Get Quotes from Top Flooring Contractors in Los Angeles, CA

Are You Licensed to Practice as a Flooring Contractor in Los Angeles?

Flooring Contractors in Los Angeles must obtain a C-15 - Flooring and Floor Covering Contractors License from the California Contractors State License Board (CSLB) before offering services worth more than $500 to residents of the city. Note that this license covers the installation of all types of flooring and floor covering materials except for ceramic tiles. Flooring contractors that wish to install or repair this particular type of flooring material will be required to obtain a separate C-54 - Ceramic and Mosaic Tile Contractor License from the CSLB before doing so.

Several eligibility requirements must be met before any of the licenses mentioned above can be obtained from the CSLB. These include:

• A minimum age limit of 18 years
• The completion and submission of an Application for Original Contractor License Form
• The provision of acceptable documentation to ascertain that the applicant has attained at least four years' journeyman-level work experience no later than ten years before the license application form is submitted
• The payment of all applicable licensing fees

Once these requirements have been met, the license applicants will be contacted by the CSLB and provided a date and venue for a licensing examination, which they must sit for and pass.

Per the regulations of the CSLB, any contractor who works on projects worth a total value of $500 and above without possessing a valid license can face misdemeanor charges. These charges carry statutory penalties of up to $5,000 in fines, six months in jail, or a combination of both. These offenders can also receive additional administrative penalties of up to $15,000 in fines. You can get more information on the CSLB's flooring contractor licensing process and requirements by calling (800) 321-2752.

Note that it is your responsibility to confirm that your intended Los Angeles flooring contractor possesses a valid CSLB-issued license. This can be done by contacting the CSLB via the aforementioned phone number or by utilizing the Check a License online platform that the board provides and maintains for this purpose.

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

Flooring contractors in the City of Los Angeles may charge home and property owners either hourly, fixed, square footage, or linear footage rates for their services, and you should always confirm this before finalizing your hiring arrangements with these individuals. Nevertheless, regardless of the charging method used by your preferred flooring contractor, their rates are typically dependent on the following factors:

• The type of flooring material that is to be installed
• The size of the surface where this flooring material is to be installed
• The condition of the surface that requires flooring
• The amount of work required to prepare this surface for the flooring installation

You can get an idea of the average rates for installing your preferred type of flooring around your vicinity by reaching out to several flooring contractors and getting quotes from each of them. Compare these quotes and eliminate any contractors that have significantly higher or lower rates than the rest. This is usually an indication of fraudulent behavior.

Flooring contractors in Los Angeles earn an estimated annual wage of $63,800. The list below indicates the average hourly wages for Los Angeles flooring contractors and compares these figures with the average hourly wages of floor layers in other parts of California along with other major cities in the United States:

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

After confirming that your intended flooring contractor holds a valid CSLB-issued license, it is also a good idea to find out if they have additional qualifications, such as membership or certification with the National Wood Flooring Association (NWFA) or other reputable trade associations like:

• The World Floor Covering Association (WFCA)
• The Floor Covering Installation Contractors Association (FCICA)
• The Southern California Contractors Association (SCCA)
• The California Building Industry Association (CBIA)

Flooring contractors that belong to or have been certified by these associations are generally more experienced than their counterparts and have access to more industry-related resources, like better insurance options and training opportunities. In addition, these contractors are held to high professional standards by their respective associations and are also obliged to follow a strict code of conduct when delivering their services. This not only assures you that your floor installation project will be carried out professionally and optimally but also gives you an added avenue for mediation in situations where the job is not completed to your satisfaction.

Note that you should not take any claims of trade association membership or certification made by flooring contractors at face value. Always request proof of this and validate the provided proof with the appropriate association.

How Much Do You Charge for Floor Repairs?

It is normal to expect wear and tear on your floor, given the amount of traffic that it gets daily. However, certain situations and circumstances can cause serious damage to your flooring. These include:

• Improper installation
• Inadequate or improper care and maintenance
• Scratches from sharp pet nails and other similar objects
• Tracked-in dirt and debris

Depending on the nature and scope of the problem, one or more of the following key floor cross-sections may be affected:

• Floor surface: this is the actual surface of the floor that sees the most traffic, and damages are usually caused by scratches and dents, improper cleaning, and sun fading
• Subfloor: this refers to materials installed underneath the actual flooring to provide support and give it an even surface. Water-related issues are usually the leading causes of damage to subfloors.
• Joists: these are boards installed underneath the subflooring, and they support the weight of the floor and the room above them. Joists are a critical structural component of homes, and joist-related damages should be repaired as soon as they are identified.

Always confirm that the flooring contractor you hire to fix your damaged floor is aptly experienced in handling the specific type of floor damage and has the necessary tools to get the job done satisfactorily. You should also find out and agree on the cost of these repairs before the flooring contractor begins the repair work.

Listed below are cost estimates for various types of floor repair services offered by professional flooring contractors in Los Angeles:

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 Los Angeles?

Finding out the type of flooring that a flooring contractor specializes in is a very important step in ensuring the success of your flooring project. There are several types of flooring available to homeowners in the City of Los Angeles, and the most common of these are:

• Hardwood flooring: This type of flooring is generally considered long-lasting, aesthetically pleasing, and easy to clean. There are several types of hardwood flooring available in Los Angeles, and these include finished hardwood, unfinished hardwood, solid hardwood, and engineered hardwood. However, one main disadvantage of hardwood flooring is that it is susceptible to scratches, especially from pets.

Hardwood flooring is made from several kinds of woods, including readily available woods like cherry, maple, oak, ash, walnut, mahogany, and bamboo, and exotic species like teak, mesquite, and jarrah.

• Laminate flooring: Laminate floorings are a relatively cheaper option for homeowners who desire the same aesthetic appeal as hardwood or tile floorings. This type of flooring is durable and less prone to scratches from pets or furniture than hardwood. However, laminate floorings are susceptible to moisture damage.

• Tile flooring: These include ceramic, porcelain, and engineered tiles. Tile flooring requires a great deal of specialization as the tiles must be laid evenly on completely level surfaces and contain little to no irregularities.

• Carpet flooring: Carpet floorings are generally grouped in two, namely natural fiber carpet flooring and synthetic fiber carpet flooring. Natural fiber carpet floorings are more eco-friendly than synthetic fiber carpet floorings. However, they are also more expensive, less stain-resistant, and more challenging to clean.

• Vinyl flooring: This can withstand water and moisture damage and is commonly used in areas like kitchens and bathrooms. However, while these floorings are inexpensive, highly durable, and require low maintenance, they are also complicated to repair. There are three main types of vinyl flooring:
  • LVT (luxury vinyl tile),
  • LVP (luxury vinyl plank),
  • Sheet Vinyl.

Always make sure that the flooring contractor you intend to hire is skilled enough to install your preferred type of flooring properly. In addition to new installations, flooring contractors in Los Angeles also provide flooring repair, flooring removal, and flooring maintenance services, and you should equally confirm the contractor's level of expertise in each of these where necessary. Listed below are cost estimates for common flooring services in Los Angeles:

Do You Refinish Hardwood Floors?

If you have old hardwood floors installed in your home, refinishing these floors is a good way to renovate them and help them retain their natural beauty. Bear in mind that even though many homeowners often erroneously use the terms "floor refinishing" and "floor resurfacing" interchangeably, these processes are not the same. The floor refinishing process involves sanding down the uppermost surface of your hardwood floors and then applying fresh stain and lacquer to it. On the other hand, floor resurfacing is a more labor-intensive process that involves removing old floorboards, grinding down uneven ones, and reinforcing existing wood planks with new nails.

Floor refinishing in Los Angeles typically costs an average of $3 - $8 per square foot. However, the actual cost of undertaking this project will depend on the work's complexity and the floor size that needs refinishing. While refinishing or resurfacing your floors yourself is possible, leaving this to a professional flooring contractor is always in your best interest. It is a more guaranteed way to ensure that the job is done satisfactorily. Professional flooring contractors in the city generally recommend that you refinish your floors anywhere between four to six times during their lifespan or every seven to ten years. Nevertheless, you should consider refinishing your floors if you notice any of the following:

• It has significant scratches and dents
• It is bending downwards from its edges
• It has splinters
• Its floorboards are turning gray
• It is showing signs of fading and discoloration
• It has water stains or other impossible-to-remove stains

Bear in mind you may be required to completely replace your hardwood floors under certain circumstances, such as:

• You have already refinished them a lot
• There are nails peeking through
• It has a lot of serious marks and scratches
• There is water damage
• The floorboards are creaking or moving
• The wood is noticeably discolored

Do You Offer a Warranty for Floors Installed?

When making plans to install new floors, finding out the types of warranties your intended flooring contractors offer is an important factor to consider when hiring. Professional flooring contractors typically offer two types of warranties, namely:

• Manufacturer Warranty: This warranty covers the flooring product itself. While the length of this warranty is largely dependent on the type of flooring and the product manufacturer, many manufacturer warranties typically have average coverage spans of
  • Carpet: usually covered for 10 – 20 years
  • Hardwood: usually covered for at least 25 years
  • Vinyl: usually covered for 10 – 20 years
  • Laminate: usually covered for 10 – 30 years

It should be noted that these warranties are typically non-transferable, and their coverage only extends to the original retail purchaser of the product. However, some manufacturer warranties may be transferred from the original owner to a subsequent owner of the home where the product is installed, provided that the new owner takes possession of the property within a stipulated timeframe, which usually starts after the flooring product has been substantially installed. Also, the coverage spans for these warranties are usually less for products that are installed for commercial use.

• Installation Warranty: This warranty covers the installation job done by the contractor. Many professional flooring contractors typically offer one-year installation warranties. However, some contractors may offer extended warranties

Always find out the types of warranties you will be offered and the exact scope and coverage provided by these warranties before finalizing hiring arrangements with your preferred flooring contractor. Bear in mind that most flooring warranties are voided by specific actions, such as:

• Improper or non-professional installation
• Damages caused by work done by non-approved flooring contractor
• Damages caused by negligence, lack of maintenance, or natural disasters
• Damages caused by improper use of the flooring product

Will You Handle Clean-up after the Flooring Installation?

Flooring installation jobs can often be messy and churn out a significant amount of debris, especially for commercial installations, typically larger than residential ones. As such, when making hiring arrangements with flooring contractors in Los Angeles, you should always find out if they will be responsible for post-installation clean-up and ensure that this is included in your service contract. Note that this post-installation clean-up should include the proper cleaning of the installed floors before their first use.

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

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

Hiring an uninsured flooring contractor makes you liable for any potential damages or injuries that may take place during your flooring project. According to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics, a total of 4,764 fatal work injuries were recorded in 2020, with 463 of these injuries occurring in the State of California. Therefore, even though there are no mandatory liability insurance requirements for flooring contractors in Los Angeles, you should always confirm that your preferred contractor has a valid general liability insurance plan. Note that all contractors in the State of California that provide home improvement services are legally mandated to inform you whether or not they carry commercial general liability insurance. These individuals must also possess surety bonds of $15,000 and carry workers' compensation insurance for any employees that they have.

Request copies of your flooring contractor's bonding and insurance certificates and authenticate them with the appropriate organizations. You can also get more information on the mandatory bonding and insurance requirements for flooring contractors in Los Angeles by contacting the CSLB at (800) 321-2752.