Flooring Facts You Probably Didn't Know (But Really Should Before You Buy)

Most homeowners spend less than 30 minutes researching flooring before they buy — yet the average home has thousands of square feet of it. That gap can cost you. A lot.

You've probably spent more time picking a paint color than deciding what goes under your feet. That's completely normal. But your floor is the one surface you interact with every single day. It takes the weight of your furniture, your pets, your kids, and your daily routine. It deserves more than a quick glance at a few photos online.

Whether you're just starting to look around or already standing in a flooring store in Spokane trying to make sense of the options, these facts will help you shop smarter. You'll know what questions to ask. You'll feel confident about what you're choosing — and why.

We'll walk you through how long different floors actually last, where your materials come from, how your floor affects your home's air and sound, what the installation process really looks like, and what to pay attention to when you visit a showroom. By the end, you'll know things most homeowners don't find out until after everything is already installed.

What Are Some Interesting Facts About Flooring?

Flooring covers more surface area in your home than any other single material. Most people don't think much about it until it's time to replace it. Here are some facts worth knowing before you do:

• Hardwood floors can be sanded and refinished 4 to 7 times, giving them a lifespan of 100 years or more.
• Vinyl plank flooring is now the fastest-growing flooring category in the United States.
• Cork flooring is naturally antimicrobial and hypoallergenic — a real consideration for allergy-sensitive households.
• Most flooring installations take just 1 to 3 days, depending on the material and square footage.
• Some hardwood species used in flooring today were harvested from forests older than the United States itself.

Photos and product pages don't tell the full story. Texture, sheen, and how a floor feels underfoot only come through when you see and touch samples in person. If you're weighing your options, a visit to our flooring store in Spokane is the best next step.

Floors Last Longer Than You Think — If You Choose Right

The floor you pick today could still be in your home decades from now. Or it could need replacing in five years. The difference comes down to material choice — and knowing what you're actually buying.

Here's a quick look at how long common flooring types last when properly maintained:

• Hardwood — 100+ years | Best for living rooms, bedrooms, and dining areas
• Ceramic / Porcelain Tile — 75–100 years | Best for bathrooms, kitchens, and entryways
• Luxury Vinyl Plank (LVP) — 15–25 years | Best for high-traffic areas and homes with pets
• Laminate — 15–25 years | Best for bedrooms and low-moisture spaces
• Carpet — 5–15 years | Best for bedrooms and low-traffic rooms

Carpet's wide lifespan range is worth noting. Fiber quality and pad thickness make a big difference. A builder-grade carpet in a busy hallway may be worn out in five years. A quality carpet in a bedroom can last well past ten.

Hardwood is in a category of its own. Solid hardwood can typically be refinished 4 to 7 times over its life — enough to outlast the house it's installed in. We've had customers come into our Spokane showroom with hardwood floors that are 40 or 50 years old — still solid, just needing a fresh finish. That's not luck. That's the right material chosen for the right space.

The key is matching the floor to how the room actually gets used — not just how you want it to look.

The Origin of Your Floor Might Surprise You

Not all flooring comes from the same place — and where it comes from affects quality, lead times, and what you're actually getting for your money.

A large share of the hardwood sold in the U.S. comes from American forests. Oak, maple, and hickory are among the most common domestic species. They're widely available, well-understood by installers, and have a long track record in American homes. When you buy domestic hardwood, you're generally working with a shorter supply chain and more predictable delivery timelines.

Exotic species are a different story. Bamboo, teak, and acacia are imported, which can mean longer lead times and more variation in grading standards. They can be beautiful and durable — but it pays to ask questions before you commit.

One thing many shoppers don't know: the "Made in USA" label has a specific legal standard set by the Federal Trade Commission. For a product to carry an unqualified "Made in USA" claim, it must be all or virtually all made in the United States. Not every product that uses that phrase meets the bar. A knowledgeable flooring store will walk you through exactly what you're looking at.

Engineered hardwood is worth understanding too. It's not a fake version of solid hardwood. It's a real wood veneer bonded over a layered plywood core. That construction actually makes it more stable than solid hardwood in spaces with humidity swings — like Spokane homes that run dry heat through the winter. When customers ask us to compare domestic solid hardwood against engineered options, we go through the grading, the core construction, and how each will perform in their specific rooms.

Browse our hardwood and laminate flooring options to see what we carry — from solid hardwood to engineered wood and laminate — all suited to Spokane's climate.

Your Floor Affects More Than Just Looks

Most people choose flooring based on appearance. That's a reasonable starting point. But your floor is doing a lot more than looking good — and some of what it's doing affects your daily comfort in ways you might not expect.

Here are a few things worth considering before you decide:

• Sound: Hard surfaces like hardwood, tile, and LVP reflect sound. Soft surfaces like carpet and cork absorb it. If you have an open floor plan or an upstairs room above a living area, this matters more than most people realize.
  
• Air quality: Adhesives and finishes used in flooring installation can release volatile organic compounds (VOCs) into your home's air. Look for products certified by FloorScore — an independent program that tests hard surface flooring for VOC emissions compliance. It's one of the most recognized indoor air quality standards in the industry.
  
• Comfort underfoot: Cork and rubber flooring provide natural cushioning. If you spend long stretches standing in a kitchen or home workspace, the surface beneath you affects how your legs and back feel by the end of day.
  
• Moisture resistance: Not all flooring handles moisture the same way. Bathrooms, basements, and laundry rooms need materials rated for wet or high-humidity conditions. Putting the wrong floor in the wrong space leads to warping, mold, and early replacement.

When customers come into our Spokane showroom, one of the first things we ask about is the household — pets, kids, anyone with allergies or asthma, how the room gets used day to day. That information shapes the recommendation far more than personal style preferences alone. A floor that looks perfect but performs poorly for your life isn't the right floor.

Try Our Flooring Visualizer Before You Buy

Our flooring visualizer takes out the guesswork. You can see your space changed right away.

Upload a photo of your room. Pick a product from our collection. Watch what happens instantly. The realistic picture shows you exactly how different floors will look in your actual space.

Step 1: Upload your photo. | Step 2: Pick a product. | Step 3: See the change right away!

Use the visualizer to pick your favorites online. Then ask for those specific samples to test in person. This gives you both online ease and hands-on proof.

Try the Pro Floors and Blinds Flooring Visualizer today!

Installation Facts That Could Save You a Headache

Knowing what the installation process actually looks like helps you plan better and avoid surprises. Here's what to expect before, during, and after your floor goes in.

1. Most jobs take 1 to 3 days. For an average-sized room, that's the realistic window from prep work to finished floor. Larger projects or homes with multiple rooms will take longer. Your installer should give you a clear timeline before work begins.
   
2. Hardwood needs time to adjust before installation. Solid hardwood requires at least 3 days of acclimation inside your home before it gets installed — and often longer depending on your region, the wood species, and current humidity levels. This allows the wood to reach the right moisture balance for your specific environment. Skipping this step can lead to gaps, buckling, or warping after installation. The National Wood Flooring Association (nwfa.org) publishes detailed installation guidelines that cover acclimation requirements by region — worth a read if you're planning a hardwood project.
   
3. Subfloor condition is the biggest hidden variable. An uneven, damaged, or soft subfloor adds time and cost to any job. A good installer will assess it before starting. If issues are found after work begins, it's better to know early than to cover them up.
   
4. Floating floors offer more flexibility. Luxury vinyl plank and laminate don't require adhesive. They lock together and rest over the existing surface. In many cases they can go directly over your current floor, which saves time and reduces disruption.
   
5. Know what's included in your quote. A professional installation should cover removing your existing flooring, preparing the subfloor, installing the new material, and hauling away the old stuff. Not every quote includes all of these. Ask specifically what's covered before you sign anything.

The installation is where a lot of flooring projects either go smoothly or run into problems. Buying from a store with experienced installers — rather than a big box retailer where installation is handled by a third-party network — gives you a single point of contact if anything needs to be addressed.

What to Look for When You Visit a Flooring Store

A showroom visit is not just about picking a color. It's the best research tool you have. Here's what to pay attention to when you walk in.

• Take large samples home. Showroom lighting is controlled and flattering. Your home has different light sources, wall colors, and natural light at different times of day. A sample that looks perfect under store lighting may read completely differently in your living room. Any good flooring store will let you take full-size samples home before you decide.
  
• Ask about the installation crew. Find out whether installers are employed directly by the store or subcontracted out. This matters for accountability. At Pro Floors and Blinds, we work with our own installation team. That means one point of contact from the showroom floor to the finished install — and warranty coverage that doesn't get complicated by a third party.
  
• Ask about measurement services. Accurate square footage calculation prevents costly mistakes. Over-ordering wastes money. Under-ordering delays the job. A store that offers a measurement service is one that takes the full project seriously, not just the sale.
  
• Read Google reviews — but read them carefully. Look specifically for reviews that mention the experience after installation, not just during the sale. That's where you see how a company handles problems, follow-up, and warranty questions.
  
• Feel the floor before you commit. No website or product photo replicates the weight, texture, and finish of a floor sample in your hand. This is the one step you cannot skip.

We offer personal flooring and window covering consultations by appointment at our Spokane showroom at 6018 E Broadway Ave Suite #1. Call (509) 866-6776 to schedule yours today!