Orlando & Central Florida Guide - Winter Garden • Windermere • Lake Nona • Kissimmee • Clermont • Lake Mary• Clermont

New flooring is one of the fastest ways to update the look and value of a home in Central Florida. Whether you live in Orlando, Winter Garden, Clermont, Lake Mary, Ocoee or Kissimmee, choosing the right material and installing it correctly is what separates a professional result from a long list of problems later.
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In this guide, we’ll walk through:

• The best flooring options for Orlando homes: ceramic/porcelain tile, vinyl plank (LVP/LVT), and laminate
• When it makes sense to install LVP over existing tile - and when that’s a bad idea
• What you need to know about self-leveling and floor flatness
• The difference between installing over concrete, wood subfloors, and second floors
• When to use plastic/vapor barrier and when a foam underlayment is enough

By the end, you’ll understand which flooring makes sense for your home and why preparation is more important than the material itself.

Get a free Flooring Installation estimate in Orlando today.

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Why Orlando Homes Need a Different Approach to Flooring

Orlando’s climate is beautiful, but tough on floors. In neighborhoods like MetroWest, Lake Nona, Windermere and Clermont, we constantly see the same issues:

• High humidity and moisture coming through concrete slabs
• Many homes built on slab foundations with no basement
• Temperature swings, strong sun through windows, and occasional movement in the structure

Because of that, when we choose a floor and an installation method, we always focus on three things:

1. Moisture resistance - so the floor doesn’t swell, cup, or separate
2. Subfloor flatness and stability - to protect the product and avoid noisy floors
3. Acoustic comfort, especially on second floor

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Option 1 - Tile (Ceramic & Porcelain): Ultra Durable for Wet Areas

Tile is still king in bathrooms, laundries, and very wet or high-traffic areas.

Why tile works so well in Orlando

• Highly water-resistant, perfect for bathrooms, laundry rooms, and covered outdoor areas
• Handles sand, pool water, and heavy cleaning extremely well
• Great for busy households with kids and pets

Installation must-knows

• The subfloor must be flat, without big humps or dips. Otherwise you get “lippage” (edges higher than others).
• On uneven concrete slabs, we often use self-leveling underlayment before setting tile.
• On a wood subfloor or second floor, we check deflection and usually install a proper cement board or tile underlayment first.

Tile is perfect when maximum durability is the priority. The trade-offs: it’s colder, harder on your feet, and installation is more labor-intensive and expensive.

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Option 2 - Luxury Vinyl Plank (LVP/LVT): The Orlando Favorite

Luxury vinyl plank has become the most popular choice in Orlando because it combines a wood look with excellent moisture resistance.

Why LVP is ideal for Central Florida

• Many quality products are water-resistant or fully waterproof, great for humid climates
• Warmer and softer underfoot than tile, and quieter as well
• Excellent for pets and kids
• Some systems use floating click-lock installation, which can be relatively fast

But the success of an LVP installation depends heavily on subfloor preparation.

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Can You Install LVP Over Existing Tile?

This is one of the most common questions we get from homeowners in Orlando, Lake Mary, Winter Garden and nearby areas.

Yes, you often can install LVP over tile, but only when:

• The tile is solid and well-bonded, with no loose or hollow pieces
• There are no active structural cracks running through the floor
• Grout lines aren’t too deep, or they are skim-coated to create a flatter surface
• The floor meets the flatness tolerance required by the manufacturer (no big humps or valleys)
• The final height will not create issues with doors, baseboards, stairs, or transitions

When you should NOT install LVP over tile:

• Loose, hollow, or debonding tile
• Large cracks or visible movement in the slab
• Big height changes between rooms that would create “trip” points
• The existing floor is so uneven that it would require excessive leveling material, in that case, removal is usually smarter

Before approving a project like this, our team always does a complete inspection of the existing floor, checking for hollow tile, movement, and areas that need leveling.

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Making the Floor Flat: Self-Leveler and Patching

No matter what material you choose, beautiful floors start with a flat subfloor.

Key points:

• Small imperfections can be corrected with patch compounds
• Larger dips or waves need self-leveling underlayment spread across the concrete
• The goal is not necessarily “perfectly level with a bubble level”, but to achieve the flatness specified by the flooring manufacturer so the system doesn’t flex, click joints don’t fail, and planks don’t move
• Skipping this step is one of the top reasons for:
  • Floors that creak or pop
  • Planks that separate at the joints
  • Premature wear or failure of the click system

Our process always includes checking flatness and correcting problems before any planks are laid.

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Installing Flooring Over Concrete Slabs in Orlando

Most homes in Orlando, especially in areas like Clermont, Gotha, Ocoee and Kissimmee, sit on a concrete slab. That raises two big questions:

1. Moisture migration up through the slab
2. Irregularities in the concrete

When to use plastic/vapor barrier

• For floating floors with a wood-based core (many laminates), we typically use a 6-mil plastic or an underlayment with integrated vapor barrier between the slab and the flooring.
• This protects the floor from ground moisture coming through the concrete, very common in Central Florida.
• For some 100% vinyl core LVP products, manufacturers may allow direct installation on concrete, but many still require a specific underlayment or moisture primer. We always follow the manufacturer’s installation guide.

When the concrete needs correction

• Active or large cracks are evaluated before installation.
• Small, stable hairline cracks can often be treated, but larger structural issues must be addressed first.
• We use self-leveler and concrete patch products as needed, and respect proper cure times before flooring goes down.

Get a free Flooring Installation estimate in Orlando today.

Click here to check Orlando Flooring Company: 7 Installation Mistakes Corner-Cutting Contractors Make

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Installing Flooring Over Wood Subfloors & Second Floors

On second floors or homes with wood subfloors (common in parts of Lake Mary, Winter Garden and some townhomes around MetroWest), different issues show up:

• Noise: footsteps upstairs can transmit directly to the space below without the right underlayment
• Squeaks: loose subfloor panels or nails can cause annoying sounds

Good practice includes:

• Re-screwing or fastening the subfloor anywhere there is movement to eliminate squeaks
• Installing an acoustic underlayment (foam, rubber, or cork designed for your flooring type) to reduce impact noise and increase comfort
• In second-floor bathrooms, paying extra attention to waterproofing transitions and sealing around tubs and showers

LVP and many modern laminates perform very well on second floors when you combine proper subfloor prep with a quality underlayment.

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Option 3 - Laminate Flooring: Wood Look, Lower Cost (With Some Caveats)

Modern laminate has improved a lot and can be a great value option in the right areas.

Pros

• Beautiful wood visuals with realistic texture
• Usually more budget-friendly than high-end LVP
• Comfortable and warm underfoot

Considerations in Orlando

• Many laminates use a wood-based core, which is more sensitive to water. Moisture management is critical.
• Not a good choice for high-risk wet zones like laundry rooms or bathrooms (unless using a specific water-resistant product and following the manufacturer’s limitations).
• Over concrete, laminate almost always needs a plastic vapor barrier plus underlayment.

When the budget allows, we typically recommend LVP for humid or high-risk areas and keep laminate for dry spaces such as bedrooms and offices, always with proper moisture protection.

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Quick Checklist Before You Choose Your New Floor

Before you sign off on a flooring project, ask yourself:

1. What is my subfloor? Concrete slab, wood subfloor, or existing tile?
2. Is there any visible moisture or history of leaks?
3. Has anyone checked the floor for flatness?
4. Is this on a second floor or above living space? If yes, noise matters.
5. What’s my lifestyle? Pets, kids, rental vs. primary residence.
6. Am I planning to sell in the next few years? Flooring has a huge impact on perceived value and appraisals.

If you’re in Orlando, Winter Garden, Clermont, Lake Mary or nearby, these questions will help you and your installer choose the right system for your specific house and subfloor.

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FAQ - Flooring Installation in Orlando

How long does a typical flooring installation take?
It depends on the size of the project, the condition of the subfloor, and whether we’re removing old flooring. A standard single-family home can range from a few days to a week or more, especially if we’re correcting the slab, replacing baseboards, or installing in multiple rooms.

Can I install new flooring myself to save money?
Technically yes, but in Orlando the biggest risk isn’t cutting boards, it’s ignoring moisture and flatness issues. Problems with subfloors often don’t show up on day one; they show up months later as movement, gaps, or swelling. A pro will test, prep, and protect your investment.

Do you handle demo and leveling as well?
Yes. At Allforliz we take care of removing old flooring, repairing and leveling the subfloor, installing underlayment, laying the new floor, and finishing baseboards and transitions. The idea is to deliver a complete, ready-to-enjoy result without surprises.

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Ready to Upgrade Your Floors in Orlando?

A great flooring project isn’t just about choosing the prettiest sample board. It’s about combining the right material with an installation that respects Orlando’s humidity, concrete slabs, subfloor conditions, and noise requirements.

If you’re thinking about replacing flooring in Orlando or Central Florida - from Windermere and Winter Garden to Clermont, Lake Mary, Kissimmee and surrounding areas - our team can:

• Inspect your existing tile, concrete, or wood subfloor
• Identify where self-leveler or patching is needed
• Recommend the best option - tile, LVP, or laminate - for each area of your home
• Deliver a clean, organized install with professional finishing

Click here to learn more about our Flooring Installation & Replacement services in Orlando.

And if you’re ready to look at numbers:

Get a free flooring estimate in Orlando today and see which option fits your home, timeline, and budget.

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‍‍Allforliz • Licensed & Insured • House Painting in Orlando & Central Florida