Elite Flooring in Oklahoma City: Hardwood Installation and Refinishing with On-Site Wood Species Selection
Elite Flooring is a hardwood-focused flooring contractor serving Oklahoma City and surrounding areas, operating as a full-service installation and refinishing shop rather than a showroom-only retailer. The company handles new hardwood installation, on-site finishing, and refinishing of existing floors, with the ability to source and match specific wood species on location before installation begins.
What Elite Flooring Actually Does
Elite Flooring specializes in hardwood rather than laminate or vinyl alternatives. The operation centers on two core services: installing new hardwood floors and refinishing existing ones. A distinguishing feature is on-site wood selection and matching, where customers can evaluate actual samples and color variations before committing to material. This matters in Oklahoma City's climate, where humidity swings can affect wood movement and finish durability, and where existing homes often have mixed wood tones that need careful matching.
Services and Pricing
New hardwood installation typically runs $8 to $15 per square foot in labor, depending on subfloor condition, wood species, and room layout complexity. Prices vary with wood choice: domestic red oak runs lower than engineered hardwoods or imported species like Brazilian cherry. Elite Flooring charges for an in-home estimate and subfloor assessment before quoting; this estimate fee may be credited toward the final job if you proceed.
Refinishing existing hardwood costs $4 to $10 per square foot in labor. This includes sanding, staining if requested, and polyurethane application. Refinishing turnaround is typically 5 to 10 days depending on cure time and room size.
Both new installation and refinishing include job-site finish options, allowing you to see stain and polyurethane samples on your actual subfloor or existing wood under your home's lighting before final application. This reduces the guesswork common to choosing finishes in showroom fluorescent light.
Verify current pricing by phone; material costs shift with lumber markets and supply.
How Elite Flooring Compares to Other Oklahoma City Hardwood Options
Oklahoma City has two broad categories of hardwood providers: big-box retailers with installation partnerships and independent hardwood contractors.
Lowe's and Home Depot in Oklahoma City offer hardwood installation through third-party contractors, with material costs typically $3 to $8 per square foot. Their advantage is convenience and a wide online catalog. The trade-off: you select from pre-displayed samples and colors, and installation quality depends on which contractor the store assigns. Warranty and finish consistency can be less controllable.
Local carpet and flooring retailers like Academy Carpet and Floors (multiple Oklahoma City locations) sell hardwood and handle installation in-house. Academy's pricing is comparable to Elite, and they maintain consistent installer training. However, Academy also carries laminate and vinyl heavily, so hardwood expertise may be split across the salesforce.
Elite Flooring's focus on hardwood alone and its on-site finish-selection process makes it the better fit if you want to evaluate wood color and sheen in your own home before finishing, or if your subfloor has complications (moisture, uneven framing, previous water damage) that demand specialist attention. Choose a big-box retailer if you want the lowest material cost and are comfortable with standard installation timelines. Choose Academy if you prefer a middle ground with local service and broader flooring options.
Who Elite Flooring Suits and Who It Does Not
Elite Flooring suits homeowners with solid hardwood preference, those refinishing existing floors, and anyone whose home has tricky subfloor issues like high humidity concerns or uneven joists common to older Oklahoma City houses. It also works well if you want to see and approve finish colors under your own lighting and humidity before sanding begins.
It does not suit budget-first shoppers looking for laminate or vinyl-plank alternatives, or those wanting a one-stop shop for multiple flooring types across different rooms. It also may not be the fastest option if you need flooring installed on an extremely tight timeline, though standard jobs typically fit a 2 to 4 week window.
What to Expect on Your First Visit
Elite Flooring typically begins with a phone consultation to discuss room dimensions, wood preference, and any existing floor condition. A technician then visits your home to assess subfloor moisture levels, structural support, and existing finishes (if refinishing). This assessment generates an estimate and a timeline.
If you approve, Elite schedules installation or sanding. For new hardwood, the subfloor is prepared, and wood is acclimated on-site for 48 to 72 hours. For refinishing, sanding takes 2 to 3 days, followed by stain and poly application in stages. You walk through the finish-selection process before sanding begins, not after.
Hours, Parking, and Logistics
Elite Flooring operates Monday through Friday, with job scheduling extending into Saturday for certain installations. Most work happens at your home, so parking is not a factor. Verify current hours and availability by contacting them directly, as scheduling can shift seasonally.
Lead time for new hardwood is typically 2 to 4 weeks from estimate approval. Refinishing turnaround is faster, often 7 to 10 days including cure time.
Elite Flooring's hardwood-only focus and on-site wood matching process address a real need in Oklahoma City, where older homes often have existing hardwood floors and newer builds want durable alternatives to engineered planks. The ability to evaluate finishes in your own space before installation eliminates a major source of buyer regret in hardwood projects.
