The Floor Store is a full-service flooring product provider that serves residential and commercial clients throughout the Bay Area. The company, which has six Northern California locations, sells and installs a wide range of traditional flooring choices, including carpeting; area rugs; and hardwood, laminate and vinyl flooring.

According to Vice President Bret Lowder, The Floor Store also carries “one-of-a-kind, exotic and rare” imported wood and tile products that aren’t typically seen on the U.S. market. “Some are purchased from small quarries that big-box retailers can’t afford to do business with due to economies of scale.”

Mr. Lowder says The Floor Store prides itself on offering a level of customer service that its larger competitors can’t match, despite their heavy advertising. The company greets its customers with design and color specialists who can assemble entire interior packages that include flooring, paint recommendations and window treatment ideas. Shop-at-home programs are also available. The Floor Store’s Dublin showroom is divided into room-size segments, some as large as 20 by 20 feet. Instead of small swatches, customers can view full-size representations of hardwood, tile, carpet and stone. The company also provides custom “concept boards” that facilitate the design process.

Choose a flooring company that supplies its own labor, because it’ll be accountable for your project’s outcome. “Find a shop that has in-house installers,” says Bret Lowder, vice president of The Floor Store. “That allows you to control the overall experience and quality of the job.”

Mr. Lowder suggests choosing a local flooring company with a proven track record. Consider how long it’s been in business, its standing in the community and whether it has a local showroom where you can view products before you purchase them. “You don’t want to do business with a company that doesn’t have ‘brick and mortar’ in the community,” he says. “There are a lot of small operations that are just dabbling in the industry. They’re not truly committed.”

If you’re thinking of installing or upgrading flooring in your home, consider these popular options:

Hardwood: There’s a wide variety of woods and grains to choose from, such as oak, pine, maple, cherry and bamboo. Once you choose a wood, it can be stained any color, from a light natural hue to a deep, rich mahogany. A well-maintained hardwood floor can literally last a lifetime.

Laminate: Laminate flooring is designed to look like real wood, but it costs less and is easier to install and maintain. Some laminates are glued down, while others simply click together to create a “floating” floor.

Vinyl: Vinyl floor covering either comes in one large sheet or individual tiles. Sheets require special adhesive and will often produce at least one seam. Tiles typically offer easy, peel-and-stick installation.

Ceramic and stone: There’s an endless variety of ceramic and stone floor coverings available, but they’re difficult and time-consuming to install. They require a proper sub-floor and must be affixed with mortar. A ceramic or stone floor should be installed by an expert.

Carpeting: Wall-to-wall carpeting almost always has some kind of padding underneath it. Get the best quality padding you can afford; it’ll contribute more to the life of the carpet than the carpet itself.

Concrete: Concrete is a newer material for residential flooring that gives an industrial look to your décor. It’s ideal for areas that receive hard wear and can be painted or stained to improve its appearance. Concrete can even be permanently colored.

Q: How quickly can you install flooring?

A: Fast installation time is one of our strengths. All the products we offer are in stock, and we carry quite a bit of hardwood, tile, carpet and stone that’s usually available for next-day installation.

Q: What’s the difference between hardwood and laminates?

A: Hardwood is a 100 percent natural product, so it has quite a bit of value. Natural hardwood and stones accrue directly to the bottom-line appraisal value of your home. If you want simple maintenance, laminate is easier to care for and is more dent- and scratch-resistant, but you’ll sacrifice natural beauty.

Q: Do you have any Green flooring options?

A: Absolutely. Green flooring is any flooring that’s sustainable, eco-friendly, contains recycled content and is recyclable, leaves a small carbon footprint, or has low VOCs (volatile organic compounds). We stock every major manufacturer and style of Green flooring, including bamboo and cork. We also offer free, personalized, in-home Green flooring design appointments.

Q: I have a flooring project in mind. Is there anything I should bring to my design consultation?

A: Bring the room dimensions, fabric swatches, paint samples and all your ideas. Our design consultants will help you choose the right flooring for your lifestyle and budget.