Last in the order of operations
Flooring in Scottsdale and the East Valley
Sonoran Building Solutions installs tile, luxury vinyl plank, hardwood and polished concrete across Scottsdale and the East Valley under Arizona ROC 368140. Floors go in last, after the dust has settled, so no other trade scratches or stains them.
- ROC 368140
- One crew chief on site
- Written order of operations
- Callback in 1 business hour
What we do in flooring
Sonoran Building Solutions installs and replaces floors across Scottsdale, Paradise Valley, Fountain Hills, Phoenix, Tempe, Mesa, Chandler and Gilbert.
- Tile. Porcelain and ceramic in living areas, kitchens, baths and patios.
- Luxury vinyl plank (LVP). Waterproof, durable and common in Valley remodels.
- Hardwood. Engineered and solid hardwood, where the room and subfloor suit it.
- Polished concrete. Grinding and sealing sound slabs into finished floors.
- Removal and prep. Pulling old tile, carpet or wood, and preparing the slab.
Multifamily and commercial flooring is covered on our commercial page.
The Arizona realities for floors
Slab construction. Most Valley homes sit on concrete slabs. That limits what goes down and how. Moisture, cracks and flatness decide what installs well, not just which floor you like.
Heat and sun. Sunlight through large windows and patio doors fades wood and some vinyl. Hot slabs expand and contract with the day.
Dry air. Low humidity can cause wood to shrink and gap. Engineered products and the right acclimation reduce that.
Dust and caliche. Valley dust gets into everything. It also means prep and cleanup matter, and why a floor installed before the dusty trades finish gets ruined.
Permits and HOA. Flooring generally does not need a permit. Condos and some townhomes have rules on sound transmission for hard flooring on upper floors, and we check your HOA rules.
Commercial flooring
Sonoran Building Solutions installs commercial flooring for tenant spaces, offices, retail, common areas and multifamily unit turns. That includes LVT, tile, and polished or sealed concrete. Dustin Downs has done a lot of commercial flooring work, and floors go in last on commercial jobs for the same reason they do in a home.
We assess the slab before choosing a floor, then plan removal, preparation and installation around how the space is used. We schedule around your hours and your tenants, in sections or outside business hours when the space has to stay open, and we confirm that schedule in the written scope. On unit turns, paint and flooring run on one schedule so vacancy days stay down.
One licensed general contractor is accountable for the job, with photo reports at milestones and a closeout package for your files. For scopes, trades and bids, see commercial services.
Where flooring sits in the order of operations
Flooring is last. Every trade before it drops dust and drags tools. Floors go in when the boots are gone.
- Roof, stucco and windows first. The shell must be dry and sealed. A floor under a leak does not last. See roofing.
- Kitchens, baths and drywall next. Plumbing, electrical and cabinets are installed with the floor unprotected otherwise. See kitchens and baths.
- Paint before floors. Ladders, rollers and drips damage new flooring. See painting.
- Floors last. Then baseboards, transitions and final touch-ups.
The expensive mistake is installing a new floor at the start of a remodel and then repairing or replacing it at the end. A written order of operations prevents it.
LVP, tile or hardwood in Arizona
| Porcelain tile | Luxury vinyl plank | Hardwood | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Heat and slab | Handles both well, and stays cool underfoot | Handles well on a flat slab | Needs care; engineered is usually safer |
| Water | Excellent | Waterproof products available | Weakest of the three |
| Scratches | Very hard to scratch | Resists, but can gouge | Scratches and dents |
| Install | Needs a flat slab and setting time | Faster install | Slower, depends on subfloor |
| Typical rooms | Kitchens, baths, living areas, patios | Bedrooms, living areas, remodels | Bedrooms, offices, select living areas |
How a flooring job runs
- Free assessment. We check the slab or subfloor, the rooms and how the floor meets other work.
- Written scope. The material, prep, transitions and where flooring falls in the sequence.
- Ordering. Materials are ordered and delivered to acclimate where needed.
- Prep. Old flooring out, subfloor or slab prepared.
- Install. Floor laid, finished and cleaned.
- Walkthrough. Final inspection with you and care instructions.
One crew chief is on site daily and is your single point of contact.
What moves the price
- Square footage and layout complexity
- Material choice, tile, LVP, hardwood or concrete
- Removal of existing flooring
- Slab repair, leveling or crack treatment
- Transitions, baseboards and stairs
- Whether furniture moving is needed
- Whether the floor is part of a larger remodel
We give price ranges for each step at the free assessment, after we have seen the floors.
Mistakes we see with floors in Arizona homes
Skipping slab prep. The most common cause of failed tile and lifting plank is a floor that was not flat or clean underneath. Prep is not an upgrade. It is the job.
Choosing by showroom light. Floors look different under Arizona sun. Large patio doors and west windows change color and show scratches. We encourage you to see samples in the room where they will go.
Installing floors early. A new floor put down before the kitchen, paint or window work is the floor most likely to be scratched, stained or cut. Waiting is cheaper than replacing.
Ignoring transitions. Where tile meets plank, or one room meets another, height differences need planning from the start. We settle transitions and thresholds in the written scope, not on the last day.
Forgetting what is under the cabinets. If cabinets are being replaced, we decide in the plan whether flooring runs under them, because that decision affects the install order and the cost.
Because we run the whole sequence, these decisions are made once, in writing, before anything is laid.
When to call
Book the assessment if:
- Tile is cracked, hollow or lifting
- Carpet or wood is worn out or water-damaged
- You are planning a kitchen, bath or paint project and want floors placed correctly in the plan
- You are not sure whether tile, LVP or hardwood suits your slab
- You are preparing to sell
The assessment takes about an hour, costs nothing and you keep the written plan either way.
What's included
What every flooring job includes
- Floor and subfloor assessment before you choose a material
- Moisture and flatness checks on slab floors
- Removal and disposal of existing flooring
- Slab and subfloor preparation
- Installation to the manufacturer's method
- Transitions, baseboards and thresholds finished
- Furniture-path protection and daily cleanup
- Final walkthrough and care instructions
Common local searches
- flooring contractor Scottsdale
- tile flooring Scottsdale AZ
- luxury vinyl plank Phoenix
- hardwood floors East Valley
- polished concrete Mesa
- floor installation Chandler
- flooring installer Paradise Valley
- tile installer Gilbert
Answers first
Flooring FAQ for Arizona homes
What is the best flooring for Arizona homes?
Porcelain tile and luxury vinyl plank are the most common choices in Arizona because they handle heat, slab floors and daily wear well. Hardwood can work but needs more care with moisture and humidity swings. The best choice depends on the room and how you live.
Is LVP a good choice on a concrete slab?
Yes, in most cases. Most Valley homes are built on slabs, and LVP installs over a properly prepared, flat slab. The slab must be flat and clean before anything goes down.
Is hardwood a good idea in Scottsdale?
It can be, with the right product and installation. Arizona's dry climate and slab construction mean engineered hardwood is usually safer than solid, and the install method matters. We explain the tradeoffs at the assessment.
Should flooring be done before or after painting?
After. Ladders, rollers and drips damage new floors. Interior paint is finished first and floors go in last.
Should flooring be done before or after a kitchen remodel?
After, in most cases. Cabinets, appliances and trades damage finished floors. We schedule floors at the end of the project.
Can you remove old tile?
Yes. We remove tile, grind or patch the slab, and prepare it for the new floor. Removal is dusty and heavy, which is another reason it comes before paint touch-up and final install.
What about polished concrete?
Polished concrete suits Arizona well because it is cool, durable and low maintenance. It requires a sound slab, so we assess the existing concrete first.
Can you install commercial flooring after hours?
We schedule around your hours. If the space has to stay open, we plan the install in sections or outside business hours and confirm it in the written scope. See commercial services.
Service area
Flooring in Scottsdale, Phoenix, Tempe, Mesa and Chandler
Put the floors in last and only once
Book the free assessment. We look at your slab, the rooms on your list and the order they should go in. You keep the written plan either way.