Master Flooring Craftsmen in Salt Lake City

From restoring century-old oak in The Avenues to installing soundproof cork and LVP in downtown lofts, we blend modern precision with historic respect.

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Providing dust-controlled installation for occupied homes.

Preserving the Character of Salt Lake City

Salt Lake City's housing stock is as diverse as its residents. On any given week, our crews might be found sanding original 1920s fir floors in a Sugar House bungalow, installing large-format tile in a mid-century modern home in St. Mary's, or leveling a concrete subfloor for a luxury condo downtown.

At South Valley Flooring, we understand that "one size fits all" doesn't work here. A floating floor that works perfectly in a new Herriman build might feel cheap and hollow in a solid historic Liberty Wells home. We tailor our approach to the age and structure of your property.

Restoration vs. Replacement in Historic Homes

One of the most common questions we get from owners in The Avenues and Harvard-Yale is: "Can these floors be saved?"

The answer is usually yes. Old growth wood is harder and more durable than modern lumber. We specialize in:

  • Deep Sanding: Removing decades of wax and varnish without taking off too much life-giving wood.
  • Board Replacement: We scour local salvage yards and specialty mills to find "period correct" wood to patch gaps where walls were removed.
  • Gap Filling: Using trowel-fill methods to close seasonal gaps in older pine or fir floors.

Modern Living: Downtown & Sugar House Condos

The skyline is changing, and so are flooring needs. For condo owners, the priority shifts to sound attenuation and durability.

We are experts in navigating HOA requirements. We know which underlayments meet the strict IIC (Impact Insulation Class) ratings required by buildings like The Broadway or The Regent. We handle the logistics of freight elevator reservations and restricted work hours so you don't have to.

The Basement Factor

In older SLC neighborhoods, basements were often root cellars, not living spaces. They are prone to moisture wicking through the slab. We never install solid wood below grade. Instead, we recommend:

  • Luxury Vinyl Plank (LVP): 100% waterproof and warm underfoot.
  • Engineered Hardwood: Stable enough for humidity fluctuations (with proper moisture barriers).
  • Epoxy Barriers: We test the slab's RH and apply roll-on barriers if moisture is detected.

Navigating Local Logistics

Parking in the Marmalade District or The Avenues can be a nightmare. Our teams are self-sufficient. we handle our own permitting for dumpsters and trucks. We respect your neighbors, keeping our footprint small and our job sites tidy.

Neighborhood Expertise

We know the quirks of your area:

  • ✓ Sugar House: uneven settling? We have leveling solutions.
  • ✓ The Avenues: Steep driveways? We have 4WD delivery trucks.
  • ✓ Downtown: Freight elevator protection and scheduling.
Historic Home Renovation

Refinishing original 1920s Oak.

Old Floors Squeaking?

We can tighten the subfloor before installing your new surface.

Fix My Floors

Salt Lake City Flooring FAQs

1. Should I refinish or replace the floors in my historic home?

In neighborhoods like Sugar House and The Avenues, we always aim to preserve original 100-year-old oak or fir floors if possible. Refinishing is often more cost-effective and retains the home's character. However, if the wood has been sanded too many times, we can install new Rift & Quartered oak to match.

2. Can you fix the squeaks in my old Victorian home?

Yes. Squeaks in older homes are usually caused by nails loosening from the joists over decades. We can't promise silence (old houses breathe), but we can significantly reduce noise by screwing down the subfloor and adding blocking where accessible.

3. Do you handle lead paint testing?

Yes. For homes built before 1978, we follow EPA RRP protocols. We test for lead in painted surfaces (like baseboards) that will be disturbed and use HEPA containment to ensure your family's safety.

4. My floor slopes significantly. Can you level it?

Salt Lake area homes often settle. We can use self-leveling compounds to flatten a floor for plank installation, but we cannot 'level' a structurally sloped house without major foundation work. We aim for 'flat' rather than 'level'.

5. Can you match new wood to my existing vintage floors?

Absolutely. Standard Red Oak hasn't changed, but the milling and cut have. We source Rift & Quartered or plain-sawn oak to match the grain pattern of your 1920s or 1940s floors, then lace in the new boards for a seamless transition.

6. What about parking for downtown condo projects?

We handle the logistics. We coordinate with your building management for freight elevator reservations and secure temporary parking permits from the city for our trucks.

7. Do you meet soundproofing requirements for HOAs?

Yes. Most downtown SLC condos require an IIC rating of 50 or higher. We install premium cork or rubber underlayments that exceed these standards.

8. Can I put Luxury Vinyl in my basement?

LVP is the ideal choice for Utah basements. Concrete slabs in older homes wick moisture. LVP is waterproof and won't buckle like laminate or rot like solid wood.

9. How dusty is the sanding process?

Our dustless containment systems collect about 98% of the dust. While 'dust-free' is a marketing myth, we seal off doorways and HVAC vents to keep the rest of your home clean.

10. Do you warranty work on old subfloors?

We warranty our installation, but we cannot warranty the structural integrity of an existing 80-year-old subfloor unless we reinforce it. We will always inspect and recommend repairs before we install.