Real guidance from a Licensed General Contractor — LVP vs tile, slab prep, permits, and county-specific breakdowns for every Florida market.
Why it matters who holds the license
Nearly every Florida home sits on a concrete slab — no crawl space, no subfloor. That means slab flatness assessment and moisture testing before any product goes down. Skip this step and LVP will warp, tile will crack, and engineered hardwood will buckle within two seasons.
Florida slabs wick ground moisture year-round. We test moisture vapor emission rate before recommending a product — LVP has a hard limit (typically 8 lbs/1,000 sq ft/24 hrs), and most manufacturers void the warranty if the substrate wasn't tested. This step is non-negotiable on our jobs.
Flooring alone rarely requires a permit in Florida — but the work around it often does. Moving an outlet for an island, removing a load-bearing wall, or rerouting a supply line all trigger permit requirements. We identify every permit trigger at the site visit before quoting.
LVP with a 12-mil wear layer holds up to Florida humidity and beach sand. Porcelain tile outperforms ceramic in coastal conditions. Engineered hardwood requires careful acclimation and is moisture-limited. We recommend products based on your specific slab conditions — not a sales commission.
Flooring Authority Series
Written by the contractor who will do the work. Florida-specific — concrete slabs, humidity, permits, and South Florida market pricing.
Product Selection
Head-to-head comparison for Florida's concrete slab homes — moisture tolerance, durability in beach conditions, cost difference installed, and which product wins in rentals vs. primary residences.
Read the guideSlab Homes
LVP, porcelain tile, and engineered hardwood on Florida slabs — moisture vapor limits, flatness requirements, adhesive specifications, and which products carry a valid warranty without a subfloor.
Read the guidePermits · Palm Beach
When flooring work triggers a Palm Beach County permit — the exact FBC threshold, what happens when you remove a load-bearing wall to open the floor plan, and how to keep a project code-compliant.
Read the guideBathroom Tile · Palm Beach
$8–$28 per square foot installed in Palm Beach County depending on tile type, substrate condition, and waterproofing scope. FBC waterproofing inspection required for all shower tile — cost breakdown included.
Read the guideInvestment Properties
Durability vs. cost for Palm Beach County landlords — LVP wear layer specs, porcelain vs. ceramic for tenant turnover, and the product choices that survive 3+ rental cycles without replacement.
Read the guideInstallation
Florida's slab-on-grade construction makes tile-over-tile a viable option — if the existing tile passes a bond test and the height differential clears the door threshold. What to check before committing.
Read the guideTimeline
Day-by-day timeline for LVP, porcelain tile, and engineered hardwood installs in Florida — including slab prep, acclimation, adhesive cure time, and grout cure before furniture goes back in.
Read the guideCost · Statewide
Statewide cost ranges for LVP, porcelain tile, ceramic tile, and engineered hardwood — what drives prices above national averages in Florida, and how to read a flooring quote.
Read the guideBroward County
Fort Lauderdale, Pembroke Pines, Hollywood, and Miramar. Broward pricing, permit triggers, and HOA requirements for condo flooring projects.
Read the guideFlorida Licensed General Contractor · CGC1531095
Written scope and fixed price before we start. We assess your slab conditions at the site visit — no product recommendation without seeing the substrate first.
Licensed GC · CGC1531095 · We respond within 24 hours · No spam, ever.
Real Clients · Real Floors
Verified reviews from homeowners across our service area.
"Before D&Co gave us a quote, they tested the moisture in our slab. Two other contractors just measured the room. We had high vapor emission — they spec'd the right adhesive and the right LVP. Two years in, zero issues."
"We asked about tile over our existing floor to save on demo. They did a bond test on the spot and told us which rooms would hold and which ones wouldn't. Honest answer — not the upsell. That's rare."
"D&Co did four of our rental units in Boynton Beach over two years. Same product spec every time, same crew. Our maintenance calls for flooring are basically zero. That's what we needed."