Hardwood Flooring in Tempe, AZ

Hardwood flooring in Tempe has to suit a city where more people rent than own. Census estimates put the owner-occupied rate at 42.3%, and about a quarter of residents moved within the past year. Tempe is home to the first and largest campus of Arizona State University, and the city is boxed in by its neighbors at just under 40 square miles, so growth now comes as infill and multifamily buildings. Whether you own a single condo, manage a few rentals or live in a house you have held for years, we help you pick wood that fits how the space will be used.

For landlords and investors

Rental floors take a beating from moving days, furniture dragging and pets. A wood floor can still make sense, because it can be refreshed instead of replaced. Between tenants, a screen and recoat lightly abrades the existing finish and adds a new coat, which removes surface scuffs and restores sheen in far less time than a full sand. It works only on floors with an intact polyurethane finish and no deep damage. We look at the floor first and tell you honestly whether a recoat will do the job or the boards need sanding.

Condos and stacked units

Tempe's density, about 4,521 people per square mile in 2020, means many wood floors here sit over someone else's ceiling. Most condo associations write rules about hard flooring, often requiring an underlayment with a minimum sound rating and limiting work hours. Get those rules in writing from your association or management company before choosing a product. Engineered hardwood floated over an approved acoustic underlayment is a common way to meet them, and it suits the concrete decks found in many buildings.

Owner homes on slab

Outside the apartment corridors, Tempe has plenty of single-family homes, and like most Arizona houses they rest on concrete slabs. Swapping carpet or tile for wood starts with moisture testing the slab and making it flat. Engineered flooring glued down or floated is our usual recommendation, because it handles the area's dry air with less shrinking and swelling than solid strips.

Picking a finish that hides wear

• Matte and satin sheens show fewer scratches than gloss
• Wire-brushed or textured surfaces disguise small dents and pet claw marks
• Mid-tone colors hide dust and sand better than very dark or very light floors
• Harder species such as hickory resist dents better than softer woods
• Felt pads under chairs and a mat at each entry add years to the finish

Desert heat, with a twist

Tempe's climate is hot desert, with about 8.80 inches of precipitation a year and a record of 119°F, but daily temperature swings are wider than in Phoenix. Inside, steady air conditioning keeps conditions more even. Tenants who switch the AC off for long breaks, such as a summer away from campus, let the unit heat up and dry out. Landlords can add a thermostat clause to the lease to protect wood floors.

Repairs without redoing the room

A pet stain, a water spot near the fridge or a gouge from a dropped weight does not mean the whole floor has to go. We cut out damaged boards, weave in matching ones and blend the finish.

Tempe is a short drive from our Scottsdale base. Call (480) 565-7673 or send photos for a free written estimate.