Flooring questions, answered
Short answers to the questions we hear most. Each one links to the page with the full detail. For a price on your own rooms, use the installed price form.
Choosing a floor
Is WPC better than SPC?
Neither is better overall. WPC is more comfortable and quieter; SPC resists dents better and costs less. See WPC vs SPC vs PVC-free.
Is there a waterproof floor without PVC?
Yes. Cork rigid-core products like Wicanders WISE Cork Inspire and click linoleum like Marmoleum Cinch Loc Seal are waterproof-rated alternatives with no PVC.
Is WPC flooring the same as composite decking?
No. Composite decking is an extruded outdoor board of wood fiber and plastic; WPC flooring is an indoor vinyl plank with a foamed PVC core that often contains little or no wood. See WPC decking vs WPC flooring.
Does WPC Green Floor build composite decks or fences?
No. We sell and install indoor flooring. For decks and fences, contact a licensed deck or fence contractor.
Certifications and materials
Is GREENGUARD Gold better than FloorScore?
They test similar things with slightly different criteria. GREENGUARD Gold has stricter limits and a total VOC cap. Either one indicates independent emissions testing. See flooring certifications explained.
Does a certification mean a floor is PVC-free?
No. Emissions certifications apply to vinyl and non-vinyl floors alike. Check the composition, which we list on every product page.
Basements and moisture
What is the best flooring for a basement?
For most finished basements we recommend waterproof WPC or WISE cork over a vapor barrier, chosen after a moisture test. See basement flooring.
Can I skip moisture testing to save money?
We do not recommend it. Waterproof floors resist topical water but do not stop vapor rising through a slab, so every concrete job starts with a test. See subfloor preparation.
Installation and quotes
How much does flooring installation cost?
Labor depends on subfloor prep, removal, stairs and trim more than on the flooring itself. We send a written, itemized installed price after a measurement visit. Start with the quote form.
Can you install over my existing tile?
Often yes, if the tile is flat and well bonded. Deep grout lines are skim coated first, and the added height affects door clearances and transitions.
Do you remove and dispose of old flooring?
Yes. Removal is quoted per square foot by material. Older resilient floors installed before the 1980s can contain asbestos, and we test suspect materials before disturbing them.
How long until I can use the room again?
Floating floors can be walked on right away. Glued floors and oil finishes need the cure time the manufacturer specifies, typically 24 hours for light use.
Where do you install?
Washington, DC, Montgomery County, Maryland and Northern Virginia. See DC, Maryland and Northern Virginia.
Get an installed price
Tell us the rooms and the floor you are considering. We will measure, test the subfloor and send a written installed price.