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Prime Buyers Guide Flooring Contractors

How to Find the Best Flooring Contractor in Marin County, CA

New carpet or hardwood flooring can completely rejuvenate your home. The best flooring contractors in Marin County are available to install a large selection of attractive, quality flooring materials in residences and businesses throughout Novato, Sausalito and San Rafael. If you're ready to replace your floors with new custom flooring or new carpet, the following articles can help you locate a good Marin County flooring contractor who can finish the job with precision and speed. more »

Updated February 1, 2008

Top 10 Flooring Contractors in Marin County

Trammell Nelson Wood Flooring
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767 Lincoln Avenue
San Rafael, CA 94901
Contractor's License #737805
   Prime Buyer's Certified  Diamond Certified NWFA (National Wood Flooring Association)

Areas Served: Marin County, incl. San Rafael CA, Mill Valley CA, Novato, Sausalito, Larkspur, ...
Services: Hardwood flooring contractors for new hardwood floors, custom hardwood floor design, ...
Key Brands: Dura Seal, BonaKemi, Basic Coatings.

Reno's Floor Covering
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16 Bellam Blvd
San Rafael, CA 94901

Areas Served: Mill Valley, San Rafael, Tiburon, Sausalito, Belvedere, Fairfax CA, San Anselmo
Services: Marin county flooring contractors & floor layers of new hardwood floors, custom

Marin Floor Co.
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777 Grand Ave # 104
San Rafael, CA 94901

Areas Served: Tiburon, San Rafael, Novato, Sausalito, Mill Valley, Corte Madera, Kentfield
Services: Marin County flooring company for all new flooring installation & floor building

Ken's Carpets & Flooring
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619 Lindaro St
San Rafael, CA 94901

Areas Served: San Rafael CA, Larkpur, Woodacre, San Anselmo, Mill Valley, Novato, Tiburon, Kentfield
Services: all Marin County flooring services incl. flooring repair, linoleum floor

J A Santos Flooring Services
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27 Paul Dr
Terra Linda, CA 94903

Areas Served: Novato, San Rafael, Sausalito, Corte Madera, Tiburon, San Anselmo, Mill Valley
Services: best flooring installers for flooring replacement, flooring repair, new floors

Classic Tile
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1118 Grant Ave
San Marin, CA 94945

Areas Served: San Rafael, Novato, Sausalito, Mill Valley, Greenbrae, Ross, Tiburon, Kentfield
Services: local flooring contractors for all hardwood floor installation, hardwood floor

Saige Brothers Floor Covering
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30 Pamaron Way # G
Novato, CA 94949

Areas Served: Marin County incl. San Rafael, Sausalito, Mill Valley, Ross, Tiburon, Belvedere

Mr Sandman
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21 Golden Gate Dr
San Rafael, CA 94901

Areas Served: Marin, Novato, Sausalito, Mill Valley, San Rafael, Tiburon, San Anselmo, Woodacre

A A Pengelly Hardwood Flooring
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608 Santana Rd
San Marin, CA 94945

Areas Served: Mill Valley, San Rafael, Tiburon, Sausalito, Belvedere, Fairfax CA, San Anselmo

D & M Flooring
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16 Bellam Boulevard
San Rafael, CA 94901

Areas Served: San Rafael CA, Larkpur, Woodacre, Sausalito, Mill Valley, Novato, Tiburon, Kentfield

Updated September 3, 2008

How to Find the Best Flooring Contractor in Marin County, CA 

When you stand in your kitchen and look down, what do you see? Scuffed, warped linoleum? The mottled, yellowed vinyl that was installed when your house was built? If your home was built before the last decade, odds are it's riddled with dated eyesores that shoot your remodeling daydreams into overdrive. Luckily, your floors are doable.

Marin County Flooring Contractors Perform Numerous Services
Flooring contractors in Marin County often specialize in different niches of the flooring industry (installation, fabrication, carpet, hardwood, etc.). By researching the various services performed by all, you can find the right contractor for your commercial, residential or industrial floor work. Most flooring contractors install new hardwood or carpeting, but they might also repair, restore, or refinish aging flooring. Some flooring contractors can even perform the general contractor duties necessary to prepare the subfloor, like finish carpentry, masonry work, water damage repairs and dry rot repairs. Some local flooring contractors perform every aspect of the installation process without subcontractors or other specialists, from initial fabrication to post-installation finish work. They can custom stain and perform dustless sanding of hard materials, and install other features to embellish the new addition, such as custom moulding, custom milling, custom borders and inlays, inserts, matching baseboards, or ceramic tile baseboards. Any flooring contractor who installs hardwood can usually lay carpet as well Many flooring contractors have showrooms in Marin County where they display and sell flooring they've fabricated themselves, manufactured flooring, samples, patterns, lumber, flooring supplies, saleable carpet and carpet samples.

Marin County Flooring Contractors Work with a Variety of Products
There are many standard, affordable options in the flooring marketplace. Unfortunately, many any of them involve some kind of compromise. Lighter, cheaper materials stain easily, colors may fade with time, some aren't good for the occasional sock-skate when no one's looking (which is, of course, absolutely unacceptable), and some shed or unrelentingly retain odors. But visit any flooring showroom and you'll see that the options extend far beyond shag carpet and synthetic linoleum. Materials range anywhere from stain-resistant carpets to environmentally-friendly composites. With the proliferation of flooring types and technology, the capabilities of the installing contractors have had to progress and multiply as well. Today, flooring contractors are equipped to perform precision installation of most laminated or unfinished wood flooring, including red oak, white oak, bamboo (which is actually a grass), fumed oak, Brazilian cherry, hand distressed beech, cherry, or beveled beech. They may also be acquainted with the techniques necessary to install merbau, ash, maple, hickory, pecan, distressed natural beech, and finished or unfinished exotic hardwoods. Though the processes can be quite different, these same contractors can also lay down vinyl, true Linoleum, tile, ceramic, cork, slate, stone, and of course, carpeting. If you need a carpet installed, the flooring contractors in Marin County offer a selection of not only many colors and patterns, but constructions as well. You can choose from cut and loop piles, multi-level loop piles, level loop piles (including Berber) and the various cut piles (Saxony, texture, velvet/plush, and Frieze). Aside from appearance and practicality, there are other factors you may choose to consider for your flooring. The environmental impact of certain building materials is a current issue of controversy, and many individuals in the process of remodeling or rebuilding take these issues into consideration during the design and purchase process. Marin County flooring contractors are familiar with a number of ecologically sound materials that can enable you to do the same, such as vinyl composition tile (VCT), reclaimed hardwoods, reclaimed bamboo, acid-proof dex-o-tex, or other sustainable materials.

Look at the Top-Rated Flooring Contractors of Marin County
Within the region, there are a number of adept flooring contractors to consider for your job. According the research conducted by The Prime Buyer's Report, the top 10 flooring contractors who work in Marin County are Trammell Nelson Wood Flooring, Reno's Floor Covering, Marin Floor Co., Ken's Carpets & Flooring, J A Santos Flooring Services, Classic Tile, Saige Brothers Floor Covering, Mr Sandman, A A Pengelly Hardwood Flooring, D & M Flooring. Other flooring contractors who might service Marin County include .

Research the Qualifications of Potential Flooring Contractors
There are many factors to consider before hiring a contractor for any type of home improvement project. When considering flooring contractors, investigate applicable certifications and licensure, and use related trade organizations to assess a company's reputation and work history. Contractors are often affiliated with agencies that regulate industry practices and exclude sub par tradesmen. If you visit the article "Key Resources for Flooring in Marin County", you'll see a list of various media sources that can help you find this information.

Updated February 1, 2008
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How to Choose a Quality Marin County Flooring Contractor 

Step 1: Describe Work
Consider all of the flooring choices that we've listed in the article "How to Find the Best Flooring Contractor in Marin County". From exotic woods to prefabricated flooring materials, you'll have to be prepared with a general idea when you meet with potential contractors. It will help if you write down these details beforehand, along with measurements and finishing preferences. A written description ensures that each contractor will be quoting an estimate for the same parts and labor.

Step 2: Answer Questions & Take Notes
While a flooring contractor is questioning you about the proposed work, listen carefully. Take notes on what concerns him and what his professional strengths appear to be. Also note his level of detail. Is he thorough, or is he too rushed to satisfactorily attend to your work?

Step 3: Ask Questions & Take Notes
Review the notes you've made so far and create a list of questions to pose to each contractor. If you like, use the list below to start. Take notes on his answers as well as his attitude toward you and the job. Even if a flooring professional has an impressive resume, a bad working relationship can still spoil the project.

How long have you been in business?
How many flooring projects have you completed in Marin County?
Do you specialize in the type of work I've described?
Do you have any references that I may contact?
How long should it take to complete the project?
How do you price your work?
Do you do finishing work/general carpentry work as well?
Do you carry workers' compensation and liability insurance?
Will you provide a written estimate?
Do you do the work with your own team or do you hire subcontractors?
How and when do you clean up?
What is your guarantee policy?
Do you provide a written contract?

Step 4: Make a Preliminary Decision
After some interviews, narrow down the list of potential Marin County flooring contractors using your notes and personal intuitions. Consider each contractor's qualifications, including professionalism and compatibility.

Step 5: Conduct Some Final Research
When you've decided which flooring contractor is best for your job, check his professional background. Verify his contractor licensing, insurance, and any additional certifications, such as Diamond Certification and Better Business Bureau membership.

Step 6: Make the Final Decision
After all of this research, you've finally reached the appropriate time to enter a contract with your chosen flooring contractor. Call the company to handle any unresolved issues and ask your representative to provide a signed pricing, timing, quality, and warranty agreement.

Updated December 7, 2007
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Key Resources for Flooring in Marin County 

Associations & Licensing
BBB Better Business Bureau (www.bbb.org)
CFI Certified Floor Covering Installers (www.cfi-installers.org)
CSLB Contractors State License Board (www.cslb.ca.gov)
DCA California Department of Consumer Affairs (www.dca.ca.gov)
Diamond Certified (www.diamondcertified.org)
FIANA Floor Installation Association of North America (www.fiana.org)
FCICA Floor Covering Installation Contractors Association (www.fcica.com)
MFMA Maple Flooring Manufacturing Association (www.maplefloor.org)
NALFA North American Laminate Flooring Association (www.nalfa.com)
NCBE North Coast Builders Exchange (www.ncbeonline.com)
NOFMA Wood Flooring Manufacturers Association (www.nofma.org)
NWFA National Wood Flooring Association (www.woodfloors.org)
PFIA Professional Flooring Installers Association (www.pfia.org)
WFCA Wood Floor Covering Association (www.wfca.org)

Media & Web Resources
Design Journal Magazine
Environmental Design and Construction Magazine
Floor Covering Installer Magazine
Floor Focus Magazine
Fine Homebuilding Magazine
HANDY Magazine
Hardwood Floors Magazine
Jobsite Magazine-Floor Covering
National Floor Trends Magazine
Residential Design and Build Magazine
Traditional Home Magazine

www.contractortalk.com
www.diychatroom.com
www.hardwoodinfo.com
www.thecarpetsite.com
www.thefloorpro.com
www.woodweb.com

The Prime Buyer's Report provides information for the top 10 flooring contractors to help you install hardwood or carpeting in Marin County within the following zip codes.

94901, 94903, 94904, 94912, 94913, 94914, 94915, 94920, 94924, 94925, 94929, 94930, 94933, 94937, 94938, 94939, 94940, 94941, 94942, 94945, 94946, 94947, 94948, 94949, 94950, 94956, 94957, 94960, 94963, 94964, 94965, 94966, 94970, 94971, 94973, 94974, 94976, 94977, 94978 and 94979

The Prime Buyer's Report provides information for the top 10 flooring contractors in Marin County within the following cities.

Almonte, Bel Marin Keyes, Belvedere, Belvedere Tiburon, Black Point, Bolinas, Corte Madera, Dillon Beach, Dogtown, Fairfax, Forest Knolls, Greenbrae, Ignacio, Inverness, Kent Woodlands, Kentfield, Lagunitas, Larkspur, Lucas Valley, Marin City, Marinwood, Marshall, Mill Valley, Mission Rafael, Muir Beach, Muir Woods, Nicasio, Novato, Olema, Point Reyes Station, Ross, San Anselmo, San Geronimo, San Marin, San Quentin, San Rafael, Santa Venetia, Sausalito, Sleepy Hollow, Stinson Beach, Strawberry Point, Tamal, Tamalpais Valley, Terra Linda, Tiburon, Tomales and Woodacre
Updated December 7, 2007
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10 Tips for Working with Flooring Contractors 

Take Time Choosing Your Flooring Contractor.
Don't settle for the first flooring contractor you can reach. There are a lot of qualified candidates out there, and if you take the time to evaluate several different members of the local industry, you will find a professional who is better suited to your required price range and job specifics.


Write a Description of the Job.

Before you interview any Marin County flooring contractors, you should prepare a summary of the work you'll require. Include material preferences and exact measurements of the area to be worked on. This way, every contractor will see the same thing, and you can be sure they've all been given a fair shot at a bid.

Get a Few Different Estimates.
You should consult several Marin County flooring contractors and obtain estimates from each one. Estimates give you an idea of what you can expect to pay, but they serve other purposes as well. They can give you insight into a contractor's general abilities, as well as his professional integrity. So don't skip the details and simply look for the cheapest option.

Get it in Writing.
Another aspect of contractor dealings that shouldn't be glossed over is written documentation. Make sure that your Marin County flooring contractor provides you with a written description of the work that includes pricing and a timeframe for completion.

Do Your Homework Before You Sign an Agreement.
When you work with any contractor, always be sure to check licensing, workers' compensation, liability insurances and any other relevant credentials before you enter into a contract.

Choose Certified Companies.
Some flooring contractors have made the extra effort to do right by their customers and they've gotten a great deal of positive feedback because of it. In Marin County, flooring contractors that have earned Diamond Certification or received praise elsewhere are more likely to deliver total satisfaction.

Maintain Great Communication During the Work.
Don't add to the hassle of a contracting project by staying in the dark about important issues. Both you and your contractor should make the effort to keep one another informed about changes or concerns. If you and your contractor can keep one another up to date about important issues, there shouldn't be any unwelcome surprises.

Agree in Advance to Approve the Work Upon Completion.
When every phase of the job is finished, walk around the new floor with the most senior contractor available. Together, you should reference the agreement you signed when you hired his company and look for any discrepancies. If you do find anything amiss, tell your contractor immediately.

Know Your Rights.
Consumers have certain rights that vary by the area in which they live. Since you're working with flooring contractors in Marin County, applicable information is available at the Web site for the California Department of Consumer Affairs.

Make Sure Your Flooring Contractor is Committed to Successful Completion of Your Work.
If your flooring contractor seems like he's in a rush to move though your project, you probably won't be happy with his work. A flooring contractor should take his time to see to every detail. One who speeds through his work to get to the next paying job is a poor bet, and it will show.

Updated December 7, 2007
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Flooring Contractors in Marin County Work With the Best Flooring Brands 

Lexington, Bruce, Capella, Columbia, Hartco, Kährs, Homerwood, Mohawk, Laura Ashley, Aladdin, Wilsonart, Stainmaster, Harris Tarkett, Lauzon, Royalty, Chatham, Prestige Mills, Royal Dutch, Signature Hospitality, and Wundaweave.
Updated December 7, 2007
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Diamond Certified