Frequently asked questions

Yes, as long as the existing floor is clean, flat, and in good repair. Monroe Hardwood Flooring checks for loose tiles or curling vinyl and removes those sections. The subfloor needs to be flat within 3/16 inch over 10 feet—high spots get ground down, low spots filled with floor patch. If your existing floor is glued down solid and level, LVP floats right over it.

7-10 days in the space where it will be installed. the area humidity swings from 30% in winter to 70% in summer, and hardwood expands and contracts with moisture. We open the boxes, stack the wood with spacers for air circulation, and let it adjust to your home's conditions. Skipping acclimation leads to gaps in winter or cupping in summer.

Solid hardwood is 3/4-inch thick wood all the way through. Engineered is a thin hardwood wear layer (2-6mm) over a plywood core. Solid can be refinished 5-6 times and must be nailed down over wood subfloor. Engineered can go over concrete as glue-down or floating, works in basements, but only refinishes 2-3 times depending on wear layer thickness. Engineered is more stable in humid environments.

Check the thickness. If you're seeing nail heads or the tongue-and-groove edges are thin, the floor has been sanded too many times. Most 3/4-inch solid floors handle 5-6 refinishes. If the floor is cupped or crowned from water damage and won't flatten after drying, replacement is the better option. Engineered floors with wear layers under 3mm can't be sanded again. Monroe Hardwood Flooring inspects the floor before quoting refinishing work.

Face weight is the ounces of carpet fiber per square yard. Higher face weight means denser, more durable carpet. Anything under 35 oz is builder-grade and shows traffic lanes quickly. 40-50 oz is the standard for residential durability. Over 50 oz is commercial-grade. Face weight matters more than pile height for how long the carpet lasts.

Yes, but we install cement board first. Tile doesn't flex—if the wood subfloor moves, grout cracks and tiles pop. Monroe Hardwood Flooring screws 1/2-inch cement board over the plywood with thinset between the layers, then sets tile on top of the cement board. The cement board prevents flex and gives the tile a stable surface.

You can walk in socks after 24 hours. Wait 72 hours before moving furniture back, and one week before putting down area rugs. Water-based polyurethane dries faster than oil-based, but full cure takes 7-10 days for either product. The floor feels dry to the touch sooner than it's fully cured.

Wood shrinks when humidity drops. the area winter humidity often falls below 30%, and hardwood contracts. Gaps under 1/8 inch are normal seasonal movement. Gaps over 1/4 inch mean your indoor humidity is too low—run a whole-house humidifier to keep it above 35%. The gaps close back up in summer when humidity rises.

LVP. Laminate has a fiberboard core that swells and falls apart if it gets wet. Basements have higher humidity and occasional water issues. LVP is 100% waterproof and handles basement conditions. It costs a bit more than laminate but won't need replacement after a sump pump failure or humidity spike.

Yes, if you used cement grout. Grout is porous and stains without sealer. Wait 7-10 days after grouting for the grout to cure, then apply penetrating sealer. Epoxy grout doesn't need sealing—it's non-porous and stain-proof, but costs more and is harder to install. Most residential tile jobs use cement grout and need sealing.

For carpet, nylon fiber with high face weight (45+ oz) from Shaw, Mohawk, or Dreamweaver pet lines. For hard surface, luxury vinyl plank or tile—it's waterproof, scratch-resistant, and easy to clean. Hardwood works if you choose harder species like hickory (Janka 1820) or white oak (1360). Avoid soft woods like walnut and pine—they dent easily from dog nails.

Depends on the product and square footage. Carpet or LVP in an average bedroom takes half a day. Hardwood installation is 2-4 days for 1,000 sq ft after acclimation. Tile takes 1-2 days to set, then 24 hours cure, one day to grout, and 3-4 days before full use. Refinishing existing hardwood is 3-5 days including sanding, staining, and finish coats.