FLOORING FAQS
Carpet
How do I choose the right carpet for my home?
The best carpet for your space depends on how you live in it. High-traffic areas like hallways and living rooms need durable, resilient carpet that holds up to daily wear. Bedrooms are a great place to prioritize softness and comfort underfoot. For families with kids and pets, look for carpet with waterproof backing and built-in stain resistance to make everyday messes quick and easy to clean.
What carpet fiber is best?
The four main carpet fibers are nylon, polyester, PTT (Triexta), and polypropylene — each with its own strengths. Nylon is the most popular choice thanks to its exceptional durability and versatility across a wide range of styles. Polyester delivers natural stain resistance and a luxuriously soft feel. PTT offers built-in stain protection and good resilience but is better suited to lower-traffic rooms. Polypropylene is colorfast and moisture-resistant, making it a smart pick for sunny spaces or demanding environments.
Do I need carpet padding?
Yes — and it makes a bigger difference than most people realize. Quality carpet padding extends the life of your carpet, enhances softness, adds warmth, reduces noise between floors, and improves airflow so your vacuum can remove more dirt more effectively.
Is carpet a good flooring choice for homes with pets?
Yes. Many carpet styles from Shaw Floors and Anderson Tuftex are engineered specifically for pet owners, featuring waterproof backing and stain-resistant fibers that prevent accidents from soaking through and eliminate lingering odors.
How often should carpet be professionally cleaned?
Plan on professional carpet cleaning every 12 to 18 months, or at least once every two years, depending on household activity and foot traffic. If you prefer to clean your carpet yourself, always use products that carry the CRI Seal of Approval to ensure they're safe and effective for your specific carpet.
Do you offer carpet designed specifically for homes with pets?
Yes — and it's one of our most popular categories. Shaw's Pet Perfect and Pet Perfect+ carpet collections are engineered to handle the most common pet messes, from muddy paws to everyday accidents. Built with ultra-durable, easy-to-clean fibers and backed by long-term stain warranties, these carpets let you enjoy a beautiful home without stressing over what your pet might track in. Shaw Floors is also proud to be the official flooring partner of the American Kennel Club.
Can Shaw Floors carpet be made into a custom area rug?
Absolutely. Any Shaw Floors carpet style can be crafted into a custom area rug in the size that works best for your space — giving you a truly personalized look that coordinates perfectly with your existing flooring. Talk to your local Shaw Flooring Network retailer or book a free consultation with a Shaw design expert to explore your options.
Where can I find care and maintenance information for my carpet?
Full care instructions — including how to treat spills, routine maintenance tips, warranty registration, and recommended cleaning products — are available on the Shaw Floors Carpet Care page. Your local Shaw Flooring Network retailer can also point you in the right direction for product-specific guidance.
Where can I learn more about carpet tile options?
Carpet tile is primarily available through Shaw's commercial and contract flooring brands. For residential or commercial carpet tile options, visit Philadelphia Commercial, Shaw Contract, or Patcraft — all part of the Shaw family of brands.
How do I find the warranty for my carpet?
Full warranty details for Shaw carpet products are available on the Shaw Floors warranty page. If you need your warranty emailed or mailed to you directly, make note of your carpet's style name and installation date and reach out to the Shaw customer care team. For easy access down the road, be sure to register your warranty after installation.
Hardwood
Is your hardwood flooring responsibly sourced?
Yes. Shaw Industries maintains a responsible wood procurement policy to ensure all hardwood and hardwood products originate from sustainable, ethical sources.
What is the difference between solid and engineered hardwood flooring?
Solid hardwood is cut from a single piece of wood and may expand or contract with humidity changes. Engineered hardwood uses multiple cross-layered wood plies, making it more dimensionally stable and suitable for below-grade installations like basements — though neither type is recommended for bathrooms or rooms with heavy daily moisture exposure.
Can hardwood flooring be installed over an existing floor?
Yes. Hardwood flooring can be installed over concrete, plywood, OSB, or existing wood floors. For concrete subfloors, engineered hardwood is the better choice due to its structural stability.
What is the best way to clean hardwood floors?
Regular sweeping, dusting, or vacuuming with a hard floor attachment keeps hardwood floors looking their best. For spills, blot immediately with a soft cloth. For deeper cleaning, use Shaw's R2X Hard Surfaces Flooring Cleaner, available through your local Shaw Flooring Network retailer.
What is the difference between solid and engineered hardwood flooring?
Solid hardwood is cut from a single piece of natural wood, giving it a classic, authentic feel and the ability to be sanded and refinished multiple times over its lifetime. The tradeoff is that it can be more sensitive to humidity and temperature changes, which may cause minor expansion or contraction over time. Engineered hardwood combines a real wood veneer surface with a stable plywood or fiberboard core, making it more resistant to moisture and temperature fluctuations — and a better fit for spaces like basements or rooms over radiant heating.
Does hardwood flooring add value to a home?
Yes — and significantly so. Hardwood flooring is widely regarded as a premium home feature that appeals to buyers and increases resale value. Its combination of timeless good looks, long-term durability, and easy maintenance makes it one of the most sought-after flooring types on the market, often giving homes a competitive edge when it comes time to sell.
Where can I find care and maintenance guides for my hardwood floors?
Detailed care information for every Shaw hardwood flooring product is available in the Care & Warranties section of the Shaw Floors website. If you have a question that isn't covered in the care guides, your local Shaw Flooring Network retailer is always available to help with product-specific advice.
Can I use a steam mop on hardwood or laminate flooring?
No — steam mops should never be used on hardwood or laminate flooring. The intense heat and moisture can penetrate the surface, causing warping, swelling, and long-term damage that may void your warranty. For safe and effective cleaning, always use a cleaner specifically formulated for hardwood floors, such as Shaw's R2X Hard Surfaces Flooring Cleaner, and follow the care guide for your specific product.
Luxury Vinyl
What is the difference between luxury vinyl plank and luxury vinyl tile?
Luxury vinyl plank (LVP) is designed to replicate the look and texture of real hardwood, right down to the grain and surface detailing. Luxury vinyl tile (LVT) mimics the appearance of stone or ceramic tile. Both deliver the beauty of natural materials combined with the durability and waterproof performance vinyl is known for.
Is luxury vinyl flooring always waterproof?
Not all luxury vinyl flooring is created equal. Shaw's Floorté and Floorté Pro collections with LifeGuard core, along with COREtec — the original 100% waterproof luxury vinyl — offer full waterproof protection. Always look for products specifically labeled as 100% waterproof if that's a priority for your space.
Is luxury vinyl flooring a good choice for families with kids and pets?
It's one of the best. Luxury vinyl flooring is 100% waterproof, stain and scuff resistant, extremely durable, and budget-friendly — all while delivering the look of real hardwood or natural tile. It's built for real life, making it a top choice for active households.
Can luxury vinyl flooring be installed over an existing subfloor?
Yes. Shaw Floors and COREtec luxury vinyl can be installed over most existing subfloors using either a floating floor or direct glue method — making it a practical, low-disruption option for renovation projects.
How do I clean luxury vinyl flooring?
Luxury vinyl is one of the easiest flooring types to maintain. Sweep regularly to remove loose dirt and debris, and wipe up spills as soon as they happen. For a deeper clean, use Shaw's R2X Hard Surfaces Flooring Cleaner, available through your nearest Shaw Flooring Network retailer.
Do SFN stores offer flooring installation services?
Yes. Shaw Flooring Network retailers provide full-service support, including in-home measurement and professional installation, so you're covered from start to finish.
Found in the resilient category, luxury vinyl tile flooring looks and feels just like stone or ceramic tile, from the natural color choices to the surface texture. Luxury vinyl planks are engineered to look like wood planks in everything from color to species. To give the planks the look of real wood, surface textures oftentimes include the look of scraping and embossing. Luxury vinyl planks can also be installed like hardwood flooring, creating stunning patterns such as super trendy herringbone pattern, for a sophisticated and beautiful look.
Shaw Floor’s Floorté and Floorté Pro luxury vinyl flooring with our LifeGuard core are both 100% waterproof. Our COREtec flooring is the original 100% waterproof flooring that has revolutionized the luxury vinyl category. If you’re looking for 100% waterproof flooring, visit this section: waterproof
Durable, 100% waterproof, stain and scuff resistant plus budget-friendly and available in both tile/stone and wood looks, luxury vinyl flooring is an excellent choice for homes with both children and pets. You get the gorgeous look and feel of either hardwood flooring or natural tile without the hefty price point or other limitations. Luxury vinyl flooring provides a beautiful, strong, and durable foundation for your family and pets to live and thrive!
Yes! You can install our Shaw Floors or COREtec 100% waterproof luxury vinyl tile and plank flooring over many existing subfloors. Our resilient flooring comes with either VersaLock™ Floating Floor or Direct Glue Dry Back, which can both be installed over an existing subfloor. For installation tips from Shaw Floors visit here
We all have busy lives, so it’s important that we have an easy care and maintenance routine for our resilient flooring. Fortunately, daily cleaning is a cinch with Shaw Floors and COREtec luxury vinyl flooring. Sweep your floors regularly to remove loose dirt and grit. While our flooring is 100% waterproof, it’s still recommended to wipe away any spills or liquid messes as soon as they happen. When you’re looking for a deeper clean, use Shaw Floors R2X Hard Surfaces Flooring Cleaner; contact a Shaw Flooring Network Dealer to purchase.
Tile & Stone
What is the difference between porcelain and ceramic tile?
All porcelain is a type of ceramic, but not all ceramic is porcelain. Porcelain is fired at a higher temperature, making it significantly denser, harder, and more resistant to moisture — ideal for outdoor use and wet areas. Ceramic tile offers more color variety, is generally easier to cut and install, and tends to be more budget-friendly.
How durable is tile and stone flooring?
Tile and stone flooring is among the most durable flooring options you can choose. Shaw Floors tile and stone is resistant to stains, scratches, bacteria, and odors — built to last a lifetime even in the busiest households.
Can tile flooring be used with underfloor heating systems?
Tile and stone are actually the ideal flooring types for underfloor heating. They conduct and retain heat exceptionally well, helping to warm any room efficiently. For added comfort underfoot, simply layer with a soft area rug.
What brands are available at Shaw Flooring Network stores?
SFN retailers carry exclusive products from Shaw Floors, COREtec, Anderson Tuftex, and Philadelphia Commercial — brands known for quality, durability, and innovation.