Patrick Dinehart

Content Writer for Really Cheap Floors

Patrick is the marketing director and product researcher for Really Cheap Floors.

Laminate Floor Care Essentials for Homes: What Actually Works (And What Ruins Your Floor)

Look, nobody wakes up excited to read about laminate floor care essentials for homes. I get it. But here's something that might actually shock you into paying attention: some "waterproof laminate" warranties only cover topical spills for up to 300 hours before the protection becomes questionable. That means the way you clean your floor today could either protect your warranty or quietly void it. So let's talk about what you're supposed to be doing, what most people are doing wrong, and how to ... Read more...

How to Actually Keep Your Engineered Wood Floors Looking New (Without Spending a Fortune)

There are a lot of things you have to consider when you decide to put engineered wood flooring in your home. One of the main things for you to consider is how you're going to clean it. Is there a specific process when it comes to cleaning engineered wood flooring compared to tile? The answer is yes. Here are 5 tips on how to clean engineered wood flooring to help you maintain it. Read more...

Budget-Friendly Laminate Flooring Install Guide: Get a Great Floor Without the Brutal Price Tag

If you've been putting off a flooring update because you assumed it would cost a fortune, here's a number that might change your mind: basic laminate materials cost between $1 and $4 per square foot, compared to $8 to $15 per square foot for solid hardwood. That's not a rounding error. That's a genuinely different ballpark. This budget-friendly install guide is going to walk you through every step with care, from picking the right flooring layout, to outlined the process to learn how to nail ... Read more...

Best Budget Laminate Floors for Homes in 2026: Real Deals, Real Quality

If you've been hunting for the best budget laminate floors for homes, here's something that should get your attention right away: budget-tier laminate flooring starts as low as $0.70 to $0.89 per square foot in 2026, meaning you can re-floor an entire room for less than most people spend on a single dinner out. That price point is real, it's available right now, and it's exactly the kind of flooring deal we've built our entire business around at Really Cheap Floors. When searching for the best ... Read more...

Are Engineered Hardwood Floors Sealed? Here's the Real Answer (2026)

If you're shopping for engineered hardwood floors, one of the most common questions we get is if engineered hardwood is sealed? The short answer is yes. Most engineered hardwood floors are factory sealed, meaning they arrive ready for use without the need for additional finishing on-site. In fact, most engineered hardwood floors come pre-sealed with multiple protective layers that guard against moisture, stains, and daily wear. Additionally, most engineered hardwood often comes ... Read more...

How to Choose the Right Core for Engineered Wood (This Hardwood Guide Will Save You Money)

If you're trying to figure out the right core for an engineered floor, you're already asking a smarter question than most people who walk into a flooring store. Here's something that should get your attention right away: standard MDF cores can absorb roughly 15 to 25% of their own weight in water after just 24 hours, with thickness swelling up to 8 to 10% in some cases. That single fact tells you why the core hiding underneath that pretty hardwood veneer matters just as much as the wood on top ... Read more...

How to Choose the Right Wear Layer for LVP: A Real-World Guide That Saves You Money

Knowing how to choose the right wear layer for LVP is the single most important decision you'll make when buying luxury vinyl plank flooring, and here's a fact that should stop you cold before you spend a dime: a product listed as 8mm total thickness may have only a 6 mil wear layer or as high as a 20 mil wear layer. Total thickness and wear-layer thickness are not the same thing. That means two floors sitting side by side in a showroom at similar prices could perform completely differently for ... Read more...

Compare Glue-Down vs Click-Lock Engineered Hardwood Floor Systems: Which One Is Right for You?

When you sit down to compare glue-down vs click-lock engineered wood floor systems, you quickly realize this isn't just a question of personal preference. New hardwood floor installations return approximately 118% of their cost at resale, which means getting the installation method right actually matters for your wallet long after the floor goes down. Choosing the wrong system for your subfloor, your budget, or your skill level is the kind of mistake that costs real money to fix. Overall ... Read more...

Best 2026 Floor Refresh Before/After Content for Faster Transformations and Lower Decision Risk

If you've been holding off on a floor refresh because you can't picture what the finished result will actually look like, you're not alone — and research backs that hesitation up hard: cramped, unclear layouts can reduce buyer confidence by up to 47%, which is exactly why 2026 floor refresh before/after content has become the single most powerful tool for faster transformations and lower decision risk when choosing new flooring. When you can see the room before and the room after, the decision ... Read more...

Latest Trends in Distressed Hardwood Flooring for 2026: The Best Styles, Finishes, and Picks We Love

If you've been watching the latest flooring trends, you already know things are moving fast — and wire-brushed European white oak in wide planks has become the #1 most-requested texture for 2026 residential interiors, which tells you just about everything you need to know about where the market is headed this year. Distressed hardwood flooring has been a crowd pleaser for decades, and it isn't slowing down — if anything, homeowners are leaning harder into the hand scraped, wire brushed, ... Read more...
Items 1-10 of 96