How to Choose the Best Flooring Company in Chicago (And Red Flags to Avoid)
Intro
If you've started Googling "flooring contractors Chicago" or "best flooring companies Chicago," you've probably already noticed there are a lot of them. Dozens of contractors. Dozens of websites. A lot of five-star reviews. And somehow, most of them claim to be the best.
Here's the thing: choosing the wrong flooring company in Chicago doesn't just cost you money — it costs you your floors. Hardwood floor installation done wrong means gaps that open up every winter, boards that squeak or bounce, finishes that peel within months, and a subfloor that was never properly prepared. We've been called in to fix bad installs more times than we can count.
At Luciano's Hardwood Flooring, we've been serving Chicago homeowners and businesses since 1997. Based in Itasca, IL, we've completed more than 10,000 projects across Lincoln Park, Logan Square, Wicker Park, Evanston, Schaumburg, and everywhere in between. This guide shares exactly what we look for — and what you should be looking for — when hiring a flooring company in Chicago.
Start With Experience — Real, Verifiable Experience
The single most important factor in a flooring contractor is the depth of their experience with Chicago's specific building stock. Here's what that means in practice:
Chicago's housing mix is unlike most American cities. You have 1890s greystones with rough plank subfloors that are anything but level. You have 1960s brick two-flats with concrete slabs. You have River North lofts with radiant heat. You have Evanston colonials with 100-year-old oak that still has some life in it. Each situation demands different expertise.
A contractor who's been doing this for 5 years might have seen a few of these. A contractor who's been doing it for 27 years has seen all of them — and knows exactly how to handle each one.
When you talk to a flooring company, ask them directly: "How long have you been installing floors in Chicago?" and "Can you show me examples of projects similar to mine?" Don't just accept the number — ask for photos, references, or better yet, a job site visit.
Ask About Their Dustless Sanding Equipment
This one separates the amateurs from the professionals faster than almost anything else. If you're having floors refinished or getting an unfinished hardwood installation, sanding is part of the process. And most homeowners have no idea there's a huge difference in "dustless" equipment.
Here's the truth: many flooring companies in Chicago advertise "dustless sanding" but use nothing more than a small shop vac or backpack vacuum attached to their sanding machine. That captures maybe 60–70% of particles. The rest end up in your HVAC system, on your furniture, and in your lungs.
Real dustless sanding requires industrial-grade, HEPA-filtered equipment — the kind that captures 99% of particles and keeps your home genuinely clean throughout the process. It's heavier, more expensive, and requires proper training to operate. That's exactly what we use at Luciano's, and it's why our clients can often stay in their homes during the entire project.
Before you hire anyone, ask to see photos of their actual equipment. A company doing real dustless sanding will have no problem showing you.
Learn more about our dustless sanding process
Check Reviews — But Know What to Look For
Every flooring company in Chicago has Google reviews. That's table stakes. What matters is what those reviews actually say.
Look for reviews that mention:
- Whether the contractor showed up on time and on schedule
- Whether the price matched the quote
- Whether the owner or foreman was present on-site
- Whether the customer was happy with the finish quality
- How the company handled any problems that came up
That last one is particularly important. No project is 100% problem-free. A great flooring contractor communicates proactively when something unexpected comes up — they don't disappear or get defensive.
Also look at the volume and recency of reviews. A company with 200+ reviews going back 5+ years is telling a more complete story than a company with 20 reviews from the last 3 months. You want a track record, not a marketing push.
Get Multiple Quotes — But Don't Just Choose the Cheapest
Getting 2–3 quotes for flooring installation in Chicago is smart. It gives you a sense of the market rate and helps you spot outliers on both ends.
The outlier you really want to avoid is the lowest quote. Here's why: hardwood floor installation has real costs. Materials have market prices. Skilled labor has a market rate. Equipment costs money to maintain. If a quote is 30–40% below everyone else's, something is missing — lower grade materials, skipped steps in the installation process, workers who aren't covered by workers' comp, or a plan to add costs later.
A legitimate flooring contractor will give you a detailed, itemized quote that breaks out materials, labor, subfloor prep, and finishing. If a company gives you a round number and no breakdown, ask for specifics before you sign anything.
Contact us for a free, itemized estimate
Ask If They Handle More Than Just Installation
The best flooring companies in Chicago are full-service operations. Hardwood floors are part of an interconnected system — they connect to stairs, they sit on subfloors that sometimes have moisture or mold issues, they need to be refinished eventually.
A contractor who only installs floors can't help you when those issues come up. At Luciano's, we handle:
- Hardwood floor installation — residential and commercial
- Sanding and refinishing
- Staining and custom finishes
- Steps, stairs, and railings
- Water damage repair and mold treatment
- Sound proofing
That means when we install your floors, we can also match your existing staircase, refinish the floors in the rooms we're not installing new ones in, and address any subfloor issues before they become your problem.
Make Sure They're Properly Insured
This one isn't glamorous but it matters. Any flooring contractor working in your Chicago home or commercial space should carry general liability insurance and workers' compensation. If a worker is injured on your property and the contractor doesn't have workers' comp, you could be liable.
Ask for proof of insurance before any work begins. A reputable contractor will provide it without hesitation. If they push back or make excuses, walk away.
The Bottom Line: What the Best Flooring Companies in Chicago Have in Common
After 27+ years in this industry, the pattern is clear. The best flooring companies in Chicago share the same traits: they've been around long enough to have a real track record; they use proper equipment, not shortcuts; their owner is involved in jobs, not just in sales; they're transparent about pricing; and they stand behind their work.
If you're looking for a flooring contractor in Chicago who checks all those boxes, we'd love to show you what 27 years of doing this right looks like.
FAQ — Choosing a Flooring Company in Chicago
Ask the contractor to provide a certificate of insurance (COI) naming you as an additional insured for the duration of the project. The COI should show both general liability and workers' compensation coverage. You can also call the insurer directly to verify the policy is active.
A flooring retailer primarily sells materials and may subcontract installation. A flooring contractor installs floors as their core business. For hardwood specifically, working with a dedicated installer — rather than a big-box store — typically means better craftsmanship and more accountability on the job.
Most standard residential projects take 2–5 days. Larger projects, those requiring subfloor work, or custom designs may take longer. A reliable contractor gives you a realistic timeline upfront. Learn more about what affects timeline in our guide to hardwood floor installation in Chicago.
Almost always, yes. The difference between a $7/sqft install and a $10/sqft install isn't just the materials — it's the craftsmanship, the proper subfloor prep, the quality of the finish, and the likelihood the floor still looks great in 20 years. Floors done wrong are expensive to fix. Floors done right are an investment that lasts a lifetime. See our full cost breakdown: Hardwood Floor Installation Cost in Chicago.
Need more help?
Reach out and we'll answer any question.