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Flooring Tips

The Process of Buying New Flooring

An eight-step guide to buying new flooring — budget, material, measurements, style, samples, prep, install, and maintenance.

Published
October 17, 2025
Author
Blackburn's Interiors
Two customers comparing fabric swatches, paint chips, and hardwood floor samples at a flooring showroom

Choosing new flooring is one of the biggest home decisions you'll make. There are a lot of options. Here's a step-by-step guide to help you navigate the process.

Step 1: Set a Budget

Flooring prices vary by material and the size of your space. On a tight budget, consider sheet vinyl or carpet. With more to spend, hardwood, LVP, or tile flooring can be a great investment. We also offer financing for larger projects.

Step 2: Choose the Right Material

  • Hardwood: classic, durable, refinishable — but expensive
  • Laminate: budget-friendly hardwood alternative — durable but can't be refinished
  • Luxury Vinyl Plank: versatile, easy to install and maintain — 12-mil wear layer for residential, 20-mil for commercial
  • Tile: durable, water-resistant — comes in ceramic, porcelain, and natural stone
  • Carpet: comfortable and cozy — best for bedrooms and living areas

Step 3: Measure Your Space

Measure the length and width of each room and account for nooks, closets, and alcoves. Include cuts and seams for waste (especially carpet). Waste is necessary to have enough material to complete the project. Our flooring calculator can help estimate square footage.

Step 4: Choose a Style and Color

Flooring comes in a huge range of styles and colors. Consider the existing decor in your space and choose a style that complements it. Our 8,000 square foot showroom has current and best-selling trends to help you decide.

Step 5: Take Samples Home

Bringing samples home into your lighting makes a big difference. What looks great in the showroom may look different in your room. Keep samples a couple of days so you can see how they look at different times — especially in rooms with lots of natural light.

Step 6: Prepare Your Space

Before install, get the room ready: move furniture, clear debris, make sure the subfloor is clean and level. See our pre-installation tips page for the full checklist.

Step 7: Install Your New Flooring

Once your space is prepped, install can take anywhere from a few hours to a few days depending on the room size and the complexity of the install.

Step 8: Maintain Your New Flooring

Follow the manufacturer's maintenance instructions. For carpet, keep receipts from professional cleanings. If you need help finding maintenance instructions, reach out — we keep records of every job.

Wrap Up

Buying flooring has a lot of moving parts, but the process is the same every time. Walk through these eight steps and the project comes together. As always, we're here if you need us.

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