Flooring installationin Las Vegas.

Most flooring installation in Las Vegas goes over a concrete slab, since most homes here are built slab-on-grade. That shapes everything: the floor has to be flat within the product's tolerance, dry enough for the flooring, and clear of old adhesive before anything goes down.

Floating floors like luxury vinyl plank and laminate need a flat base above all. Dips and humps are ground down or filled with patching compound, because a floating floor over a low spot flexes, clicks and can separate at the joints.

Removing old tile is often the biggest part of the job in older homes. Tile set on the slab comes up with a lot of dust and leaves thinset that has to be ground smooth. Carpet removal is quicker, but tack strips leave rows of small holes in the concrete that need filling.

Luxury vinyl plank is waterproof, handles pets and spills well, and suits kitchens, laundry rooms and bathrooms. Laminate tends to resist scratches better and many lines look convincingly like wood, but a lot of laminate is water resistant rather than waterproof. Engineered hardwood is real wood over a stable core, for when you want the look and feel of the real thing.

Heat and sun are the local catch. Vinyl plank expands and contracts with temperature, and some products carry warnings about direct sun through large windows and sliding doors. We check the manufacturer's requirements, leave the right expansion gap at walls, and flag rooms where afternoon sun hits the floor. If the house sits closed up with the AC off in summer, check the product's temperature limits too.

Square footage sets the baseline, and the rest comes from prep and details: tearing out tile versus carpet, leveling the slab, stairs, the number of doorways and transitions, and new baseboards or quarter round. Moving furniture and appliances adds time as well. Small rooms can often be quoted from photos, and every job gets a written flat quote before work starts.

Many flooring products need to acclimate in the house before install, following the manufacturer's instructions. On install day, doors may need trimming to clear the new floor height, and transitions are set where the new floor meets tile or carpet. We protect the rooms we are not working in and clean up at the end.

Cabinets and islands need a decision up front. Floating floors generally should not be pinned under heavy cabinets, so the new floor usually runs up to them. If a kitchen remodel is coming later, it is worth planning the order now to avoid patching gaps afterward.