
Acclimation is the process of allowing flooring materials to rest in the installation environment for a period of time before being installed. This allows the material to adjust to the local temperature and humidity levels, preventing expansion or contraction after installation. Hardwood and engineered hardwood typically require 48 to 72 hours of acclimation. Rigid core LVP products generally do not require acclimation due to their stable construction but we always give them a couple of days. We follow strict acclimation protocols on every project to protect your investment.
Will the seams show in my new carpet?
This is one of the most common questions we receive. While seaming technology has improved over the decades, carpet seams are never entirely invisible—we are joining two heavy pieces of fabric together, and the seam line will be present. That said, our experienced installers use the best available techniques and materials to make seams as inconspicuous as possible. Seam visibility also depends on the carpet style, fiber direction, and placement. We will discuss seam placement with you before installation to minimize their visual impact.
Do I need to move my furniture before installation?
We ask that you assist us by preparing your home before our crew arrives. Please remove and secure all breakables, valuables, bedding, antiques, artwork, electronics, lamps, photographs, and personal items in the days prior to our arrival. The bottoms of closets and lower rows of hanging clothing should be cleared. Our installers will move standard furniture items that require two people to carry. We are not able to move large pianos, grandfather clocks, or pool tables for safety reasons, but we can recommend a professional moving service.
Can your crew move my kitchen appliances?
Our crews are no longer disconnecting appliances such as stoves, dishwashers, washers, dryers, and refrigerators. It is important to understand that when water or gas connections are disconnected, the connections may not reseal properly and could leak. Because our crews are not licensed plumbers or gas technicians, they cannot reconnect water or gas lines, and we cannot be held responsible for any leaks or water damage that may result from disconnection. We strongly recommend hiring a licensed plumber for these services and will gladly provide referrals.
What should I do with my pets on installation day?
Please secure all pets away from the installation area for the duration of the project. Construction zones contain serious hazards for animals, including sharp tools, wet adhesives, blue tape, and open exterior doors. We love animals, but San Diego Flooring Pros and our contractors cannot be responsible for the care and safety of your pets during installation.
How long does hardwood flooring last?
Solid hardwood floors, when properly installed and maintained, can last 50 to 100 years or more. Engineered hardwood typically lasts 20 to 50 years depending on the thickness of the wear layer and the level of care. Both can be refinished to restore their appearance, though engineered hardwood has a thinner wear layer that limits the number of refinishing cycles.
How long does Luxury Vinyl Plank last?
High-quality LVP is an exceptionally durable product … .IF the LVP is installed properly over a level subfloor by a licensed c-15 company to uphold any kind of warranty. With proper care, premium LVP can last 20 to 25 years or longer. The longevity depends on the thickness of the wear layer (measured in mils), the quality of the locking system, how well the floor is maintained and if it was installed properly. Unfortunately San Diego Flooring Pros gets a call every week from customers who had a very poor installation and their floor is failing in 1 to 5 years asking us to repair it. The only thing we can do to remedy this situation is remove the failed product, prepare the subfloor properly and replace it with new high quality flooring.
How long does laminate flooring last?
Laminate flooring typically lasts 15 to 25 years with proper care. Its tough aluminum oxide wear layer resists scratches and surface damage, but laminate is not waterproof and can be damaged by prolonged moisture exposure. Keeping laminate floors dry and clean is essential to maximizing their lifespan.
How long does carpet last?
The lifespan of carpet depends on the fiber type, pile density, and level of foot traffic. In a typical residential setting, quality carpet lasts 10 to 15 years. Using a high-quality moisture-resistant pad beneath the carpet significantly extends its life by absorbing impact and reducing fiber wear.
Does carpet padding really make a difference?
Absolutely. Quality carpet padding is one of the most important investments you can make in your carpet installation. Padding absorbs impact, reduces wear on carpet fibers, improves comfort underfoot, and enhances the thermal and acoustic insulation of the room. It can extend the life of your carpet by several years. For San Diego homes, particularly those near the coast, we only use moisture-resistant padding to prevent mold and odor development.
Is hardwood flooring a good investment for my San Diego home?
Hardwood flooring is the number one requested upgrade for homes in San Diego. In most cases, hardwood flooring adds measurable value to your home due to its natural beauty, timeless appeal, and long-lasting performance. Real estate professionals consistently cite hardwood floors as one of the top features that attract buyers and justify higher asking prices.
Can hardwood floors be refinished?
Yes. One of the greatest advantages of solid hardwood is that it can be sanded and refinished multiple times over its lifetime, allowing you to restore its appearance or change the stain color entirely.
Can Engineered hardwood be refinished? Yes, typically fewer times depending on the thickness of the wear layer. Flooring with 3 to 6 mil wear layers can last 25 to 100 years very similar to a solid wood flooring.
Luxury vinyl plank and laminate cannot be refinished.
Does sunlight affect my hardwood floors?
Yes. All wood floors will experience some degree of color change over time due to UV light exposure—a process called photosensitivity. Some species darken with exposure, while others lighten. To minimize uneven fading, use drapery, blinds, or UV-filtering window tints to reduce direct sunlight. We also recommend periodically moving area rugs and furniture to allow the floor to receive even light exposure across the entire surface. Depending on the thickness of your wear layer we can often time refinish your hardwood flooring in San Diego.
When will you start work?
Your installation has been set to a specific date to the best of our ability, but sometimes things come up in shipping, weather, icy roads, warehousing, flat tires, etc. and are no way binding on us. Please be lenient if this occurs. Also, due to some of those same variables, we cannot guarantee specific start times, but we have a very good track record of starting on the day we set and time which is usually 8 – 9 am. Until 5 pm unless otherwise stated.
How long will the job last?
Well that is a tough question. Smaller carpet jobs can be one day to a few days for larger jobs. Smaller hardwood, vinyl plank, laminate jobs can be 2 days to several weeks for larger jobs, all depending on the scope of removal, floor prep, furniture, stair work, etc.
We are pretty accurate and will typically give you the best estimated day of completion but due to many variables, in no way is a date binding on us. If you have a specific or tight timeline we will do everything we can to accommodate that date as long as you have clearly communicated such needs in advance.
How much work space will you need?
Once we arrive we will need to have access to a clean working area if possible for material staging, our equipment, cutting materials etc. A clean 2 car garage and or driveway are ideal, but not required. Our installation crews are instructed to complete installations promptly, typically once we start your project, we stay however many days it takes to complete the work to your highest expectations.
Will you be using our power?
We will assume that we can use your power for our electrical tools and power saws. If you have an empty apartment or office and the power is turned off we will need access to another unit. If not please advise us prior to our arrival so we can secure a power generator. Sanding and refinishing equipment will always require access to your 220 outlets.
What if you damage our home?
We take every precaution, but this is construction and we cannot be responsible for unavoidable vibrations, minor marks and small scratches which can be expected on walls, trim and especially newly painted baseboards during any construction type project.
Can you move our furniture?
If you have a furnished home we will typically move items that require 2 people to move. We ask that you assist us by removing and securing all breakables, valuables, all bedding, antiques, artwork, electronics, lamps, photos and personal items in the days prior to our arrival. The bottom of closets and typically any hanging clothing on the lower rows should be cleared.
Our installers will do their best to avoid damaging items they move for a reasonable cost and cannot take responsibility for any damaged or broken items.
For the safety of our crews, we do not move large pianos, grandfather clocks or pool tables. We can gladly recommend a professional mover if requested.
Can you move our Appliances?
Stoves, dishwashers, washers, dryers, refrigerators, ice makers, toilets, etc may require professional assistance. Our crews have the skills to disconnect these appliances; however, please understand that when connections are disconnected, many times it may not reseal and in some cases may even leak and cannot be stopped when disconnecting them.
Should this happen, San Diego Flooring Pros or our contractors are not licensed plumbers and will not be responsible for their replacement or any water damage incurred. Therefore, they cannot reconnect any water or gas lines. We will gladly recommend a licensed plumber. You will be billed directly by those companies, unfortunately we are not allowed to give an estimate for their services.
Will the installation create dust in my home?
The short answer is YES.
You should expect dust to be created during any installation process. In most cases the removal of existing flooring can be the start of the dust and it is unavoidable from there. If dust is a concern during a carpet installation we suggest not being home during the process. You should expect to have some clean up on your own.
Hard surface flooring removal and installation projects will get standard dust containment meaning kitchen cabinets, wall coverings, some light fixtures, vents, etc will be covered in plastic wrap by our crews. We make every effort to use hepa filter attached vacuum equipment and dust containment is done to the best of our ability. Unfortunately the installation process creates fine dust and YOU WILL STILL HAVE DUST that somehow finds a way out. We will do a standard wipe down of your home, but you should expect to do some cleaning on your own. If you need a professional cleaner please ask.
Will we need to change doors and or trim molding?
Some doors may need to be trimmed to accommodate your new flooring. Some door casing may need to be replaced or repaired if the new flooring is not the same height as your older flooring. We have been seeing this more with the new thinner vinyl plank flooring.
How much floor preparation can I expect to pay for?
All flooring has a manufacturers recommended procedure for smoothing or leveling the subfloor prior to installation. If your floor has an existing flooring it is impossible to estimate the dollar amount due to various conditions that are not suitable for your new flooring, that may not be visible. We typically create an estimated amount in our proposal based on an average and many years of experience.
We cannot be responsible for bad concrete, loose or squeaky floors, uneven subflooring, termite damage, etc. If the amount looks to be considerably higher than our estimate we will inform you as soon as we can determine another approximate amount. We are not looking to make money on floor preparation, our goal is to achieve the highest quality installation and to secure your warranty with the manufacturer so you can enjoy your flooring for many years to come.
Poor quality floor preparation will always result in poor performance.
Will the seams show in my carpet?
This is the age old question that I have been hearing for the past 40 years. I was a professional carpet installer working for my father’s business back in 1980 and I did everything I could to make seams disappear to make him proud of my work.
Over the years there have been a couple of advancements in seaming technology but we are mainly putting 2 pieces of fabric together and expecting it to be one. Have you ever looked at the seams on your sofa, towel, shirt or dress? Do those show? Probably. They either have additional thread or glue holding them together. In our case we have a wide heavy bead of glue on the backing that sits on top of your padding to secure two heavy pieces of carpet together and is almost impossible to hide.
That being said, we will do everything we can to make them less visible! We have a couple of the best guys in San Diego and I can assure you they do great work or they would not be working for an old pro like me.
What about my animals?
I love all animals and have always had at least one dog, which is why I really want them to be safe. I have seen them step on a knife, walk through wet glue, eat wet glue, eat blue tape and worst of all wander into the street. Please secure them from the installation area. San Diego Flooring Pros and or our contractors cannot be responsible for the care and safety of your pets while installing your flooring.
Any project started with San Diego Flooring Pros assumes you have read and understand our policies.
