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Walls & floors guide

Flooring: how to choose

Compare hardwood, engineered wood, luxury vinyl, laminate, and carpet by moisture exposure, comfort, durability, and installed cost.

Lifespan, DIY and permitsDIY: moderate12 brands5 cost linesUpdated Nov 2026

Decide these first

  1. Is the room below grade or prone to moisture?
  2. How much foot traffic, pet activity, and sound absorption does it need to handle?
  3. Is a floating, glue-down, or nailed installation suitable for the subfloor?
  4. Do you want a refinishable natural surface or a lower-maintenance look-alike?

Specs that actually matter

TermWhat it meansLook for
Janka hardnessThe Janka scale measures force needed to press a steel ball into solid wood and indicates dent resistance.Use species ratings as a comparison, not a complete durability score; the NWFA notes finish and cut also matter.
Vinyl wear layerThe clear top layer of LVP or LVT resists wear from foot traffic and furniture.Houzz reports 8-12 mils is common in homes; experts recommend at least 20 mils for heavily used areas.
Installation gradeGrade describes where the floor sits relative to the surrounding ground level.Engineered wood can suit below-grade rooms; solid wood generally should not go below grade.
FloorScoreAn independent certification for VOC emissions from eligible hard-surface flooring products and adhesives.Look for FloorScore certification if indoor-air emissions are a priority; verify the exact product.

Good, better, best

Good

Carpet, laminate, and entry luxury vinyl offer lower installed prices; match the product to moisture, traffic, and cleaning needs.

$2-14/sq ft installed for carpet or laminate

Better

Quality LVP or engineered wood balances appearance and performance; check wear layer, construction, and installation limits.

$4-20/sq ft installed for LVP or engineered wood

Best

Solid hardwood offers a refinishable natural surface and long service life when grade, moisture, and installation suit the room.

$11-25/sq ft installed for hardwood

What it costs

ItemUnitTypical US rangeSource
Solid hardwood flooring, installed
Total installed cost, materials and labor		sq ft$11 to $25HomeGuide
Engineered wood flooring, installed
Total installed cost, materials and labor		sq ft$7 to $20HomeGuide
Luxury vinyl plank (LVP), installed
Total installed cost, materials and labor		sq ft$4 to $16HomeGuide
Laminate flooring, installed
Total installed cost, materials and labor		sq ft$4 to $14HomeGuide
Carpet, installed
Total installed cost, materials and labor		sq ft$2 to $8HomeGuide

Calculators

Flooring calculator

Square feet, boxes and underlayment for any flooring.

Results

Flooring calculatorRoom area calculator

Major brands and where to buy

Links go to each manufacturer. Tier is a rough price position, not a quality score.

Shaw FloorsCarpet, resilient flooring, and hardwoodValueMohawk FlooringCarpet, laminate, vinyl, and wood flooringValueManningtonResilient flooring, laminate, and hardwoodValuePergoLaminate and luxury vinyl flooringValueCOREtecRigid-core luxury vinyl and engineered flooringMidKarndean DesignflooringLuxury vinyl tile and plankMidBruceHardwood and engineered wood flooringMidAnderson TuftexCarpet and distinctive hardwood collectionsPremiumCaliBamboo, hardwood, and luxury vinylMidTarkettResilient, wood, and commercial flooringMidForbo Flooring SystemsLinoleum, resilient, and specialty flooringPremiumMSI SurfacesLuxury vinyl, laminate, and wood-look floorsMid

Retailers

Floor & DecorThe Home DepotLowe'sEmpire Today

Pitfalls to avoid

  • Installing flooring before fixing leaks or testing subfloor moisture can cause movement, gaps, or finish failure.
  • Putting solid hardwood in a below-grade space can invite moisture-related problems.
  • Ignoring old-floor removal, underlayment, transitions, and subfloor repairs understates the project budget.
  • Choosing vinyl by color alone overlooks wear-layer thickness and product-specific installation limits.
  • Assuming all engineered wood can be refinished the same number of times ignores veneer thickness.

Questions to ask a pro

  1. What moisture tests and subfloor repairs are needed before installation?
  2. Does this product qualify for below-grade use and the room's humidity conditions?
  3. Does the quote include removal, underlayment, trim, transitions, and disposal?
  4. What cleaning, maintenance, warranty, and emissions documentation comes with this exact product?

How long it lasts

Typical ranges: carpet 5-15 years, laminate 10-25, LVP 15-25, engineered wood 20-30, and hardwood 50+ years.

Can you DIY it?

moderate: click-lock flooring is approachable, but subfloor correction, moisture checks, and hardwood fastening need experience.

Permits

Rarely needed for surface replacement; check local code before structural subfloor changes or related electrical and plumbing work.

Ready to hire?

Get up to 3 quotes from licensed, insured local pros.

Trusted resources

From the Journal

Sources

  1. https://homeguide.com/costs/flooring-installation-cost
  2. https://homeguide.com/costs/best-flooring-for-dogs
  3. https://www.houzz.com/magazine/whats-new-in-flooring-for-2026-stsetivw-vs~184614910
  4. https://hardwoodfloorsmag.com/2026/10/01/2027-nwfa-industry-outlook-optimism-despite-uncertainty/
  5. https://woodfloors.org/durability/
  6. https://www.nwfa.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/NWFA-Installation-Guidelines.pdf
  7. https://rfci.com/floorscore/

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