Waterproof flooring installation

WPC, PVC-free cork and click linoleum installed for kitchens, bathrooms, laundry rooms and basements, with the subfloor prep that makes a waterproof floor actually last.

Get installed price(202) 555-0147

How the job runs

  1. Measure and inspect

    We measure each room, check flatness, and take moisture readings on slabs.

  2. Prepare the subfloor

    High spots ground, low spots filled with patch or self-leveler. Click floors are only as flat as what is under them.

  3. Remove trim and undercut door jambs

    So the new floor slides under the casing instead of being caulked against it.

  4. Install the floor

    Planks are laid with the manufacturer's expansion gaps. Full bathrooms get a sealed perimeter.

  5. Reinstall trim and transitions

    Baseboard or quarter round, stair nosings and thresholds to adjoining floors.

Products we install

COREtec CR504 Retro Revival and other WPC collections, Wicanders WISE Cork Inspire for a PVC-free option, and Marmoleum Cinch Loc Seal. See the full green waterproof flooring category.

Flatness is the whole job

Most click-floor failures we are called to fix are not product defects. They are floors laid over dips and humps that let the joints flex until they separate. Manufacturers specify a flatness tolerance, typically measured over a 6 or 10 foot span, and we check it before quoting. Older houses in Chevy Chase, Kensington and Arlington often need joist or subfloor work in spots; we will tell you where and why.

How a floating planks floor is installedCross-section: planks click together without adhesive over a vapor barrier on a moisture-tested concrete slab, with an expansion gap at the wall hidden by the baseboard. Wall Expansion gap at every wallHidden under the baseboard,never pinned by cabinets Planks click togetherNo adhesive; walk on it same day Vapor barrier on concreteSeams overlapped and taped,turned up the wall Flat, tested subfloorLeveled to tolerance,moisture tested first
A floating floor over concrete, the way we install most waterproof and click floors. Not to scale.

Kitchens: install before or after cabinets?

Floating floors should not be pinned under heavy cabinets or islands. In a remodel we usually install up to the cabinet toe kicks, then set appliances on top with protection. Coordinate with your kitchen contractor early; we are happy to talk to them directly.

Bathrooms

We remove the toilet, install the floor with the expansion gap, seal the perimeter and the toilet flange area with 100% silicone, and reset the toilet on a new wax ring.

Below grade? Read basement flooring installation first.

Common questions

How much does waterproof flooring installation cost in the DC area?

Labor depends on subfloor prep, removal, stairs and trim more than on the flooring itself. We provide a written installed price after a measurement visit rather than a per-foot guess.

Can you install over my existing tile?

Often yes, if the tile is flat and well bonded. Deep grout lines are skim coated first. Installing over tile raises floor height, which affects door clearances and transitions.

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.

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