Get Quotes from Top Flooring Contractors in Philadelphia, PA

Are You Licensed to Practice as a Flooring Contractor in Philadelphia?

Philadelphia-based flooring contractors are typically required to comply with local and state regulations before operating in the city. Per state requirements, these flooring contractors must register as Home Improvement Contractors with the Pennsylvania Attorney General's Office before providing any services worth more than $500 to residential customers. Violating this requirement attracts criminal and civil penalties, including fines of up to $1,000 or more. Note that registration exemptions may be made for flooring contractors who provide services that are not up to $5,000 for the previous taxable year.

Contractor registration with the Pennsylvania Attorney General's Office can be done online or by mailing a completed Home Improvement Contractor Registration Application Form to:

Note that the payment of a non-refundable registration fee and the submission of documents like proof of insurance are typically required to complete the registration process. Additional information on state-required registration for Philadelphia-based flooring contractors can be directed to the Pennsylvania Attorney General's Office at (717) 772-2425.

Locally, flooring contractors are required to obtain city-issued contractor licenses from the Philadelphia Department of Licenses and Inspections before plying their trade. However, licensing exemptions may be made for flooring contractors that limit their scope of services to one or two-family dwellings and have also been registered as home improvement contractors with the state's Attorney General's Office. Nonetheless, these flooring contractors must still provide proof of this registration to the Philadelphia Department of Licenses and Inspections.

Applications for locally issued contractor licenses and submission of proof of state-level home improvement contractor registration to the Department of Licenses and Inspections can be made online through the city's eCLIPSE system or in person at:

Note that in-person applicants must schedule an appointment with the center before visiting it, and will also have to complete and submit an Application for Contractor License Form. Likewise, all applicants must comply with certain requirements, such as:

• Obtaining a locally issued commercial activity license
• Complying with the city's contractor safety training and operational requirements
• Submitting proof of compliance with local tax obligations and acceptable insurance coverage
• Paying all applicable fees

Queries related to the requirements and procedures for obtaining locally-issued contractor licenses in Philadelphia can be directed to the city's Department of Licenses and Inspections, either online or by calling 311 or (215) 686-8686 for callers outside Philadelphia.

You can also verify your intended flooring contractor's local licensing and state registration status via the Philadelphia Department of Licenses and Inspections' Contractor Lookup and the Pennsylvania Attorney General's Office's Home Improvement Contractor Search platforms, respectively.

How Much Do You Charge Compared to Other Flooring Contractors in Philadelphia?

Professional flooring contractors in Philadelphia typically calculate their charges based on hourly, linear foot, square foot, or per-service rates. Note that the total cost of hiring these contractors is dependent on factors like:

• The size and current condition of the floor
• The type of flooring material to be used
• Your location within the city
• The flooring contractor's reputation and level of experience
• The complexity and labor intensity of the job

It is advisable to get and compare cost estimates for your flooring project from different flooring contractors in the city before making your final hiring decision, as this helps you get an idea of the average cost of your required services. Another benefit of getting and comparing cost estimates from different contractors is that it helps you spot fraudulent flooring contractors and avoid scams.

Flooring contractors in Philadelphia earn an estimated annual wage of $78,800. The list below indicates the average hourly wages for Philadelphia flooring contractors and compares these figures with the average hourly wages of floor layers in other parts of Pennsylvania along with other major cities in the United States:

Are You a Member of the National Wood Flooring Association (NWFA)?

Membership with or certification by a professional body or association is an important criterion to look out for when searching for flooring services in Philadelphia, especially for wood-related floors. Floor installers who belong to or have been certified by a professional body are usually far more knowledgeable and experienced than their counterparts and also have access to better training, education, insurance, and other similar industry-related resources. This, in turn, increases your likelihood of receiving optimal services and provides you with an avenue for mediation in cases of unprofessional behavior or unsatisfactory service delivery on the part of the floor installer.

Some reputable professional associations that Philadelphia-based floor installers typically belong to or obtain certifications from include:

• The National Wood Flooring Association (NWFA)
• The Floor Covering Installation Contractors Association (FCICA)
• The World Floor Covering Association (WFCA)
• The Building Industry Association of Philadelphia
• The National Association of Home Builders (NAHB)
• The National Association of Minority Contractors – Philadelphia Chapter

Note that you should always authenticate any claims of membership or certification with professional associations made by your intended floor installer before signing any contracts with them.

How Much Do You Charge for Floor Repairs?

While floors can typically last for years with proper use and maintenance, damages due to wear and tear are not out of place, given the amount of foot traffic that they see daily. Nevertheless, certain circumstances may cause serious damage to your floor, such as:

• Poor or improper installation
• Scratches and dents from pet nails, furniture, and other similar objects
• Tracked-in dirt and debris
• Inadequate care and maintenance

When these types of damages occur, at least one or more of the following key floor cross-sections are affected:

• Floor Surface: this is the visible part of the floor. Floor surfaces generally experience the most foot traffic, and damages to this floor cross-section are typically caused by scratches and dents, improper cleaning and maintenance, and sun fading.
• Subfloor: this part of the floor is generally not visible and is installed under the flooring material to provide support and keep it even. Damages to this floor cross-section are typically caused by water-related issues.
• Joists: this part of the floor is installed under the subfloor to support the weight of the floor and the room above it. Joists are a critical floor cross-section and also a critical structural component of most buildings. As such, any damages that affect them should be fixed immediately.

To this end, you should always confirm that any flooring contractor you intend to hire in Philadelphia is well-equipped and experienced enough to tackle the specific type of damage to your floor before reaching any hiring agreements with them. It is also a good idea to find out the cost of the flooring contractor's services, agree on these costs, and get this agreement in writing before any work commences.

Price ranges for common floor repair services offered by professional Philadelphia-based flooring contractors are provided below:

Estimates based on flooring material per square foot:

Estimates based on type of damage:

Estimates based on repair solution:

Estimates based on floor location:

What Kind of Flooring Services Do You Offer in Philadelphia?

Another important step to take when making hiring arrangements with flooring contractors in Philadelphia is finding out the scope of services that they offer and confirming that these services can be satisfactorily offered in relation to your preferred flooring material. Flooring services offered by flooring contractors in the city are generally grouped into four main categories, namely:

• New floor installations
• Old floor removal and replacement
• Floor repair
• Floor maintenance

These services are typically offered over several common types of flooring materials, such as:

• Hardwood Flooring: this is one of the most popular types of floor materials due to its aesthetic appeal, durability, and relatively easy maintenance. Hardwood floors typically come in different types, like solid hardwood, finished hardwood, and engineered hardwood, and they can be made from readily available wood species like oak, walnut, ash, cherry, mahogany, bamboo, and maple or from more exotic wood species like teak, jarrah, and mesquite. However, it should be noted that hardwood floors are susceptible to scratches, dents, and water damage.
• Tile Flooring: tile floors offer great aesthetic appeal but require expert installation to ensure that they are laid evenly on completely level surfaces and with little to no irregularities. This flooring material typically comes in several types, such as ceramic, engineered, and porcelain tiles.
• Laminate Flooring: laminate flooring offers the durability and aesthetic appeal of hardwood and tile flooring for a lower price and is also not as susceptible to scratches as hardwood. However, this type of flooring is susceptible to moisture damage.
• Vinyl Flooring: vinyl flooring is a common flooring option for kitchens and bathrooms due to its water and moisture resistance, low cost, high durability, and low maintenance requirements. This type of flooring generally comes in three types, namely Sheet Vinyl, Luxury Vinyl Plank(LVP), and Luxury Vinyl Tile (LVT)
• Carpet Flooring: carpet flooring usually comes in natural fiber or synthetic fiber options, with natural fiber being more eco-friendly and synthetic fiber being the cheaper, more stain-resistant, and easier-to-clean option

Always ensure that any flooring contractor you hire in Philadelphia specializes in working with your preferred flooring material and is also equipped to offer the specific types of flooring services you require. Additionally, ensure that you and the flooring contractor reach an agreement on the price of their services before any work starts, and be sure to get this agreement in writing. Cost estimates for common flooring services in Philadelphia are listed below:

Do You Refinish Hardwood Floors?

If you have hardwood floors in your home, you can consider refinishing them instead of completely replacing these floors. Refinishing refers to the process of sanding down the floor surface and applying fresh stain and lacquer to it. Note that this should not be confused with resurfacing, a more labor-intensive project involving replacing old floorboards, grinding down uneven ones, and reinforcing floor planks with new nails.

Hardwood refinishing renovates your floors and helps them retain their natural beauty, and you can also get up to a 100 percent value recovery from these types of projects. While it is possible to refinish and even resurface your hardwood floors yourself, these projects are best left to professional flooring contractors to ensure they are executed correctly and with minimal errors. Hardwood refinishing typically costs an average of $3 - $8.50 per square foot. However, factors like the floor's size and the work's labor intensity will affect their actual price.

Note that even though professional flooring contractors typically recommend that you refinish your hardwood floors every seven to ten years or around four to six times during its life span, you should undertake this project if you see that your floor:

• Has significant scratches and dents
• Has splinters
• Has water stains or other impossible-to-remove stains
• Is bending downwards from its edges
• Is showing signs of discoloration and fading
• Is turning gray

Also, you may have to completely replace your hardwood floors under certain circumstances, like:

• The floor has been refinished multiple times
• The floor has been significantly damaged by water, marks, or scratches
• The floor is noticeably discolored
• The floorboards are creaking or moving
• There are nails peeking through the floor

Do You Offer a Warranty for Floors Installed?

Finding out if you will be offered a warranty is another crucial question to ask prospective floor installers in Philadelphia. Professional floor installers in the city typically offer two types of warranties, namely:

• Manufacturer Warranties: these warranties are for the actual flooring material, and their validity and coverage are determined by the manufacturer and the type of flooring material. However, the manufacturer warranties offered in the city usually have the following validity periods -
  • • Hardwood – at least 25 years
    • Laminate – 10 to 30 years
    • Vinyl – 10 to 20 years
    • Carpet – 10 to 20 years

Note that manufacturer warranties usually have shorter validity periods for flooring materials installed for commercial use. Furthermore, these warranties are typically non-transferable, and the protection they provide usually only applies to the original home or property owner who purchased the flooring material. However, some product manufacturers may offer options that allow their warranties to be passed from one homeowner to another, provided that the new owner takes possession of the residence where the flooring material is installed within a predetermined duration.

• Installation/Workmanship Warranties: these warranties typically have a validity duration of at least one year and cover the actual work done by the flooring installer

Always verify that your prospective flooring installer offers warranties for their services before entering into any agreements with them, and ensure that you review the terms of these warranties properly to avoid situations that can void them. Some common examples of these types of situations include:

• Improper installation
• Inadequate/inappropriate use, care, and maintenance
• Negligence
• Repair work done by unapproved flooring contractors
• Natural disasters

Will You Handle Clean-up after the Flooring Installation?

Flooring projects usually generate a lot of waste, especially flooring installations and replacements for commercial facilities, which are typically larger than residential dwellings. As a result, when choosing flooring contractors in Philadelphia, you should always make sure that post-installation clean-up services will be included in your service contract. Keep in mind that these cleanup services should also entail properly cleaning the new floors before use.

Listed below are tips for the proper cleaning and maintenance of different types of newly installed floors in Philadelphia:

Do You Carry the Necessary Insurance Policy for Flooring Contractors in Philadelphia?

Philadelphia-based flooring contractors are typically required to carry the following types of insurance before offering their services to residents of the city:

• General liability insurance of at least $500,000 per occurrence
• Automobile liability insurance of at least $300,000
• Workers' compensation insurance of at least $100,000 per accident, $100,000 per employee, or a $500,000 minimum policy limit

The importance of ensuring that your prospective flooring contractor complies with these insurance requirements cannot be overemphasized. Over seven percent of the fatal work-related injuries that were reported across Pennsylvania in 2020 were attributed to installation, maintenance, and repair workers, including flooring contractors. Hiring a properly insured flooring contractor ensures that you are not held liable for any work-related injuries that may occur during your flooring project and also provides you with legal and financial coverage if any property damage or work errors occur during this project.

Therefore, always verify your prospective flooring contractors' insurance status before they begin any work on your property by requesting copies of their insurance certificates and validating these certificates with the appropriate insurance provider.

You can also contact the Philadelphia Department of Licenses and Inspections at 311 or (215) 686-8686 for callers outside the city to get additional information on the mandatory insurance requirements for flooring contractors that operate within the city.