HARDWOOD FLOORING
Hardwood flooring, supplied & installed
Hardwood Flooring & Installation in San Marcos, CA
Model Home, Inc. supplies and installs hardwood flooring in San Marcos, Carlsbad and across North County San Diego. Compare wood species, plank widths and finishes at our San Marcos showroom, then have our installers lay the floor. Our hardwood flooring services include supply and professional installation, stair nosing, and sanding and refinishing existing floors. Browse all flooring options too.
Hardwood brands we carry include California Classics, Provenza, Kährs, Bjelin, Karastan, Mirage, Lauzon, Azur Grande, UA Floors, Anderson Tuftex, Mannington, LM Flooring, Fabrica, Reward, Sheoga, DuChateau, CALI and Mohawk. That isn't the full list. We carry more lines in the showroom, and if you don't see what you want, just ask. We can source unique or custom wood too.
Hardwood is often part of a bigger project. We also install stairs, baseboards and cabinets, so a new floor can be planned together with a kitchen or home remodeling project. See the floors in our Carlsbad loft conversion and staircase remodel.
Engineered vs. solid
Engineered vs. Solid Hardwood: Which Is Better?
Both are real wood. Solid hardwood is one piece of wood that can be sanded and refinished many times. Engineered hardwood has a real-wood top layer over a stable core, so it is less prone to cupping and can go over concrete and in more rooms.
Compare both at our San Marcos showroom, including a wide range of European oak.
| Engineered hardwood | Solid hardwood | |
|---|---|---|
| Construction | A real-wood top layer over a stable core | One solid piece of wood |
| Stability | Less prone to cupping and gaps as humidity changes | Moves more as humidity changes |
| Over concrete slabs | Yes, glued down or floated after a moisture test | Needs a wood subfloor |
| Refinishing | Depends on the wear layer; thicker layers can be sanded at least once | Can be sanded and refinished many times |
European oak
European Oak and Other Hardwood Species
Our San Marcos showroom carries a wide range of European oak, in many plank widths, colors and finishes, from brands including Azur Grande and Provenza.
Compare oak samples in daylight and lamplight, next to your cabinet and countertop samples, before you choose. If you have another species or a specific product in mind, send us the name and we'll check whether we can source it.
Installation
Hardwood Flooring Installation: What's Included
Model Home supplies your hardwood and the installation. Before we book, we confirm the material, the subfloor preparation and the installation scope with you in writing.
Most whole-floor installs of 1,000 to 2,000 square feet take 3 to 7 working days with prefinished boards. Floors finished on site add about 3 to 5 days for sanding, coats and curing before furniture goes back.
Removal
Taking out the existing floor, when needed.
Subfloor preparation
Leveling and the moisture checks the flooring manufacturer requires.
Installation
Nailed, glued or floated, depending on the product and the subfloor.
Finishing details
Baseboards, transitions and matching stair nosing.
Hardwood installation cost
How Much Does Hardwood Floor Installation Cost?
It depends on the wood you choose, the size of the area and how much work the floor needs before installation. The estimate is free: we measure at your home or review your measurements at the showroom, then give you a written price for your rooms.
Free Hardwood EstimateThe wood
Species, plank width and engineered or solid construction.
The area
Square footage and the number of rooms.
Removal
Taking out old flooring. Tile set on a concrete slab takes the most work.
Subfloor
Leveling and moisture work before the new floor goes down.
Stairs and patterns
Stair treads, herringbone and chevron layouts take more labor and material.
Trim
Baseboards, transitions and stair nosing.
Herringbone vs. chevron
Herringbone vs. Chevron: What's the Difference?
Herringbone uses rectangular planks laid in a staggered zigzag. Chevron uses planks with ends cut at an angle, so they meet in a continuous V.
Model Home installs herringbone and chevron floors. A pattern floor takes roughly twice as long to lay as the same area in straight planks, so plan for more installation time and more material.
| Herringbone | Chevron | |
|---|---|---|
| Plank ends | Cut square | Cut at an angle |
| Pattern | Staggered zigzag | Continuous V |
| Installation time | Roughly twice as long as straight planks | Roughly twice as long as straight planks |
Water damage
Can Water-Damaged Hardwood Floors Be Saved?
Often, if the floor is dried quickly. We check the moisture in the floor and the subfloor, dry them, then sand and refinish the boards that recover. Boards that stay cupped, buckled, loose or split, or that grow mold, are replaced.
Act fast: the EPA says to dry water-damaged areas and items within 24 to 48 hours to prevent mold growth. Call your insurer, then call us. We restore or replace hardwood floors, including on insurance-claim projects.
Stairs
Hardwood Stairs & Matching Stair Nosing
We install hardwood on stairs, with treads, risers and matching trim, as part of your flooring project.
Matching stair nosing can be difficult when a flooring line has no coordinating profile. Model Home, Inc. can source matching stair nosing or custom-create a piece after reviewing the flooring material, color, finish and stair details. This can help when a standard stair edge would look out of place against the floor.
Have an existing floor or a product with no matching stair nose? Bring a sample to our San Marcos showroom, or send the manufacturer, product name and photos of your stairs. We'll review whether a suitable piece can be sourced or made. Natural wood variation, older finishes and discontinued products can limit how closely a finished piece matches.
Planning your project
How a Hardwood Project Works
What we supply and install
Solid and engineered hardwood flooring, stair treads and matching transitions and baseboards, supplied from our San Marcos showroom.
Free in-home estimate
Estimates are free. We can measure at your home, or bring your project city, approximate room areas and photos of the existing floor and any stairs to the showroom. Tell us your preferred timing and whether removal or furniture moving is needed.
Before you book
We confirm the material, subfloor preparation and installation scope with you in writing. Model Home, Inc. is a licensed general contractor, CSLB #927826 (B - General Building), licensed since 2009.
Hardwood Flooring FAQs
Do you supply and install hardwood flooring?
Yes. Choose your hardwood at our San Marcos showroom and our installers install it. Materials-only orders are also welcome.
Is engineered hardwood real wood?
Yes. Engineered hardwood has a real hardwood top layer bonded to a plywood or composite core.
Can engineered hardwood be refinished?
It depends on the thickness of its wear layer. Thicker wear layers can be sanded and refinished at least once; thin ones may only allow the finish to be lightly sanded and recoated. Check the product's specifications, or ask us.
Can hardwood be installed over concrete?
Engineered hardwood usually can, glued down or floated, after a moisture test. Solid hardwood normally needs a wood subfloor over the concrete.
How do you clean engineered hardwood floors?
Follow the manufacturer's care guide. Typically: sweep or vacuum, use a barely damp microfiber mop with an approved cleaner, and avoid steam mops and standing water.
Which areas do you install in?
San Marcos, Carlsbad, San Elijo Hills, Lake San Marcos, Encinitas, Rancho Santa Fe, Del Mar, Oceanside and parts of Escondido.
See Hardwood Samples in San Marcos
Compare hardwood samples, including a wide range of European oak, at our showroom, 1070 Commerce St, Suite F, San Marcos. We're open Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; call 760-682-5027 ahead so we can have samples ready for your rooms.
Model Home, Inc. · 1070 Commerce St, Suite F, San Marcos, CA 92078 · 760-682-5027
Licensed General Contractor since 2009 · CSLB #927826
Bring photos of your rooms, rough measurements and a cabinet sample if you have one. Also compare vinyl plank and laminate and tile. Get directions on Google Maps.