Get Quotes from Top Flooring Contractors in Charlotte, NC

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

Professionals must receive a general contractor license from the North Carolina Licensing Board for General Contractors (NCLBGC) to perform flooring installation projects in Charlotte that cost $30,000 or more. To get this license, applicants must complete an online application and meet the requirements listed below:

• They must be at least 18 years old
• They must be morally upright, as determined by the NCLBGC.
• They must provide evidence that they can meet the NCLBGC's financial obligations.
• They must make the necessary application fee payment.

Application for a license must be made by contractors using the name they want to use for operations, contracts, and bids. While licenses may be granted to both individuals and corporations, they are only suitable for the work done by the specific legal entity to which they are awarded.

Note that North Carolina categorizes and limits licenses based on their use. A limitation determines how much money can be spent on a project. The classification also affects the kind of work that can be done with a license. A Limited license in Charlotte that caps the cost of a single project at $750,000 should be adequate for residential flooring projects. You'll need an Intermediate or Unlimited license if the amount needed for your project exceeds that. Additionally, your flooring contractor needs to be licensed as a residential or building contractor.

Applicants also need to take and pass a test before getting a license. The test evaluates an applicant's ability to:

• Demonstrate a practical application of their understanding of the contracting profession;
• Read plans and specifications;
• Show that they are familiar with relevant sections of the North Carolina State Building Code;
• Show that they are knowledgeable about cost estimation, construction, ethics, and other related topics pertaining to the contracting industry.

Be advised that depending on a number of factors, the length of the licensing process can vary. Normally, it takes two weeks to process an application from the time it is received. After all supporting documentation and tests have been completed, and the application has been approved by the Board, a license will be granted. If an application and evidence of exam success are presented, the licensing process takes around 30 days. The procedure will be determined by when exams are successfully finished and whether the Board demands an exam. After passing the tests typically takes 2 to 3 weeks before a license is granted.

An unlicensed contractor is deemed to have committed a Class 2 misdemeanor in Charlotte, which carries a potential penalty of up to 60 days in jail and a $1,000 fine. To find out if a flooring contractor is licensed, use the North Carolina Licensing Board's license search tool. Contact the North Carolina Licensing Board for General Contractors at (919) 571-4183, write them an email, or visit their office for more information on flooring contracting in Charlotte.

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

Before ending your work contracts, you should always get their prices in writing. Homeowners and other property owners in Charlotte may be charged for flooring contractors' services hourly, fixed, square footage, or linear footage. But regardless of the billing method your selected flooring contractor uses, their price often depends on the following factors:

• The type of flooring to be installed
• The area's dimensions where this flooring will be put down
• The condition of the area that requires ground coverage
• How long it will take to get this surface ready for flooring installation

You may get an idea of how much it normally costs to install the kind of flooring you desire in your neighborhood by asking for quotes from various flooring suppliers. Look over these costs and avoid any contractors whose costs stand out as considerably greater or cheaper than the others. Oftentimes, this denotes dishonest activity.

Flooring contractors in Charlotte earn an estimated annual wage of $38,980. The list below indicates the average hourly wages for Charlotte flooring contractors and compares these figures with the average hourly wages of floor layers in other parts of North Carolina along with other major cities in the United States:

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

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

After confirming that the potential flooring contractor has a valid NCLBGC license, it is an excellent idea to inquire about any other credentials. Flooring contractors may also highlight memberships or qualifications they have with the National Wood Flooring Association (NWFA) and other reputable trade associations, such as:

• The World Floor Covering Association (WFCA)
• The Floor Covering Installation Contractors Association (FCICA)
• The National Association of the Remodeling Industry (NARI)
• The International Wood Flooring Association (IWFA)

A significant percentage of flooring contractors who belong to these associations or have received certification from them often possess more knowledge than their rivals and more access to resources unique to the industry, such as superior insurance plans and educational opportunities. When performing their services, these contractors are subject to a strict code of conduct, and their respective organizations hold them to a high standard of professionalism. This gives you the comfort that your floor installation job will be appropriately done and optimally, as well as gives you an additional alternative for dispute resolution if the service is not completed to your satisfaction.

It is imperative to verify any claims of accreditation or membership in trade organizations made by flooring contractors before accepting them in order to avoid doing business with shady individuals or imposters. Always ask for proof of this before checking with the appropriate institution.

How Much Do You Charge for Floor Repairs?

Given that you use your floor every day and that you frequently walk and run on it, you should expect that it will ultimately start to show signs of wear. However, some circumstances and conditions could significantly destroy your flooring and escalate its wear and tear. These include:

• Incorrect or faulty floor installation
• improper or insufficient maintenance and care
• scratches from sharp pet nails and other similar objects
• mud and trash left by foot traffic

Depending on the nature and seriousness of the problem, one or more of the important floor cross-sections listed below may be affected:

• Floor surface: The floor's surface is the area that sees the most traffic, and the most frequent reasons for damage to this area include dents, scratches, improper cleaning methods, and sun fading.
• Subfloor: Materials placed beneath flooring to provide support and produce a smooth surface are known as subfloors. Deterioration of the subfloor is frequently caused by water issues.
• Joists: The joists are located beneath the subflooring and sustain the weight of the floor as well as the area above it. Joists are essential to the structural stability of homes; thus, any damage to them must be repaired immediately.

It is in your best interest to confirm that the flooring professional you hire to fix your damaged floor has the necessary equipment and sufficient experience with the specific sort of floor damage. You should request a pricing estimate for these repairs before the flooring contractor begins the repair work, do your own research to compare their prices, and come to an agreement on it.

Price ranges for various floor repair services offered by certified flooring contractors in Charlotte are as follows:

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 Charlotte?

Figuring out what kinds of flooring projects a flooring contractor specializes in is a crucial first step in ensuring the success of your flooring job. There are numerous flooring alternatives available to Charlotte residents, with the following being the most common:

• Hardwood flooring: This is typically praised for being lovely, robust, and easy to maintain. Solid hardwood, engineered hardwood, finished hardwood, and unfinished hardwood are all available as alternatives for hardwood flooring in Charlotte. The vulnerability of hardwood floors to scratches, especially from animals, is a significant disadvantage.

Hardwood flooring is made from a variety of woods, including popular species like cherry, maple, oak, ash, walnut, mahogany, and bamboo, as well as unusual species like teak, mesquite, and jarrah.

• Laminate Flooring: Laminate flooring is a far less expensive option for homeowners who want their floors to have the same aesthetic appeal as hardwood or tile flooring. This flooring is more resistant to scratches from pets and furniture than hardwood. However, wetness could damage laminate flooring.
• Carpet Flooring: Carpets made of natural fibers and synthetic fibers are the two main types of carpet flooring. Natural fiber carpet is more environmentally friendly than synthetic fiber carpet. They cost more, are more challenging to clean, and are less stain-resistant.
• Vinyl Flooring: Due to its ability to resist damage from moisture and spills, vinyl flooring is popular in spaces like kitchens and bathrooms. These floors are inexpensive, very long-lasting, and require little upkeep, but they are also quite tricky to fix. Sheet vinyl, luxury vinyl planks, and luxury vinyl tiles are the three main types of vinyl flooring.
• Tile Flooring: These mainly fall under the categories of engineered, ceramic, and porcelain tiles. Tile flooring installation requires a lot of specialized skill since tiles must be set uniformly on completely level surfaces with few to no flaws.

Make sure the flooring specialist you choose has the abilities necessary to install your preferred type of flooring effectively. Because Charlotte flooring companies provide all three of these services in addition to new installations, you should, if necessary, confirm the contractor's level of expertise in each. Basic flooring services in Charlotte fall within the following pricing ranges:

Do You Refinish Hardwood Floors?

Old hardwood flooring in your home can be renovated on a budget while retaining its original charm by having it refinished. Even though many homeowners frequently confuse "floor refinishing" and "floor resurfacing," keep in mind that they are two distinct operations. During the floor refinishing process, the top surface of your hardwood floors will be sanded down and given a fresh coat of stain and lacquer. Resurfacing a floor, in contrast, necessitates the removal of old floorboards, grinding down any uneven surfaces, and replacing any old nails with new ones, all of which need additional labor.

Floor refinishing typically costs $3.06 to $3.72 per square foot in Charlotte. The specific cost of performing this technique will depend on the project's complexity and the size of the floor that needs to be refinished. Despite the fact that you can refinish or resurface your floors yourself, it is typically in your best interest to allow a qualified flooring contractor to accomplish this. This approach is more reliable in ensuring that the work is done correctly. The standard recommendation from expert floor installers in the city is that you refinish your floors four to six times, or every seven to ten years, to ensure that they remain in good condition. However, if you see any of these, you should consider refinishing your floors:

• It has downwardly curling edges.
• It has noticeable dings and scratches.
• It has water stains or other stains that are challenging to remove.
• It is fading away and degrading.
• It is fragmented.
• The floor is discolored.

Please be aware that there are a number of situations where you could need to replace your hardwood flooring, including the following completely:

• It clearly has dents and scratches.
• The floor creaks or moves, making noises.
• There is a clear flaw in the wood.
• Water damage and protruding nails are present.
• They have already gone through several finishes.

Do You Offer a Warranty for Floors Installed?

To get ready for the installation of new floors, find out what warranties your preferred flooring contractors provide before choosing who to hire. Professional floor installers usually offer two distinct types of warranties to clients, namely:

• Manufacturer's Warranty: The flooring is covered by this warranty. The term of this warranty will be greatly influenced by the type of flooring and the manufacturer, as many manufacturer's warranties often have average coverage periods of
  • Carpet: Typically protected for 10 to 20 years.
  • Hardwood: This material is typically covered for at least 25 years.
  • Vinyl: Usually covered for fifteen to twenty years.
  • Laminate: Typically covered for 10 to 30 years,

It is crucial to keep in mind that these warranties are frequently non-transferable and usually only apply to the original retail purchaser of the product. However, some manufacturer warranties may be transferred from the initial owner to a subsequent owner of the home where the product is installed if the new owner takes possession of the property within a specific timeframe, which typically starts after the flooring product has been substantially installed. These warranties typically only apply to products used for a brief time in a professional setting.

• Warranty for Installation: This warranty applies to the installation work performed by the contractor. The majority of trustworthy flooring professionals offer one-year installation warranties, but some may even offer lengthier assurances.

Always enquire about the types of warranties you will receive as well as their specific scope and coverage before deciding to hire your preferred flooring contractor. Keep in mind that some actions are in violation of your warranty. Such actions include:

• A defective or insufficient installation
• Damages brought on by work done by an unregistered flooring contractor
• Damage caused by neglect or carelessness,
• Losses and casualties from natural disasters caused by improper use of the flooring material

Will You Handle Clean-up after the Flooring Installation?

Flooring installation operations can usually be filthy and generate a big quantity of waste, especially when performed in commercial settings, which are occasionally larger than residential locations. Because of this, when selecting flooring contractors in Charlotte, you should always check and make sure that your service agreement specifies who will be in charge of post-installation cleanup. Remember that cleaning the flooring thoroughly before use should be part of the cleanup after installation.

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

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

If you choose an uninsured flooring contractor, you are responsible for any potential injury or injuries that might occur during your flooring project. According to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics, 4,764 fatal work injuries were reported in 2020, with 189 of those incidents occurring in the State of North Carolina.

Although Charlotte has no regulations mandating them, you should always ensure the flooring contractor you hire has liability insurance. State regulations require worker's compensation even though it is not a requirement for the general contractor's license. Also, keep in mind that a flooring contractor with a license is normally not required to post a bond. Bonds are required if a surety is used rather than meeting the minimal financial requirements for a license, whether it be limited or intermediate.

To be safe from any liability palaver, always ask to view copies of your flooring contractor's insurance and bonding certifications, then confirm with the relevant authorities that they are still in effect.