If you've been receiving estimates for flooring in Philadelphia lately, you've probably found that nearly every trader discusses the same topic - LVP or hardwood? It's not an easy decision and any flooring contractor certified by the state will inform you that it relies greatly on the particular room as well as the house and the home owner. The housing stock in Philadelphia is distinctive: rowhomes old colonials, split levels across Bucks County, ranch homes in Delaware County -- and those that are perfect in an area could result in difficult to fix in another. Here's what you really need to know before you make a move.
1. Philadelphia's Older Homes Create Subfloor Complications
The majority of hardwood installation guides require a clean flat subfloor. Philadelphia doesn't always cooperate. Homes constructed prior to 1970that covers a significant portion of the city, as well as surrounding counties -- frequently have irregular subfloors, old board subfloors instead of plywood or water issues resulting from foundations that have deteriorated. LVP is able to handle minor imperfections in the subfloor more easily than solid wood which transmits every dip and bump underneath it. A reliable flooring professional will look into this before offering you either of the options.
2. Humidity Is a Real Factor Here, Not Just a Sales Pitch
It is believed that the Delaware Valley sits in a humid continental climate zone. It is a sticky summer, and winters have dry conditions, but swing is crucially important in the case of solid wood. Wood expands and contracts when variations in humidity, and in a Philadelphia rowhome that has inconsistent HVAC, the movement may cause gaps, cupping or squeaking after a certain period of time. LVP is extremely dimensionally stableit doesn't have to worry regarding humidity fluctuations, which is the reason it's a great choice for kitchens, basements, and older houses that don't have climate control.
3. Hardwood Still Wins on Long-Term Home Value
If you're in the most beautiful part within Montgomery County or a historic neighborhood such as Chestnut Hill, or Society Hill, real hardwood flooring is still a focal point during selling. Appraisers and buyers are aware of it, and the ability to sand and refinish wood several times throughout the years is a testament to its longevity. LVP isn't able to match. A high-end LVP really is impressive however it cannot be refinished -Once the wear layer has disappeared there's no way to replace it.
4. LVP Installation Cost Is Consistently Lower
Through the Philadelphia metro -- City, Bucks County, Montgomery County, Delaware County, and South Jersey -- LVP installation typically runs cheaper in terms of square feet than solid wood. LVP is lighter and cuts faster, and the floating installation method most LVP uses is less labor time than nail-down hardwood. If price is a major consideration and you're after the best results, LVP is where most affordable flooring contractors in Philadelphia will steer you.
5. Nail-Down Hardwood Requires the Correct Subfloor
Solid hardwood installation using nail-down methods requires a subfloor of adequate thicknessusually 3/4 inch minimum of plywood. A lot of Philadelphia houses, particularly ones with concrete slabs or older diagonal boards have to be repaired or upgrades before nail-down installation can be made. The failure to do this can lead to problems within the first year. Certified flooring installers will be able to tell the issue early; contractors with budgets typically don't.
6. LVP is the most practical winner on Bathrooms and Kitchens
Bathroom tile installation continues to be popular and is a popular choice, however LVP is now a major portion of the kitchen and bathtub flooring in Philadelphia because it's water-proof, warmer than ceramic tiles which is also faster to install. Homeowners who want an overall wood look to their space, including wet areas LVP delivers visual consistency that hardwood simply does not -- there's no need to put solid hardwood in the bathroom.
7. Custom staining is a hardwood-only Benefit
One aspect LVP can't provide is customized staining. If you're looking for a flooring shade that is matched to your cabinets, trim or an exact stylesomething like a cool, grey wash and a deep espresso an inviting provincial tonehardwood provides you with that flexibility and control. Flooring professionals located in Philadelphia who offer custom staining can make a truly unique flooring. LVP comes in set colorways. What you see on this box, is the one you will receive.
8. Engineered Hardwood sits squarely in the Middle
It's important to mention this because a lot of homeowners forget that engineered hardwood gives you a real wood-like surface that offers better dimensional stability than solid hardwood. It's a valid middle path -- more moisture-resistant than solid hardwood, more refinishable LVP and can be installed as an unsupported floor in instances in which nail-down solutions aren't possible. Some flooring specialists across Bucks and Montgomery County are recommending it extensively right now, and with good reasons.
9. For a no-cost flooring estimate, click here. Gives you the chance to compare both options
A reputable flooring company in Philadelphia will offer you both material side-by -side, if you ask. This is by far the most valuable thing you can decide before you make a choice. The variation in cost for materials and labour, often surprises homeowners -the difference can be smaller that they had hoped, sometimes it's significant. Whatever you decide to do, it's an informed decision rather than being a guesser.
10. The Best Floor Is the one that's matched to the specifics of your Home
There's no one-size-fits-all winner. The 1920s-era rowhome in South Philly with an uneven subfloor and no central heating is undoubtedly a different experience than a colonial built in 2005 in Delaware County with a slab basement. The flooring professionals who take enough time to go through your house and check your subfloor ask about your household's activities pet, kids traffic patterns, pets -- and then offer a recommendation are the ones you should consider hiring. Ones who advocate for one item regardless of your circumstances are the ones to stay away from. Take a look at the top
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Serving Bucks, Montgomery & Delaware County The Bucks, Montgomery And Delaware County Service: What To Know
Homeowners in the Philadelphia suburbs tend to think that flooring contractors based in the city will not travel, to the extent that they believe local contractor are always the best option to find work in their local area. However, the reality is a bit more nuanced. The top flooring installers that serve the area have an ability to seamlessly work with Philadelphia, Bucks County, Montgomery County, Delaware County, and into South Jersey because the demand across the metro area is interconnected, and there are enough housing units that share similar characteristics that make regional experience a valuable asset. What's different between these regions in terms of housing styles, subfloors, eras of construction and aesthetics in the neighborhood -- is something you should consider before you start removing names of contractors from the results of a search and thinking that geography alone is a valid quality filter.
1. Each County has its own dominant housing profile
Bucks County skews toward older homes in towns such as Doylestown and Bristol in addition to newer suburban construction further north. Montgomery County mixes mid-century colonials and ranches, as well as affluent Main Line properties that have distinct expectations for renovation. Delaware County has dense inner-ring suburbs that are dotted with older rowhome property close by the city as it transitions to more sprawled residential areas as you move to the to the west. These distinctions affect flooring due to the subfloor's construction conditions, construction methods, and the moisture profiles differ considerably by region and time of constructioncontractors who are familiar with the region can spot these patterns without needing to be explained.
2. Subfloor conditions vary significantly across the counties
An older Delaware County homes close to the Philadelphia border (e.g. Darby, Upper Darby, Lansdowne have a tendency to share the same subfloor conditions, as well as the moisture issues common in city rowhomes. Bucks County properties further from the urban core are often found to have better subfloor conditions in the newer construction, but have more serious moisture issues in older homes close to by the Delaware River. One of Montgomery County's main Line homes may have original hardwood over subfloors that were not retouched for 60 years. A flooring contractor who has worked extensively in all three counties recognizes these patterns and charges as such, instead of being surprised at the end of the project.
3. Hardwood Flooring Expectations Run Up on the Main Line
The Montgomery County's Main Line corridor -- Bryn Mawr, Haverford, Wayne, Ardmore -- has a redevelopment culture in which hardwood flooring standards are specific. Residents in these areas typically ask for wide plank white oak customized staining and matching to millwork and cabinetry, and refinishing projects that meet the most aesthetic standards. Flooring contractors who service Montgomery County regularly understand that the standard for finishing quality in these markets is much higher than what you would expect from a suburban renovation, and they employ and furnish accordingly.
4. Bucks County's more modern construction causes Different Installation Conditions
Newer developments for residential construction with a focus on Bucks County -- particularly in Warminster, Horsham, and the areas further north usually have open-plan layouts featuring bigger square footage, slab-on-grade construction in certain regions, and subfloors more durable than older homes in the county. LVP flooring is especially well-suited to these newer Bucks County homes: the greater area benefits from LVP's efficiency and cost, while the spacious layouts can be used for floating and slab-grade flooring make waterproof flooring a practical option for the living areas.
5. Delaware County's Inner Suburbs Have Philadelphia's flooring challenges
Flooring contractors who are familiar with Delaware County well will tell you that homes located in Upper Darby, Drexel Hill and Havertown provide similar subfloor problems as Philadelphia proper - board subfloors, a puddle of moisture from old foundations, and hardwood that was last touched more than a decade ago. The restoration of wood floors across these locales is always in demand because the existing housing stock features original hardwood that's stood the test of time long enough for it to be worth saving, but it's been neglected for long enough that it appears as though it's no longer. Achieving that right evaluation requires somebody who is able to tell the difference between a floor that is in need of refinishing and one that needs replacement.
6. South Jersey Serves as a Natural Extension that is part of Philadelphia Market
South Jersey -- Cherry Hill, Voorhees, Moorestown, Haddonfield and surrounding areas are all part of the real Philadelphia flooring market despite the fact that it's situated across the state line. A majority of Philadelphia-area flooring professionals have licenses in Pennsylvania as well as New Jersey and service South Jersey frequently. Homeowners in South Jersey searching for flooring installers shouldn't restrict their search to New Jersey-only contractors -- the regional pool of experienced flooring professionals includes many Philadelphia-based and Pennsylvania-suburban companies who cross the river routinely.
7. Travel Fees and Service Area Policies are different -- ask up-front
Some flooring companies in Philadelphia is able to cover all three counties and not every county-based contractor offers coverage of the entire county. Some offer travel-related surcharges for jobs that go beyond a specific distance from their location; while others include this in their pricing but do not disclose it separately. If you're looking for floor estimates that span Bucks, Montgomery, or Delaware County, ask specifically whether the estimate includes any travel or service area premium. An individual contractor who is honest regarding this upfront, is able to manage the business relationship in a professional manner. One who brings it up after a contract meeting may not be so.
8. Permit Requirements Can Differ by the municipality.
Pennsylvania registration of home improvement contractors is available across the state, however individual municipalities across Bucks, Montgomery, and Delaware County sometimes have their own registration requirements or permits for contractors operating within their boundaries. The situation is different in the case of flooring than construction work, but it's a good idea to check with your contractor that they're aware of any local requirements within your particular township or Borough. Flooring installers with a license who work frequently across the region are aware of the specific municipalities with additional requirements and integrate them into their design without being asked.
9. Regional Contractors Build Networks That Benefit Customers
Flooring contractors who have worked across Philadelphia and surrounding counties for years has supplier relationships, subcontractor networks, and professional referral connections that a younger or more regionally focused business can't. This is vital when a job uncovers problems with subfloors that require the help of a carpenter when certain hardwood species require rapid sourcing, or if an installation requires waterproofing experts. The best flooring contractors in this region constitute nodes of a network, and not individual contractors who operate in isolation and their customers profit from this connectivity in the event of unexpected issues mid-project.
10. The most reliable regional contractor is the One who Knows Your Home's Specific Type
County boundaries have less significance than housing type familiarity when it comes to flooring. An individual contractor who's performed fifty jobs of refinishing hardwoods prior to the war Delaware County colonials knows things about these floors that a contractor who performs work on new Bucks County construction does not -or vice versa. When you're evaluating flooring companies in this region, ask specifically about their experience with homes from your past and their construction methods, and not only their general area of service. The answer will reveal more about whether they're the best fit for your task than a sketch of their area they're prepared to travel. View the most popular See the most popular ceramic tile flooring Philadelphia for blog examples including hardwood floor installation Bucks County, hardwood floor installation cost Philadelphia, hardwood floor refinishing Philadelphia, cheap flooring installation Philadelphia, porcelain tile installation Philadelphia, porcelain tile installation Philadelphia, hardwood floor installation Philadelphia, LVP flooring Philadelphia PA, flooring installation near me Philadelphia, flooring contractors Philadelphia PA and more.
