Humid subtropical climate
New Orleans has hot, humid summers, and indoor humidity swings with the season and with how well the AC keeps up.
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- Kitchen Flooring Installation
Kitchen flooring installation in New Orleans
At TurnKey Renovators, we install porcelain tile, luxury vinyl plank and hardwood in kitchens across Greater New Orleans, with the subfloor prepared right and transitions that will not lift or catch months from now. Request your free estimate and we will match the floor to your kitchen and your slab.
2 to 4 daysInstall time for most kitchen floors
1 to 2 daysTypical luxury vinyl plank install
3 materialsPorcelain tile, luxury vinyl plank and hardwood
5 stepsFrom moisture test to finished transitions
What we install
Floors picked for how your kitchen is used
Spills, dropped pots, pet claws and humid mornings all land on the kitchen floor. Pick a material or a stage of the job to see what it involves.
Porcelain tile
Tile resists humidity, standing water and heavy traffic, and it is close to maintenance-free. It takes longer to install because thinset cures between stages.
- Resists standing water
- Near-zero upkeep
- Thinset matched to the tile
- Cure time between stages
Luxury vinyl plank
Rigid core plank handles this climate well and installs fast. Tight-locking joints matter, because water can seep between seams if it pools.
- Rigid core SPC or WPC
- Waterproof plank
- Underlayment included
- One to two day install
Engineered hardwood
Engineered wood brings warmth underfoot in kitchens with steady climate control. It needs more care than tile or LVP and must acclimate first.
- Warmth underfoot
- Acclimated for days
- Moisture barrier
- Best with steady climate
Subfloor prep
Subfloor preparation
This step is invisible once the floor is down, and it decides whether the floor stays flat.
Choose My Floor- Moisture testing
- High spots ground down
- Self-leveling compound
- Damaged subfloor replaced
Transitions
Transitions and trim
Where the kitchen floor meets hallway carpet, living room hardwood or a bathroom, the transition has to sit flush and stay tight.
Choose My Floor- T-moldings
- Reducers
- Thresholds
- Trim for a finished edge
Tile or LVP
Porcelain tile or luxury vinyl plank?
Both handle a New Orleans kitchen well. The better pick depends on your budget, your slab's moisture reading and how the floor should feel.
| Factor | Porcelain tile | Luxury vinyl plank |
|---|---|---|
| Water | Resists humidity and standing water | Rigid core is waterproof at the plank, but pooled water can reach the seams |
| Install time | Longer, with cure time between stages | Usually one to two days |
| Over an old floor | Tile over tile only in specific conditions, and it adds height | Often goes over flat, well-bonded tile or vinyl |
| Upkeep | Near-zero maintenance | Handles everyday spills and splashes |
| Resale | Among the highest perceived value with local buyers | Gaining ground fast with buyers |
Climate and slabs
Why New Orleans floors fail early
Hardwood that cups and buckles months after install usually skipped acclimation or a moisture barrier. The climate and the slab decide what lasts here.
Slabs that read high
Slabs in Lakeview, the Marigny, Mid-City and Gentilly routinely exceed manufacturer moisture limits for hardwood, so we test before recommending.
Uneven wood subfloors
Older homes in Uptown, the Marigny and Mid-City often have wood subfloors that need leveling before any material goes down.
Acclimation
Hardwood and engineered wood sit in your home for several days first. Skipping that step is one of the most common causes of floor failure here.
Permits for floor work
The City of New Orleans exempts removing and replacing deteriorated floorboards from building permits. Structural work under the floor is a different matter, and we tell you if your job crosses that line.
Climate from Wikipedia (Koppen Cfa). Permit exemption from the City of New Orleans guide to building permits.
How it works
Five steps under every kitchen floor
Moisture testing and subfloor correction are part of every job, not add-ons.
- 01
Moisture test and evaluation
We test the slab or subfloor for moisture and check for unevenness, because high readings change the material we recommend.
- 02
Subfloor leveling
High spots are ground down, low spots filled with self-leveling compound and damaged wood subfloor replaced.
- 03
Material acclimation
Wood products rest in your home for several days, and tile and LVP follow the manufacturer's guidelines.
- 04
Installation
Thinset for tile, underlayment for LVP and moisture barriers for hardwood, each set to its own requirements.
- 05
Transitions and trim
T-moldings, reducers and thresholds go in flush where the kitchen meets the next room.
Why us
What a local flooring crew does differently
- 01
Honest material advice
If a material does not suit your slab, traffic or upkeep habits, we tell you before you spend the money.
- 02
Prep on every job
A beautiful floor on a bad subfloor is a temporary floor, so testing and leveling are never skipped.
- 03
Sequenced with your remodel
When we run the whole kitchen, the floor goes down in the right order relative to cabinets, paint and trim.
- 04
Local supplier ties
When a tile order comes up short or an LVP color is backordered, regional distributors mean faster fixes.
Service areas
Kitchen flooring across Greater New Orleans
We have set tile on shifting slabs, laid hardwood in shotgun doubles and installed LVP in new construction from Metairie to Slidell.
Questions
Kitchen flooring questions
Materials, timing and install details for New Orleans kitchens.
What is the best flooring for a New Orleans kitchen?
Porcelain tile and luxury vinyl plank handle this climate best, resisting humidity, standing water and heavy traffic. Engineered hardwood works in kitchens with consistent climate control but needs more care. The right pick depends on your budget, your slab's moisture reading and whether you want wood underfoot or near-zero upkeep.
Is luxury vinyl plank actually waterproof?
Rigid core LVP (SPC and WPC) is waterproof at the plank level, so water will not damage the material itself. Water can still seep between seams if it pools for a long time, which is why tight-locking joints matter. Everyday spills are no problem.
Will my flooring choice affect resale value?
Porcelain tile and hardwood, including engineered, carry the highest perceived value with New Orleans buyers, and LVP is gaining ground fast. Condition and installation quality matter more than the material: a well-installed LVP floor beats a gapped, cupping hardwood floor.
How long does kitchen flooring installation take?
Two to four days for most kitchens. Tile takes longer because thinset cures between stages, while LVP installs in one to two days. Add a day if the subfloor needs significant leveling or old flooring has to come out first.
Can you install new flooring over my existing floor?
It depends. LVP can often go over flat, clean, well-bonded tile or vinyl. Tile over tile works only in specific conditions and adds height that affects transitions and dishwasher clearance. Hidden adhesive failures can also sit under an old floor, so we check before giving you a direct answer.
Do I need to move my appliances out first?
No. Disconnecting and reconnecting the appliances is part of the project.
Should flooring go in before or after cabinets?
Before. The floor goes down first and the cabinets sit on top, which avoids height mismatches at the dishwasher opening and keeps leaks from reaching bare subfloor under the cabinets.
Free estimates
Ready for a floor that stays put?
Tell us about the project and we will come out, measure and hand you a clear written estimate with no hidden fees.
504-527-8711