Flooring Blog: Expert Tips, Installation Guides & Design Ideas
Expert advice on hardwood, carpet, tile, luxury vinyl, and laminate flooring for homes and businesses across Maryland, DC, and Northern Virginia.
Installation guides · Maintenance tips · Design inspiration · Cost breakdowns
Latest Flooring Articles, Guides & Maintenance Tips for DMV Homeowners
How Much Does Hardwood Floor Refinishing Cost in Maryland? (2026 Local Price Guide)
A standard hardwood refinish in Maryland runs about $3.75–$5.50 per square foot in 2026, or $5–$8 with a stain color change. This local guide breaks down exactly what drives the price, when a cheaper buff-and-recoat works, how stairs are priced, and what refinishing costs city by city across Montgomery County — with a custom cost-ladder diagram and real insights from 2020 Flooring.
2020 Flooring
Jul 10, 2026
Termite Damage in Hardwood Floors: How to Identify It & When to Replace (DMV Guide)
By the time termites show on a hardwood surface, they have usually eaten the subfloor and joists for months. This guide shows how to identify termite floor damage, tell it apart from water damage, decide repair vs. replace, and vet a licensed flooring contractor to rebuild your floors across the DMV — with a custom cutaway diagram and Eastern-subterranean-termite local insights.
2020 Flooring
Jul 10, 2026
Best Flooring for Hotels in Maryland, Washington DC & Northern Virginia (Zone-by-Zone Guide)
There is no single best hotel floor — there is a best floor per zone. This guide maps porcelain, patterned carpet, glue-down LVP, rubber, and sheet vinyl to the lobby, corridors, guest rooms, baths, and back of house, with DMV installed costs, per-key budgets, a custom zone diagram, and local insights from the market where Marriott, Hilton, and Choice write their brand standards.
2020 Flooring
Jul 2, 2026
Waterfall vs. Hollywood Carpet Stairs: Cost, Looks & Which to Choose (DMV Guide)
Waterfall drapes the carpet straight down each riser; Hollywood tucks it tight into every angle. This guide breaks down the look, the per-stair cost in the DMV, durability at the nosing, and which method fits straight, open, and curved staircases — with a custom cross-section diagram and a real Gaithersburg project.
2020 Flooring
Jun 23, 2026
Best Flooring for Rental Properties in DC, Maryland & Virginia (2026 Landlord Guide)
For most DMV rentals, luxury vinyl plank (LVP) is the best flooring — waterproof, pet- and scratch-resistant, fast to turn over, and lowest cost of ownership. This landlord guide covers durability, costs, LVP vs. hardwood, property-type picks, Mid-Atlantic climate factors, and insights from hundreds of 2020 Flooring rental projects.
2020 Flooring
Jun 13, 2026
Best Commercial Office Flooring in Washington DC, Maryland & Northern Virginia
For most DMV offices the best floor is a mix of commercial carpet tile and glue-down LVT. This guide covers installed costs, local DC/MD/VA install conditions, a room-by-room plan, real local-project insights, and how to compare commercial flooring proposals.
2020 Flooring
Jun 9, 2026
Hardwood Floor Cupping Repair in Maryland, Northern Virginia & Washington, DC
Cupped hardwood floors almost always point to a moisture problem — humidity, leaks, basement dampness, or installation issues. This guide explains causes, repair costs, and how to know whether your floor can be refinished or needs replacement in the DMV.
2020 Flooring
May 26, 2026
Top American Flooring Brands: A 2026 Buyer’s Guide for Homeowners & Property Managers
American manufacturers dominate the flooring industry. This guide ranks the top U.S. brands by category — hardwood, LVP, laminate, carpet, and tile — compares installed costs per square foot, and shows which perform best for Washington DC, Maryland, and Virginia homes.
2020 Flooring
May 22, 2026
What Is Parquet Flooring? History, Materials, Costs & Everything You Need to Know
Parquet flooring arranges real hardwood pieces into geometric patterns like herringbone and chevron. This guide covers everything: its 17th-century origins, solid vs. engineered construction, subfloor requirements, tile formats, and what a parquet installation actually costs in the DMV area.
2020 Flooring
May 6, 2026
Carpet vs. Hardwood Flooring: 2026 Cost, Pros and Cons, Resale Value, and Best Rooms
Carpet or hardwood? After 30+ years of installations across Maryland, DC, and Virginia, we break down cost, resale value, best rooms, and the smart mixed approach most DMV homeowners choose.
2020 Flooring
Apr 25, 2026
Laminate vs. LVP: Which Flooring Is Right for Your Maryland, DC & Virginia Home?
Laminate and LVP both mimic real hardwood at a lower price — but they perform very differently around moisture, durability, and comfort. This guide helps DMV homeowners pick the right one.
2020 Flooring
Apr 1, 2026
Squeaky Floor Repair Guide: DIY Fixes & When to Call a Pro
After 30 years of fixing every type of squeaky floor, the team at 2020 Flooring shares real solutions — breakaway screws, subfloor repairs, hardwood fixes, and honest advice on when to DIY and when to call a pro.
2020 Flooring
Mar 18, 2026
Carpet vs. LVP: Which Flooring Is Right for Your Maryland, DC & Virginia Home?
Choosing between carpet and LVP depends on your lifestyle, budget, and room use. This guide covers durability, maintenance, comfort, cost, and the smart mixed approach that most DMV homeowners choose.
2020 Flooring
Mar 17, 2026
How to Choose Hardwood Flooring: The Complete Species & Buying Guide
Oak, walnut, maple, hickory, cherry, and 10 more species — this comprehensive guide covers Janka hardness ratings, solid vs. engineered comparisons, room-by-room suitability, maintenance tips, and answers to the most common hardwood flooring questions.
2020 Flooring
Feb 19, 2026