Flooring Buying Guide & FAQs
Start with your room, compare the exact product, and plan the details before you order. Use this guide to move from inspiration to a flooring plan.
Choose a floor · Compare samples · Plan quantities · Prepare for installation · Order support
1. Choose the right floor for your room
What should I compare besides the color?
Record the collection, color, SKU, plank dimensions, total thickness, surface specification, installation method and carton coverage. Products with a similar appearance can have different construction and installation requirements. Check the exact SKU rather than applying one collection's specifications to another.
Are SuperOak Select and SuperOak Plus the same?
No. Treat Select and Plus as separate collections when comparing dimensions and construction. For example, Sunshine Hickory belongs to SuperOak Select; its listed dimensions are 47.78 × 7.7 inches with a 12 mm total thickness. Compare each product's own specification sheet.
Explore SuperOak Select · Explore SuperOak Plus
Does waterproof flooring make the whole room waterproof?
A product's water-resistance claim does not replace checking the subfloor, perimeter details, wet-area suitability and warranty exclusions. Confirm the exact product's requirements for bathrooms, basements or other moisture-prone spaces before ordering.
Read the flooring sample buying guide · Compare flooring with kitchen cabinets
2. Compare samples in your own space
How should I compare two or three colors?
- Label each sample with its color, collection and SKU.
- Place samples flat beside cabinets, wall paint, furniture and existing flooring that will remain.
- Compare them in morning daylight, afternoon light and your usual evening lighting.
- Look at the undertone, grain contrast and surface sheen. Take notes rather than relying on phone photographs alone.
- Review full-room images and the product's stated pattern variation; one cut sample cannot show every plank.
Are samples free?
Check the current sample listing for price, availability and any applicable promotion. Shipping and discounts are confirmed at checkout. For a trade or project-specific sample request, contact our team before placing the order.
Shop flooring samples · Plan samples for an open-plan home
3. Plan cartons, trims and transitions
How do I estimate the number of cartons?
Measure each area in feet, multiply length by width, and add the areas together. Agree a cutting and layout allowance with your installer, then divide the adjusted area by the exact product's coverage per carton and round up to a whole carton.
Illustrative example: a 12 × 15 ft room is 180 sq. ft. If your installer specifies a 10% allowance, plan for 198 sq. ft. At 20.56 sq. ft. per carton, 198 ÷ 20.56 = 9.63, so the estimate is 10 cartons. The allowance is an example, not a requirement for every room.
What else belongs on my order checklist?
- Doorways and connections to different floor heights.
- Stair edges, exposed edges and perimeter trim.
- Door clearance and the finished flooring height.
- Product-compatible moisture protection or underlayment, only where required.
- Extra material for your agreed layout allowance and future repairs.
Read the measuring guide · Plan doorway transitions
4. Confirm installation requirements
Can I install it myself?
That depends on the product, subfloor and project. Click-lock, glue-down and peel-and-stick products require different preparation and tools. Read the product-specific instructions before deciding whether to install it yourself or use a professional.
Can I install Dotfloor vinyl in a sunroom, garage or other space without heating or cooling?
Dotfloor vinyl plank is made for temperature-controlled indoor spaces. Install it at normal living conditions (about 65–80°F and 40–55% relative humidity), with the room at those conditions for at least 5 days beforehand and the flooring acclimated for 24–48 hours. After installation it is rated for use between 32°F and 113°F. It is not suitable for unheated spaces that drop below freezing, covered decks, porches or outdoors, and damage from installation or use outside these conditions is not covered by the warranty. See the pre-installation checklist and the installation guide.
Can I add another layer of underlayment?
Do not assume extra padding is compatible. Check whether your product has an attached backing, which underlayment is approved and whether your subfloor needs a separate moisture-control layer.
Use the installation planning checklist · Find warranty and maintenance resources
5. Get help before placing your order
What should I send when asking for a recommendation?
Include your preferred color or SKU, room measurements, room use, subfloor type, delivery ZIP code and project timing. Photos of cabinets, adjoining floors and doorways help explain the space.
Where can I check delivery, returns and warranty terms?
Review the current delivery information, returns policy and product warranty resources. Confirm product-specific conditions and any questions before purchase.
Ask the Dotfloor team · Explore affiliate and trade partnerships
Choose the finishing accessories
Compare T-moldings, reducers, quarter round and stair profiles, then find the listings for your flooring collection. Read the trim and accessory buying guide.