May 19, 2020 by Matt

When thinking about flooring, the biggest factor to consider is the installation. It costs time and money. Because of this, many homeowners understandably consider doing the installation themselves.

However, there are intricacies to installation that can cost you more time and money, if you’ve done it incorrectly. There are methods only specific to certain flooring types, different tools and materials to be used, and different learning curves for each.

Let’s look at 3 examples of flooring methods and see which one is best for you.

Ceramic/Porcelain Tile Flooring Installation

Ceramic and Porcelain tiles are very unique to other types of flooring, especially on installation. While other installation methods can be applied to other flooring materials, the ceramic and porcelain tile installation method cannot be applied to anything else.

For porcelain and ceramic tile floors, we use tile adhesives called thin-sets and mudsets. These are almost made from the same materials but each one is used for different tile sizes.

The thin-set is used on smaller tiles and mudset is used for much larger tiles, typically 32” by 32”, or 36” by 36” and larger.

Another use-case for mudsets is if you want your floor to be a little bit higher. Using mudsets can make your floor higher by an inch or up to an inch and a half.

Thin-set and mudset installation are the most expensive, the most labor-intensive, and the most difficult to learn.

They need more materials and specific tools that are not that cheap. Another factor that adds to cost, time, and complexity are the requisite of having perfectly level subfloors. In some cases, demolition work is needed to have the right level and type of subfloor.

Floating Installation

This method of installation is applicable for hardwood, vinyl, and laminate flooring. It’s called the floating method because the materials are essentially floating above the existing floor. It’s not bound by any nails, screws, or adhesives.

Speaking of adhesives, you also rarely need any adhesive to stick these materials together. They have tongues and grooves that snap when joined together. It’s very easy to do and it gives a sleek, seamless look.

The floating method is the best method if you want to install the floors yourself. It’s also the cheapest.

It requires only a small amount of tools, which may already be in your toolbox, and the materials required to finish installation are among the cheapest there is.

Glue-down Installation

Wood floors can have many installation options. They can be installed floating or they can be glued-down. But gluing down flooring materials isn’t just applicable to make the floor adhere to the ground.

Let’s take cork flooring as an example. It can be used as a soundproofing material. If you have a plywood subfloor upstairs, you can glue down a quarter-inch to a half-inch cork material first. This would give a better sound underfoot and it’s also gonna give a little bit of a softer feel when you walk on it.

Then if you don’t like the look of a cork floor, you can just glue down a wood floor over it, changing the look but retaining the soundproofing qualities and the feel of cork floors.

Glue-down installation is halfway between floating and thin-set/mudset installation both on complexity, time, and cost. It requires the knowledge of the right adhesives for specific materials.

Moisture content also would be a huge consideration for the flooring materials and the adhesives.

We would always recommend hiring a professional for flooring installation, especially if you could afford it. There are so many benefits:

Faster installation from pros who already know what to do
Time saved from having to learn the installation method
Fewer or zero mistakes that save both time and money
You can be more creative with the design as it’s not limited by your skill

However, we know that not all people have the luxury to afford installation. We hope that this information helps. But if you need more information about the specifics of each method, don’t hesitate to contact us or visit our showroom. Our team will be glad to help you with all your flooring needs!

April 7, 2020 by Matt

When thinking about home improvement, especially flooring upgrades, the biggest consideration is always the expenses. And there are many factors that determine the price of your project.

One of the flooring options that‘s trending this year is porcelain tile.

How Much is a Porcelain Tile Floor?

To determine the total cost of having a porcelain tile floor, we’re going to talk about all factors that will affect the final flooring costs.

Most of the costs will be flooring installation, but we will break it down a bit for you to see what makes that total price per square foot.

Installation Costs

In our zip code –which is 33442– the average prices of a porcelain tile floor range from $6 to $12 per square foot depending on these parameters.

Tile Design

To give you an idea, the average price of just the tiles alone ranges from $3 to $4 per square foot. However, there are a number of factors that can affect the price of porcelain tiles such as the manufacturer, the country of origin, the depth/quality of the printing process, etc.

But the thing that affects tile pricing the most is the design. We can further break this down into 3 parts.

Style

Tile visuals have come a long way and manufacturers definitely have enhanced their technology to make realistic wood, cement, or even natural stone looking tiles.

With just the porcelain tile options alone, you can do 10,000 square feet of tile with each tile having a unique pattern!

The complexity of the tile design can affect the price but not that much. Maybe a couple of dollars. What this means is you can have the freedom to choose whatever design you want!

Here’s a gorgeous marble looking tile from the Tile Empire.

However, size and shape do affect the pricing in a significant way, especially for tile floor installation.

Shape

Exotic shaped tiles are trending this year with clients picking shapes such as hexagonal and chevron tile patterns. This can affect installation costs as different shapes can require more materials for the tiles to adhere to the floor properly.

Another thing to consider for shape is if you are going to orient the tiles diagonally on. The installation costs will be the same, but you have to order more tiles, –about 10% to 15%– more to account for the waste.

The tile installers will have to do more cuts to adjust to the diagonal installation so that is something to keep in mind.

Here’s another unconventional shape, scales, from International Wholesale Tile!

Size

It’s expected that the larger the tile size, the higher the price. Larger tiles cost more and require more materials to install.

However, if you go the other way and move to smaller tile patterns, such as mosaics, the price can also rise considerably.

The price of tiles will not change much, but the installation costs will increase because it requires more work for it to be installed according to the design, which will make the labor costs higher.

This is most especially true when dealing with bathrooms.

Here is a beautiful example of mosaic tiles in a bathroom from Happy Floors:

Room

For spaces such as living rooms, patios, bedrooms or kitchens, they have almost the same cost to install, given that they have the same square footage. However, bathrooms have different project costs than any other space.

The workers have a limited space to work in and the cuts are more precise and more frequent, requiring more work.

Also, when dealing with bathrooms, we typically do it on a cost per hour basis, instead of the usual project costs.

We determine how much time is going to be spent on labor, then we can figure out the cost for the client.

Material

Thinset

This is the most common way to install porcelain tiles. As the name implies it uses a thin material to bond the tile to a subfloor. This lets you achieve a lower floor height, about a quarter to half an inch from the original flooring.

Thinset is also the installation that’s commonly used for smaller tiles.

Mudset

For larger tiles, a mudset installation is required to hold the tiles properly. This is a lot more material than thinset. It can raise the floor from an inch to an inch and a half because of the mortar mix and the tile adhesive, which is the thinset material.

Demolition Cost

As much as possible, we prefer to demolish the existing floor first to ensure the steadiness of the tile application.

Carpet, vinyl, and laminate flooring are all fairly easy to remove so they can just cost $0.50 to $1 per square foot.

However, for existing tile floors, marble or a glued-out wood floor, the labor cost can be $2 to $3 per square foot.

Time

This cost is just conditional as it depends on your budget and when you want the installation to be finished. This is also related to demolition costs.

Let’s say that you have 2 to 3 persons working on the installation without a professional demo crew, the time to finish a standard home measuring 2500 square feet can take up to 2 weeks.

However, if you can afford to have a demolition crew, it can take only 5 to 7 business days to finish.

It highly depends on your budget. The more people you have, the faster the project will be.

Is a Porcelain Tile Floor a Good Investment?

Value is highly dependent on your budget and situation. Upon first glance, you might say that tiles, especially porcelain and ceramic tile, can lean on the more expensive side. Sometimes, it can even reach the prices of a hardwood floor installation.

But here in South Florida, porcelain tile is one of the top 3 best-selling flooring materials. Many clients definitely see its value and it has one of the most value for the money when it comes to flooring solutions.

Climate

South Florida is very hot and humid but it can also be very wet. Flooring options tend to lean on the more waterproof options which are coincidentally the top 2 best-sellers on Foundation Flooring: Luxury Vinyl and Porcelain Tile.

Porcelain tiles are very waterproof so it is perfect for our climate and it can be used in wet spaces such as the bathrooms, kitchens, or laundry rooms.

Price

Aside from being waterproof, porcelain tiles lie on the sweet spot between expensive hardwood and very affordable luxury vinyl. That price doesn’t just go to aesthetics, it goes to durability and wearability.

Durability

Between our 2 best-sellers, porcelain tile is arguably more durable. It is a very strong material. It can withstand high impact stresses which can make it suitable for high-traffic areas and it can be used in commercial spaces.

And it can also bear a heavy weight so if you have large furniture in your living room or in your kitchen, porcelain tile is the best option you have.

Porcelain tile is also highly scratch-resistant making it the best flooring solution if you have kids or pets.

Long-Term Value

One of the greatest benefits of having a porcelain tile floor is the little to no maintenance that comes along with these floors.

Hardwood floors can require sanding and refinishing after some time and natural stones need to be sealed and refinished every 2 years. However, with porcelain tile, you don’t have to do any of that to keep it looking good.

Porcelain tile floors are almost a set it and forget situation, because of their durability and reliability. With wood floors, you have to consider flooding, public adjusters, insurance claims and all those shenanigans. But with porcelain tile, you don’t have to think about all that. You can just rest easy in your place, as you should be.

This is the perfect solution for people with a very busy lifestyle, have kids or pets, or just need a worry-free flooring solution for their home or workplace.

What’s even better is porcelain floor upgrades also increase your resale value!

But even if you don’t plan to resell your house, it’s still a pretty good investment as it can last for 20 – 50 years, depending on the installation. But here at Foundation Flooring, we believe that if you lay your floor right the first time, you can walk all over it for a lifetime!

In conclusion, we highly recommend porcelain tile flooring for your new space or if you’re thinking about your next upgrades for your space, especially here in South Florida.

February 24, 2020 by Matt

Vinyl flooring is an awesome option in flooring today. It’s come a long way from grandma’s vinyl in the 1980s to the Luxury Vinyl Planks available today. However, it’s not the perfect solution for all situations. Let’s explore the pros and cons of vinyl flooring to see if it’s the right option for you.

Pro: Easy and affordable (installation and materials)

Vinyl flooring is one of the most economical flooring options. Flooring installation is effortless and quick.

Vinyl flooring can be installed using the floating method (similar to laminate flooring), which can save on demo costs. There’s a click-lock mechanism that allows the joints to lock.

You can install vinyl flooring over an existing floor (subfloors) like concrete, existing tile, plywood, etc. You just have to make sure that the subfloor is relatively flat and stable.

Because of its ease, the installation fee is usually very affordable ranging from $1.50 to $2.50 per square foot. If you want the biggest savings, just install it yourself!

Here’s a video of how you can install luxury vinyl plank flooring using the floating method:

Con: Inexpensive (Resale Value)

However, due to vinyl’s perception, it doesn’t contribute to your property’s resale value.

Even though you may have a high quality, luxury vinyl plank floor that looks great and is durable for years, it doesn’t improve your equity.

So, if you want to invest in improvements in your property and you’re planning to resell it in the near future, we recommend hardwood floors instead. They have an excellent return-on-investment.

Pro: Water-resistant

Vinyl floors are water-resistant and/or waterproof in a lot of cases. What that means is the whole product itself: the wear-layer, the middle core, and the backing –typically a cork or a memory foam type pad– are all waterproof.

This is the perfect solution for wet areas in the home, such as your laundry room, dining room, powder room, and kitchen.

This is also the best solution for places that have hot, moist, and humid climates like South Florida or anywhere in the Southeastern States from Virginia to Texas.

Vinyl flooring is of high quality and a great option for active households that have kids and pets*.

Con: Not impact and scratch-resistant

*Speaking of pets, vinyl flooring is ONLY going to be applicable to cats and little dogs. If you have large dogs, you need to have their nails clipped regularly as vinyl flooring is not that durable from scratches.

Although some variants of vinyl have durable wear-layers, they aren’t that thick so sanding, refinishing, or repainting damages is not possible.

Also, vinyl flooring is not impact-resistant so if you have heavy furniture, we highly suggest buying felt pads or “furniture socks” to help prevent dents and scratches.

Pro: Comes in different shapes and sizes

Vinyl manufacturing and production have improved tremendously when it comes to design and options. You can have a huge variety of designs and textures.

Luxury Vinyl Planks look just like real wood flooring. It can have textures, grains, and even knots that look and feel like real wood. The planks start 6 inches wide by 36-inch lengths. Wider and longer options are available to give the room a more open, more airy feel.

Luxury Vinyl Tile, on the other hand, can look like stone or tile. Typically, these tile floors have some box-shaped varieties particularly measuring 18” by 24” or 12” by 24”. They can even look like a Korean marble or a travertine-type material.

Con: A Fairly New Material

Vinyl flooring has been here for decades. However, the vinyl flooring we have now, especially the luxury ones, have only been here for 2 – 3 years so we don’t really know what the long-term effects of using vinyl flooring on your property or how long do they really hold up.

January 17, 2020 by Matt

Solid and Engineered Wood are both great options for your floor to have that classic, rustic yet elegant look. However, each flooring solution is best for certain scenarios. Choosing right can mean a lot for your budget and durability.

Solid Wood has Better Surface Durability and Flexibility in Looks

Solid Wood is usually made out of one solid, thick piece of wood, typically about ¾ of an inch thick. Because of its thickness, it can be sanded multiple times.

A wear layer is a clear coating that manufacturers apply to the surface of the wood for protection. Having a lot of material for a wear layer means that the surface of Solid Woods will be tougher to scratch and be easier for maintenance.

Also, because of that thickness, you can do many things on a Solid Wood’s surface. You can sand and refinish the floor multiple times which also allows you to change its color, restain it, or just to clean out some surface scratches if it gets damaged.

Usually, Engineered wood has a thin top layer that makes it prone to damage and more difficult when it comes to refinishing.

However, we have products here such as Mirage, from Canada, that has a thick enough wear-layer that you can also sand and refinish your Engineered Wood floors!

But generally speaking, Solid Wood has a thicker wear-layer which you could sand and refinish multiple times more than Engineered Wood.

Solid Wood’s kryptonite is water and humidity. That is where Engineered Wood shines.

Engineered Wood is Better for Wetter Areas

Engineered Wood is made from multiple plies of wood. These plies typically run perpendicular to the other plies and stack on top of each other. This creates more dimensional stability when adapting to wetter or more humid environments.

Wood is an organic material and it moves ever so slightly depending on the humidity and temperature. It expands and contracts if it is wet and dry, respectively.

Engineered Wood, having been made out of ply’s opposite and perpendicular to each other, fight the natural adaptation of wood to the climate.

If you live in a hot, humid and moist place like here in South Florida or need a flooring solution for areas that might get wet such as kitchens, living rooms, bathrooms, basements, Engineered Wood is the best solution for all of these conditions.

Both are Just Okay for Pets

If you have pets, both solutions are okay but we would rather recommend non-wood flooring products that are more durable against scratches and wetness such as vinyl or tile.

Solid Wood has a thicker layer so if you have scratches, you can sand it down to restore its smooth finish. However, Engineered Wood is more durable when it comes to wetness and humidity so, it’s a tie for us.

Engineered Wood has more Options for Installation. It’s also Cheaper and Easier to Install.

Engineered Wood is easier to cut and shape. That means that you can install Engineered Wood yourself to save on installation costs.

And if you’re going to install it yourself, Engineered Wood doesn’t require many specialty tools. You won’t have to buy or rent tools you’re just going to use once. Aside from being hard to find or rent, these tools can be very expensive.

Engineered wood can be installed in 4 methods, nail, staple, glue or floating method. This means that you can have the flexibility and the options to install Engineered Wood however you want. If you’re going to do it yourself, we highly recommend the floating method since it’s the easiest.

Here are tutorials that you can use for each installation method.

Nail Down Method:

Staple Method:

Glue Down Method:

Floating Method:

Engineered Wood also has flexibility when it comes to subfloors. You can apply Engineered Wood over wooden or concrete subfloors on or above ground level.

Solid Wood not only costs more but also needs special care and technique for its installation. It can only be applied over wooden subfloors so if you don’t have that, it will definitely add to the installation cost.

We also highly recommend you hire a professional hardwood installer for Solid Wood Installation, like our team! We also do installation work. If you need help, just contact us for any flooring problems and questions.

Which is More Valuable?

It also depends on what you value more. If you’re looking for the best bang for your buck, then Engineered Wood is the best option for you.

It can be installed on multiple areas of your property and the top layer is pre-finished. It’s also cheaper and easier to install. For places like here in the Southeast, Engineered is the best option for the hot and humid climate. This is why 98% of our recommendations are Engineered Wood.

If you’re looking for better quality, longevity and resale value, then Solid Wood is the best option for you. You can be flexible with how it looks because it can be sanded down and refinished multiple times, it will last for years and it can bump your resale value up to 2.5%.

If you are still undecided, we are here to help. Contact us if you have more flooring questions.

November 22, 2019 by Matt

I started in the flooring industry in 2006 by working for a flooring company called ProSource Wholesale Floor Covering which had 40 stores across the southeast.

I worked as a general manager in ProSource for 3 years in the Pompano Beach location.

In 2009, the company decided to file chapter 11 bankruptcy. That’s when I left and decided to start Foundation Flooring in October 2009.

At the time, I did everything by myself from operating a forklift to sales and marketing. You name any store task, I was responsible for it.

Our initial goal was to be the lowest cost flooring provider to the trades, working with builders, designers, and contractors.
To achieve that, we partnered with Heartland Flooring.
Heartland handled the installation to help Foundation focus on selling materials.

We started our operations in a small 2000 square foot showroom warehouse building right near the Fort Lauderdale Executive Airport.

The first year in business was extremely tough. We struggled month to month to make our numbers and to cover our expenses. But after some diligence and old-fashioned customer service, we started to pick up some steam towards the end of year one. That’s when we decided to look for a new warehouse space to move into. We found a 5000 square foot space in Pompano Beach.

It was quite a big jump for us to move to a new location. The space is bigger and so are the expenses. Fortunately, we adapted really fast and the transition went really well. By the end of year two, we ended up tripling what we made the previous year!

At that point, I was able to start hiring people to help me with the business. Throughout the years, we’ve had a great team of people who’ve been with us for a long time.

In the first three to four years, we continued to grow the business at a nice rate and then hit a little bit of a snag in 2014. That’s when I decided to really dive into the work with a business coach and really look at growing my business to the next level.

In 2015, we started hiring salespeople and had some big sales events to break our old sales goal. And break we did! We ended up achieving $2 million in revenue!

We really rely on our excellent people to deliver excellent experiences: our traders, designers, builders, contractors, and the Foundation Flooring team. Because of these wonderful people, our client base continues to grow along with our referrals and our reviews.

We are always attentive and ready to help customers to support their needs and make their spaces look good.

Today, we have a state-of-the-art showroom that focuses mostly on our three biggest product categories: wood, tile, and vinyl.

Not only that, you can even visit our showroom virtually!

We also do carpet laminate and other commercial/residential flooring products and countertops.

We have a great team in place we’re very thankful for an amazing 10 years in business. We look forward to more years down the road.

From the bottom of our hearts and on behalf of the Foundation Flooring team, thank you!

– Matt Jorgensen,
Foundation Flooring CEO

October 9, 2019 by Matt

Hardwood flooring is a great choice for your home. It looks very classy, helps insulate noise, contributes to the good quality of indoor air, and even helps increase your resale value. However, it could be damaged if not protected properly. Here are the 3 easy steps to keep your hardwood floor safe from damage.

Dust prevention is the top priority

Dust and gravel are very abrasive to hardwood. They could scratch your floor and remove its finish so you want to avoid it as much as possible.

Doormat

The best way to deal with dust and gravel is to prevent it from being brought from the outside to your floor. A good rug or doormat is essential for your home if you have hardwood floors.

Sweeping or Vacuuming

Depending on the foot traffic, sweeping and vacuuming regularly prevents dust and other abrasive bits from accumulating enough to do damage.

Just be mindful of your vacuum attachment/broom. As much as possible, use soft brooms and avoid brushes. The bristles from brushes can easily remove your floor’s natural gloss.

Keep your floor dry

Hardwood is an organic material and it’s not waterproof. It can be water-resistant but it can be easily stained if liquids stay too long on the surface. Clean spills immediately. Apply manufacturer-approved floor cleaners after wiping the liquids to get rid of oiliness and the smell.

Again, hardwood is organic. If it becomes damp or wet, fungi or termites can infest and destroy your floor. When cleaning your floor you want to avoid using water and cleaning products that are too acidic or basic. Bona is a great option for most floors but you can check first the factory’s recommendations for approved cleaners.

Take care of all the “feet”

Though hardwood is hard, it could easily be damaged by various types of “feet”.

Shoe rack and slippers

Hard and pointy soles can definitely scratch your floor. We suggest for you to have a shoe rack beside the door to prevent footwear coming into contact with your floor.

We also recommend having slippers that are floor-friendly. Here are 5 of the best slippers for hardwood floors.

Have dog nails clipped

Dog nails are one of the culprits for the scratches on your hardwood floor. Clip them if you have the knowledge or better yet, bring them to the vet to get them clipped.

Use furniture pads

We prefer furniture pads over furniture wheels as wheels can still scratch your floors. Here are the 3 best furniture pads for hardwood floors.

Avoid these:

Excessive sunlight

Too much exposure to sunlight can cause fading, darkening and/or discoloration. Use blinds, curtains or UV filters on your windows. You can also use mats to cover spots on your floor that get exposed to sunlight.

Substances similar to Furniture Polish and Hairspray

These can make the finish on your hardwood floor cloudy. Wipe them immediately with approved floor cleaners. Remember, wipe all the liquids dry.