Skip to main content
Rated 5 out of 5 stars. Highest Rated + Most ReviewedOver 1,200,000 customers and 125,000 product reviews
customerassistance@flooringinc.comTrack Order
Flooring Inc. The Flooring Superstore
🧣 Finished By First Frost - Save Up to 35% Off - Sale Ends Sunday 10/25

← All blog posts

Buying Guide

Articles

Every material has its own buying quirks, and this is where we've collected the flagship guide for each one. Start with your material, then branch into the specific questions below.

Start With Your Material

The fastest way to use this page is to jump straight to the guide for the material you're already leaning toward. Each one covers wear layers, installation methods, water resistance, and where a room's traffic level should steer your pick.

Before You Compare Materials

Two guides here apply no matter which floor you end up choosing. 6 Common Mistakes People Make When Buying Flooring puts under-ordering at the top of the list, because it is the error you cannot fix later. If tile is also on your shortlist, the Floor Tile Buying Guide gets into grout lines, porcelain vs. ceramic, and layout planning that vinyl and laminate buyers don't have to think about.

Reading the material-specific guide first, then this one, catches problems before they show up on your invoice.

Flooring Buying Guide FAQs

How do I decide between vinyl and laminate?

Vinyl is generally the better choice for bathrooms, kitchens, and basements because most vinyl products are fully waterproof, while laminate's wood-fiber core swells if water sits on it. Laminate can look more like real hardwood grain up close and is often less expensive per square foot in comparable grades. See Laminate vs. Vinyl Flooring for a full side-by-side.

What's the biggest mistake first-time flooring buyers make?

Under-ordering material without accounting for waste from cuts, pattern matching, and future repairs is the most common one. Most guides recommend ordering 10% extra for straight installs and up to 15-20% for diagonal or herringbone patterns.

Do I need a thicker pad or underlayment for carpet vs. laminate?

Carpet padding is chosen mainly for comfort and cushioning, while laminate underlayment is chosen for sound dampening and to smooth out small subfloor imperfections. They're not interchangeable, and using the wrong one can void a product's warranty.

Is rubber flooring only for gyms?

No, rubber flooring is also common in garages, playrooms, basements, and mudrooms because it's slip-resistant, easy to clean, and holds up to dropped weights or heavy foot traffic. The buying guide covers rolls vs. tiles and how thickness affects both cost and cushioning.

How much does flooring cost per square foot?

The material bands run roughly from sheet vinyl and basic laminate at the low end, through LVP, carpet, and rubber in the middle, up to engineered hardwood and premium rigid-core vinyl at the top. But the per-square-foot number on the product page is only part of the bill: underlayment, transition strips, trim, moisture barrier, and 5-15% waste overage all get added before labor. Price two or three materials all the way through that list before deciding which is cheaper — the order frequently flips.

How do I compare flooring prices between materials fairly?

Confirm you're comparing total installed cost, not just per-square-foot material price, since underlayment, transition strips, and installation labor vary a lot by material. A cheaper material with a pricier install can end up costing more than a mid-range one that goes down easily.