Service · New Orleans
Flooring Installation
in New Orleans
Flooring installation in New Orleans lives or dies on preparation. A floor that looks beautiful on installation day and starts cupping, gapping, or peeling within a year is a preparation failure, not a material failure. In South Louisiana, where ambient humidity swings widely between seasons and slab-on-grade construction is common, the work before the first board goes down is what determines the outcome. We test, we prepare, and we acclimate — then we install.
Scope
What's included
- +Subfloor inspection, leveling, and repair prior to installation
- +Moisture testing and vapor barrier installation on slab-on-grade substrates
- +Solid hardwood installation (nail-down) on wood subfloor systems
- +Engineered hardwood installation (nail-down, glue-down, or floating) as substrate dictates
- +Luxury vinyl plank (LVP) and tile (LVT) installation
- +Tile flooring in kitchens, baths, and common areas
New Orleans
What we consider
Working in Greater New Orleans means designing for a specific climate, housing stock, and building tradition. These are the factors we factor in.
01
New Orleans has a large proportion of slab-on-grade homes, particularly postwar construction in Metairie, Kenner, and New Orleans East. Solid hardwood is not appropriate over slabs without a sleeper system; we specify engineered hardwood or quality LVP for these applications and explain why.
02
Seasonal humidity swings in South Louisiana are among the highest in the continental US. Wood flooring — even engineered — must be acclimated in the installation space for the manufacturer-specified period. Skipping acclimation is the most common cause of premature floor failure in this region.
03
Many raised-foundation homes in older neighborhoods have original pine subfloors that are sound but uneven. We address squeaks, soft spots, and level changes before installation rather than floating over problems.
04
Post-flood flooring decisions require care. A floor installed over a slab that was wetted and not fully dried will trap moisture and fail. We assess moisture levels with a calibrated meter and don't proceed until readings are within range for the specified product.
Questions
Common questions
Which flooring holds up best to New Orleans humidity?
For most NOLA homes, quality engineered hardwood or luxury vinyl plank is our recommendation over solid hardwood. Both handle humidity swings and slab installations better than solid wood. The right choice depends on your subfloor, your lifestyle, and what you're trying to achieve aesthetically — we'll walk through the options.
Can original hardwood floors be refinished rather than replaced?
In most cases, yes, and it's usually the right call. Original longleaf pine and oak floors in New Orleans homes are thick by modern standards — often 3/4 inch or more — and can take multiple refinishes. We assess the floor condition and thickness, give you an honest read on whether refinishing makes sense, and quote both options when it's close.
How long does flooring installation take?
A 1,500-square-foot job — acclimation complete, subfloor prepped — typically installs in two to four days, with an additional day for trim and transitions. Acclimation adds three to seven days before the crew begins, depending on the product. We schedule around that timeline so there's no pressure to rush the preparation.