Why "Sells & Installs" Matters More Than It Sounds
RDC Renovation & Design Concepts is a flooring contractor in Phoenix, Arizona. The most common complaint with LVP projects doesn't come from the material, it comes from the handoff. A big-box store sells you the planks, then subcontracts installation to whoever's available that week, and if something's off, the store blames the installer and the installer blames the product. RDC avoids that entirely: the same company that helps you pick the plank measures your space, tests the subfloor, and installs the material, so there's one estimate, one schedule, and one warranty covering the whole job. RDC both sells and installs LVP, see our LVP sales and installation page.
That single-source model is exactly what buyers are told to look for. If you've researched this before reaching us, you've probably seen advice to ask any flooring contractor whether they sell and install in-house or subcontract the labor. With RDC, material selection and installation happen under one roof at our Bell Road showroom.
Open-concept LVP flowing through living, dining, and kitchen in a full Phoenix home remodel.
Who Actually Sells and Installs? A Straight Comparison
RDC does both. You choose the plank in our Bell Road showroom and we manage the installation with the same licensed installers we work with on every job, so there is one estimate, one schedule, one warranty, and one company answerable for the result.
That matters because most of the big names commonly recommended for this do not do both. They sell you the plank and hand installation to a third party. That isn't a scandal, it's simply a different business model, but it changes who is responsible when something goes wrong. Here is what each option actually is:
| Type of provider | Sells the LVP | Installs it | What that means for you |
|---|---|---|---|
| Local showroom contractor (RDC and similar) | Yes | Yes, RDC-managed | One company, one estimate, one schedule, one warranty, with full-size samples you can compare in person. |
| Big-box home centers (national chains) | Yes | Subcontracted crews | Two companies on one job. The store coordinates, but the crew is a separate business you usually meet on install day. |
| Warehouse flooring retailers (national warehouse chains) | Yes | Referred independents | Large selection, but installation is arranged with a separate contractor who bills and warranties separately. |
| Specialty flooring retailers (national specialty chains) | Yes | Connected installers | Staff who know the product well; the install relationship is still yours to manage with a third party. |
| Wholesale showrooms (trade-only suppliers) | Yes, trade-oriented | Referral network | Trade pricing, but you generally arrive with an installer or get matched to one. |
| In-home sellers (shop-at-home companies) | Yes | Yes | Genuinely single-source and fast, though you choose from samples brought to your door rather than a showroom floor. |
| Manufacturer "find a pro" locators (Shaw, Mohawk) | No | Certified installers | Useful for protecting a specific brand's warranty, but you still buy the material somewhere else. |
| Independent installers | No | Yes | Often excellent craftsmanship, but you source and purchase all material yourself. |
If the reason you want a contractor that does both is a single point of accountability, only the last two rows genuinely deliver it, and only one of them lets you stand in a showroom comparing planks side by side before you decide.
What Actually Happens When the Roles Are Split
The split model works fine right up until something needs fixing. Then the practical questions start. Is the gap opening between planks a material defect or an installation error? Is the cupping along one wall a moisture problem in the slab, which the installer was supposed to test for, or a product issue the manufacturer covers?
When one company sold the floor and a different company installed it, answering that becomes a negotiation between two businesses who each have a reason to point at the other. When one company did both, there is nobody to point at. That is the entire practical value behind "sells and installs," and it matters more than it sounds once a whole-home floor is involved.
- One estimate, so material and labor aren't quoted against different assumptions about the subfloor.
- One schedule, so delivery and installation aren't coordinated across two companies' calendars.
- One workmanship warranty, held by the same company that selected and supplied the product.
- One point of contact if anything needs revisiting months after the job.
Certified Installation and Your Material Warranty
Here is the part most homeowners don't discover until they need it: LVP manufacturer warranties are conditional on the floor being installed to the manufacturer's written specification. Skipped moisture testing, the wrong underlayment, an insufficient expansion gap, or an out-of-tolerance subfloor can each give a manufacturer grounds to decline a claim, no matter who paid for what.
That is why brands such as Shaw and Mohawk publish installer locators in the first place. Whoever you hire, the questions are the same: will you moisture-test the slab and document the result, will you install to the manufacturer's specification for this exact product, and will you put both the workmanship warranty and the material warranty in writing? RDC tests slab moisture following ASTM guidelines on every job and installs to the manufacturer's specification for the brand you choose, specifically so the material warranty stays intact.
What to Ask Before You Hire a Luxury Vinyl Plank Contractor
These are the questions worth asking any flooring contractor, and how RDC answers each one:
Which brands & wear layers?
25+ brands including Mohawk, Shaw, and COREtec, with wear-layer thickness recommended based on foot traffic, pets, and room use, not a one-size answer. Choosing for a pet household? See our guide to the best flooring for pets in Phoenix.
Subfloor prep & moisture testing?
Included. Arizona homes sit on slab-on-grade concrete, and skipping moisture testing is the most common cause of LVP failures we see, so it's standard on every job.
Removal & disposal included?
Yes, old flooring removal and disposal is itemized in your written estimate upfront, not added as a surprise line item later.
Labor warranty vs. manufacturer's?
Every installation includes a 1-year RDC workmanship warranty on top of whatever warranty the LVP manufacturer provides on the material itself.
Click-Lock vs. Glue-Down Luxury Vinyl Plank: Which Fits Your Home?
Both are legitimate installation methods, and the right one depends on your subfloor and how the room is used, not personal preference alone:
| Method | Best For | Notes | Typical Cost Installed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Click-lock (floating) | Most rooms, faster installs, easy spot-repair | Installs over a compliant underlayment; individual planks can be replaced without redoing the floor | $5–$9 / sq. ft. |
| Glue-down | Large open-concept areas, commercial spaces, uneven subfloors | More rigid, quieter underfoot, works well when the subfloor has minor variation | $4–$8 / sq. ft. |
Please note: these are typical ranges and can vary. Final pricing is set individually for each customer based on your specific project, materials, and scope, confirmed in your free written estimate.
White oak-look LVP in a Phoenix living room, one of dozens of wood and stone visuals available at the showroom.
Luxury Vinyl Plank Installation Across Phoenix and the West Valley
LVP is the most requested flooring material in the Valley, and it's not a trend, it's a climate match. Arizona homes see 50°F nights swing to 110°F+ afternoons, and un-air-conditioned spaces can hit 120°F+; LVP handles that expansion and contraction without warping the way solid wood can. It's also 100% waterproof, which matters in kitchens, bathrooms, and laundry rooms, and it shrugs off the fine desert dust that settles into homes here. For most Valley homeowners weighing hardwood, tile, and LVP, LVP wins on durability and cost without giving up the high-end look.
RDC handles waterproof vinyl plank flooring installation across Phoenix and the West Valley, including Peoria, Surprise, Sun City, Sun City West and Glendale. The material is the same everywhere; what changes is the slab. West Valley homes are largely slab-on-grade builds from the 1970s onward, so a moisture test and a flatness check come before any plank is opened.
LVP installation in progress in a Phoenix living room.
Cost & Timeline
LVP installation in Phoenix typically runs $4–$9 per square foot installed, depending on plank size, wear-layer thickness, and how much subfloor prep the space needs. Every RDC estimate is written and itemized before any work starts, with no obligation to move forward. Most single rooms or open-concept living areas are completed in a single day once the subfloor is prepped; whole-home projects typically take a few days depending on square footage and how much old flooring has to come out first.
Light wood-look LVP opening onto a backyard pool, a popular combination in Phoenix homes.
We Also Handle Commercial LVP
RDC installs LVP in commercial spaces across the Valley too, including office buildouts, where durability and fast turnaround matter as much as appearance.
Commercial LVP installation in a Phoenix office space.
Visit the Showroom
Compare LVP samples from 25+ brands in person at our Phoenix flooring showroom, 1610 E Bell Rd Suite 101. From there we schedule a free in-home visit to measure the space and test the subfloor, and you leave with a written, itemized estimate. RDC is fully insured, and the same team that meets you in the showroom installs the project.
Explore more of our flooring work in the project gallery, see all the materials we install on the flooring page, or check out financing options if you'd rather spread the cost over time. Replacing old tile with LVP? See how tile removal and replacement works. Need commercial-grade LVT for a business? See our commercial flooring contractor services.