How to choose Material

Start at the top of the chart to help you determine which type of material is right for your project

Are you going to live in the space? 

• If yes, you should choose between Engineered Hardwood or Click Lock SPC
• Will Kids or Pets be regularily utilitizing the flooring? 
• If Yes, you will need a thicker wearlayer than 12 mil, 12 mil will not give you the scratch protection you are looking for with pets and kids - a 5mm thicker or higher with at least a 20 mil wearlayer will give your family a flooring that will last. 
• If yes, you will want at least a 5mm thick SPC core. 
• If No, what is your main focus ? Cost or Lifespan of the product
• If Cost is your main focus then a 12 mil product will be cost effective but not durable long term. You will want to use this product type when you expect to replace it often such as in a Rental space. 
• If Life Span is your main concern so you do not have to replace it the flooring often than a thicker SPC with a higher wearlayer is the right product for you. 
• If Durability is your main concern, you should consider a laminate product in AC3 or AC4 to give you a thick and durable product. Never ever use laminate where moisture will accumulate, laminate swells when it comes into contact with moisture. 

Other Questions to ask yourself

• Do we need a professional consultation before we commit to a flooring purchase, if so that is what our showroom is for.  
• Do we want Click Lock or Glue Down?
• Do you need a vapor barrier? It is required for most warranties. 
• Do we have stairs? Most big box stores do not carry matching stair nose or other moldings to give your project the polished look. 
• Do we have existing flooring that will meet the new flooring?   
• If you have existing flooring you will need to talk to your Contractor / Installer about adding transition moldings to complete your project. 
• Always select the material you will purchase before you contract a Contractor / Installer. A better quality product will be easier and faster to install bringing down your installation cost.  
• Always consider the waste factor of cheap products that will break easily - low quality products will require you to purchase MORE boxes to complete the same job. Are you really saving any money or headache by having to keep finding more because the installer broke 10 boxes of flooring trying to install the super low priced product you purchased? No not really.  
• Always consider other factors not just price of the material. Installation costs can easily eat up any savings you might have gotten by buying closeout, clearance, thin core, low wearlayer or just cheap material. 
• Always consider who you are supporting when you spend your money on any purchase. Made in America material supports American workers who in turn spend their money at American businesses which benefits everyone in America.  

Don'ts:

• Don't make a purchase without a consulation if you aren't a flooring professional. It is less money to purchase the correct product the first time.
• Don't purchase any flooring material with lower than a 12 mil wearlayer - it is junk, period. 
• All laminate is ONLY water resistant - there is no such thing as waterproof laminate. Laminate is made of a natural fiber material which aborbs water naturally. NO amount of waxed edges or other 'features' will make it waterproof.  
• Buyer beware! If the product you are considering does not give you a wearlayer measurement (6 mil, 8 mil, 12 mil, 20 mil, 22 mil, 30 mil etc) DO NOT BUY IT. You have no way to compare that product to other materials - apples to apples.  
• Don't be fooled by unreasonably low prices, low prices mean that color or material has been discontinued or didn't sell well.  
• Low prices mean it is poor quality - EVERY company is trying to get their materials made as inexpensively as possible. Look at ALL of the specifications of each product. Unusually low price material can have a thinner core which makes the material less stable, it can have a cheap acoustic layer such as cork or foam padding which can both absorb moisture, it can have an undefinable wearlayer top coat, 
• Unrealisticly low prices are the last of a larger original purchase. Once sold out, you could pay 10 times as much to find a few boxes later on because Low price Big Box stores don't reorder the same colors - they sell out then move on to the next trend this leaves YOU unable to find more later if you need a repair. Then you are stuck with rooms that don't match or worse, ripping it all out to start over. *NEVER forget to ask yourself WHY is this so cheap?