Frequently Asked Questions

Hardwood flooring is one of the most sought-after flooring options that never go out of style. It’s made from real wood harvested from trees with distinctive grains that give your home character, beauty, and warmth. A variety of wood species is available, from oak, birch, and ash to hickory, maple and Brazilian cherry. The flooring can be manufactured as solid hardwood, a single, solid piece of wood, or as engineered hardwood, constructed from multiple layers of wood. Solid hardwood may hold a slight edge in prestige for some people, and it lasts much longer and adds more value to your home than engineered hardwood. But the lower cost of engineered hardwood makes it appealing for others. Let the professionals at Tile Pro be your guide and help find the right hardwood flooring for your home.

No, steam cleaning hardwoods will damage your flooring and cause it to warp. While some steam cleaner manufacturers claim that their products are safe for sealed hardwoods, the cleaning practice is not recommended by the National Wood Flooring Association, the World Floor Covering Association or any major hardwood manufacturers. Also note that using a steam cleaner can void your floor’s warranty.

While hardwood floors can offer superior scratch resistance, it’s still a good idea to protect your flooring with small felt pads on the ends of chair and table legs. Area rugs also help prevent furniture scratches.

When you’re shopping for hardwood flooring, you’ll discover a wide range of wood species, colors, stains, finishes, and grain patterns. Popular wood species include red oak, white oak, birch, maple, ash, hickory, walnut, Brazilian cherry, mahogany, teak, and bamboo. Ask the experts at Tile Pro about the various types of hardwood flooring, as well as each species’ Janka Hardness Rating.

No matter your design preferences, hardwood flooring is available in a variety of styles that will work in both casual and elegant settings. Hardwoods come in strips with widths less than three inches for a more traditional look; planks with widths of three inches or more for a more open and sophisticated feel; hand scraped wood for an artisan style; and wire brushed floors that offer a distressed, rustic appearance.

It depends on whether your hardwood floors are prefinished or unfinished. If the hardwoods are unfinished, you should avoid walking on them for 24 hours to ensure the varnish has time to dry and set. You’ll be able to walk on pre-finished floors immediately after installation.

Often chosen for its affordability, laminate flooring is a multi-layered product constructed of compressed wood fiber that has the appearance of wood, tile, or natural stone. It can be installed at all grades using a floating floor method or by gluing it down.

Typically, laminate flooring is not waterproof and moisture can cause major damage. For an alternative to laminates at a similar price point, consider waterproof vinyl plank flooring. 

Laminate flooring typically consists of four layers: a backing layer often made of cork or melamine to allow the laminate to sit comfortably on the floor; a core layer of recycled wood fibers, often referred to as a high-density fiber (HDF) core; an image layer with patterns and texture printed onto the product for the look of wood, tile, or stone; and a wear layer that offers a clear protection. Higher quality laminates have a wear layer that’s scratch, dent, and fade resistant.

Ceramic tile is a beautiful and durable flooring material made from clay or other minerals that are tightly compressed and heated in an oven to create a hard surface. Tiles can be glazed or unglazed and come in a wide array of colors, patterns, shapes, and sizes. Tile is a great choice for kitchens and bathrooms because it’s easy to maintain and moisture resistant. Ceramic tile is not just a popular choice for flooring, but also backsplashes, countertops, walls, accent borders, and fireplace surrounds.

Yes, but it must be a ceramic tile with a water absorption rate of 3% or less, with 0.5% being ideal, and it must be installed properly. Porcelain is a good choice for outdoor applications because of its low water absorption rate and high durability. If you’re using grout outdoors, it’s critical to use sealed grout.

Your personal design tastes and your lifestyle will dictate what ceramic tile is best for your flooring project. At Tile Pro, we have the largest selection of tile in our expansive showroom and our flooring professionals can help you make the right selection for your needs.

Porcelain is the most durable type of tile and it’s resistant to damage from water, stains, pets, and furniture. With multiple style options available, porcelain also is a wonderful aesthetic choice for flooring.

When you hear “vinyl,” you might picture your grandmother’s kitchen flooring – plastic-looking floors prone to scratching and scuffing. But today’s vinyl flooring offers high-end styles in sheets, tiles, and planks that are durable, wear-resistant and imitate the beauty and textures of tile, stone, and wood. 

Your vinyl flooring will last for decades with the proper care and maintenance. Vinyl stands up to heavy foot traffic and the activity of children and pets. It also is highly resistant to mold, mildew, and moisture.

Luxury vinyl tile/plank flooring offers the look of stone, tile, or wood and is 100% waterproof. It consists of layers: a backing layer installed over the subfloor, typically made from cork, foam, or fiberglass; a core layer that depending on the materials used can provide a hard, dense core with greater durability or a softer core with a cushioned feel; an image layer with a design printed on a textured surfaced to mimic the look of stone, wood or tile; and a wear layer for protection. 

Luxury vinyl flooring is known for its durability, so will look amazing in your home for years to come. Keep in mind that luxury vinyl comes in various thicknesses. At Tile Pro, we only carry vinyl products with a thickness of at least 12 mil, which is ideal for most homes. If you have an active family or pets, consider choosing vinyl with at least 20 mil thickness for the best durability.

Yes, it’s possible to install luxury vinyl over any hard-surface floor but it’s important that experienced flooring professionals handle the installation. You can count on the experts at Tile Pro for quality installation. 

Porcelain is the most durable type of tile and it’s resistant to damage from water, stains, pets, and furniture. With multiple style options available, porcelain also is a wonderful aesthetic choice for flooring.

Engineered hardwood, like solid hardwood, comes in a variety of wood species, colors, stains, finishes, and textures. But instead of a single, solid piece of wood, engineered hardwood is made with layers of plywood with a hardwood top veneer of solid wood in the species you want to be visible. It’s a more affordable option than solid hardwood flooring and works well in basements and over concrete floors and radiant heating systems.

Both are hard-surface floors made of multiple layers, but engineered hardwood is made from real wood and has a more natural appearance while laminate flooring is made from recycled wood fibers. Both options can be great choices depending on your flooring budget. If you’re not sure where to start, contact Tile Pro for a free design consultation.

No, so it’s important install engineered hardwood on an appropriate subfloor and in rooms where there’s no prolonged exposure to water or fluctuations in humidity. It’s also important to clean spills immediately.

Just like solid hardwood flooring, engineered hardwood flooring is available in a range of wood species, colors, stains, finishes, and textures, so you’re sure to find a design that will look beautiful in your home.

Because it is constructed of multiple wood layers, engineered hardwood flooring is extremely durable. Some wood species are harder than others, so ask the Tile Pro professionals for their expertise in choosing the most durable product for your needs.

Hardwood floors are resilient, especially those that rank high on the hardness rating scale. But repeated scratching from your dog’s nails – especially in multiple-dog households – can cause damage. A protective wax or sealant can help protect your hardwood floors from scratches, but consult a flooring expert for advice before choosing one of those solutions.

Damage can occur if your hardwood floors are exposed to too much water or pet urine. Consider a wood with a high hardness rating and use a sealant to protect your floors from moisture. It’s also crucial to clean spills and pet urine immediately to prevent damage.

Compared to a big-box chain or online discounters, this is why buying your tile and flooring locally makes the most sense:

• Local sales and discount offers
• Established presence in the community
• Expert salespeople who can answer your questions and help you find the right tile, flooring, and installation options
• Strong relationships with manufacturers
• In-home measuring
• Ability to see and touch the materials through displays, videos, and samples

If price is driving your decision, remember the old saying: “You get what you pay for.” A cheaper price may win today, but after your tile is installed and you discover the poor quality boards don’t fit together well, or the finish chips when you dust or mop, or your vinyl floor rips when you wear sneakers, that cheap price will come back to haunt you. And if you have problems with the product you bought from an online discounter after it’s been installed, you can’t simply walk into their store and talk to a manager or store owner face-to-face – like you can at Tile Pro. Will the discounter stand behind their product? We will. Will the discounter be willing to replace or repair your floor if it’s under warranty? We will. 

Yes. If you’re working with a small budget, we have financing options. Contact our highly trained staff who can create your dream kitchen or bathroom without breaking the bank.

Yes! We are experts at kitchen and bathroom renovations and we can handle the entire remodel – from plumbing to fixtures to backsplashes to countertops, there’s nothing our crew can’t install.

Yes, we offer free design consultation services at our showroom or in your own home. We can help you visualize what your new, stunning kitchen or bathroom. Take a look at some of our projects in our inspiration gallery and contact us to get started.