Blog · Knowledge base
Flooring guides for the Bay Area.
Design ideas, materials, installation and costs, written by people who lay floors for a living. For homeowners in San Francisco, on the Peninsula and in the South Bay.
Featured · DesignFloor design ideas from our Bay Area jobsHerringbone, refinished parquet, long pale planks, matched stairs and floors that run into built-ins. Real photos and what each look takes.
New · DesignDesigned by AI, built by handMade a floor design with an AI image tool? Here’s how we check it, match real materials and install it in your home.
Floor design ideas from our Bay Area jobs
Herringbone, refinished parquet, long pale planks, matched stairs and floors that run into built-ins. Real photos and what each look takes.
Read the guide →
Designed by AI, built by hand
Made a floor design with an AI image tool? Here’s how we check it, match real materials and install it in your home.
Read the guide →
How a floor is built: the layers under your feet
Structure, subfloor, leveling, underlayment, finish floor and trim. What each layer does and what goes wrong when one is skipped.
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Flooring in San Francisco and the Peninsula: what’s different here
Eichler radiant slabs, old fir floors, microclimates, condo sound rules, permits and asbestos in older homes.
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Hardwood, engineered, vinyl or laminate: which floor for which room
What each material is good at, and a room-by-room guide for Bay Area homes.
Read the guide →How floors are installed: floating, glue-down and nail-down
Preparation, acclimation and the three installation methods, plus what changes for herringbone and stairs.
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What flooring costs in the Bay Area
Published installed price ranges per square foot, and what actually moves the number on your project.
Read the guide →Nothing found. Ask us directly, we’ll answer.
Questions we hear most
Quick answers.
Can you build a floor I designed with AI?
Yes. Send us the image. We match real materials, check your room, lay out the pattern and show samples before you commit. AI design, built by hand →
Do you work in my city?
We work in San Francisco, on the Peninsula and in the South Bay. The on-site visit is free anywhere in San Francisco and within 20 miles of Palo Alto, from San Mateo and Redwood City to Sunnyvale and San Jose. Farther out? Contact us. What flooring costs →
Do I need a permit to replace my floor in San Francisco?
Usually not, outside bathrooms. San Francisco generally exempts installing or replacing floor coverings in rooms other than bathrooms, as long as required flooring isn’t removed. Other cities set their own rules. What’s different in the Bay Area →
How much does a new floor cost in the Bay Area?
Published guides put installed prices at roughly $4 to $25 per square foot, depending on the material. Prep, stairs and patterns add to that. Our estimate is free. What flooring costs →
Can you put a new floor in an Eichler with radiant heat?
Usually yes, with a floor rated for radiant heat, most often engineered wood or vinyl plank, floated or glued. Nothing gets nailed into the slab. What’s different in the Bay Area →
Can I put hardwood in my condo?
Often yes, with the right underlayment and HOA approval. Buildings permitted after 1974 must meet sound ratings between units, and many HOAs set stricter rules. What’s different in the Bay Area →
Could my old floor tiles contain asbestos?
Vinyl tiles and black adhesive from before the 1980s may. Have them tested before removal and never sand them. What’s different in the Bay Area →
Can old fir floors be refinished?
Often yes. Douglas fir is softer than oak, but original fir floors in older San Francisco homes can usually be sanded and refinished. What’s different in the Bay Area →
Which floor is best for a kitchen?
Luxury vinyl plank for water resistance, or engineered wood if you wipe up spills quickly. Which floor for which room →
How flat does the floor need to be?
Many manufacturers allow 3/16 inch over 10 feet. Herringbone and some products need tighter tolerances. We level the base before installation. How a floor is built →
How long does wood flooring need to acclimate?
It depends on the product and the house. One manufacturer suggests 3 to 5 days for oak. A moisture meter reading is the real test. How floors are installed →