Professional Flooring Installation, Properly Prepared, Precisely Installed

Installed flooring in South Florida runs $6 to $28 per square foot in 2026. Luxury vinyl plank and laminate sit at the low end, around $6 to $12. Engineered hardwood lands between $10 and $18, and solid hardwood or large format porcelain reaches $18 to $28 installed. Subfloor leveling, stair treads, transition strips and removal of old flooring are the most common cost adders. B8 Home Remodeling quotes all of that up front so the number does not move mid project.

Budget 3 to 5 working days for 1,500 square feet of luxury vinyl plank or laminate, and 5 to 8 days for hardwood or porcelain tile, which needs mortar and grout cure time. Demolition of existing tile adds a full day and a dumpster. Tile floors should not carry furniture for 24 to 48 hours after grouting. In Orlando and South Florida we acclimate wood flooring on site for 3 to 5 days before installation.

Luxury vinyl plank is the safer choice for most Florida homes because it is fully waterproof, dimensionally stable at 60 to 80 percent indoor humidity, and unaffected by a slab that wicks moisture. Solid hardwood can cup or gap when humidity swings, which is common in seasonal homes where the air conditioning is not always running. If you want real wood, engineered hardwood with a plywood core handles South Florida and Orlando conditions far better than solid planks.

Often yes. Luxury vinyl plank and laminate can float over sound existing tile once grout joints are filled and the surface is flat within three sixteenths of an inch over 10 feet. Over a concrete slab we test moisture first, because Florida slabs frequently read high, then install a 6 mil vapor barrier or a moisture rated underlayment. Hollow, cracked or unbonded tile has to come out. We check all of this during the free in home estimate.

Most condominium associations in Fort Lauderdale, Boca Raton and downtown Orlando require an acoustic underlayment rated IIC 50 and STC 50 or better on any floor above ground level, and many now require IIC 55. You usually have to submit the underlayment spec sheet, a certificate of insurance and a work schedule before the association releases elevator access. B8 Home Remodeling prepares that association package at no extra charge as part of the project.

Not always. We can install to the existing baseboard and finish with shoe molding or quarter round, which is faster and less expensive. Removing and reinstalling baseboard gives a cleaner look with no added trim line, and it is the better option when you are also repainting. Either way we leave a quarter to three eighths of an inch expansion gap at every wall, which floating floors in Florida need so seasonal movement does not buckle the planks.