A floor in a mountain home works harder than a floor in town. It takes snowmelt and grit all winter, sun through big windows all summer and dogs coming in off the trail. In a second home, it also sits through long stretches with the heat turned down. Choosing the right floor matters as much as installing it well.
Swiftwater Houseworks installs hardwood, luxury vinyl plank and tile (LVP/LVT), laminate and tile across Cle Elum and Kittitas County. We help you choose the type and brand, order what your job needs and install it with our own crew, quoted as one job.
The floors we install
- Hardwood. Solid and engineered. Warm, real and long-lasting, and the floor that needs the most respect for moisture. More on our hardwood floors page.
- LVP and LVT. Waterproof planks and tiles that are softer and quieter underfoot. A strong pick for entries, bathrooms, basements and rentals.
- Laminate. A hard, scratch-resistant surface with a convincing wood look. Better with spills than it used to be, but not waterproof the way vinyl is. Compare the two on our laminate floors page.
- Tile. The toughest answer for mudrooms, entries, laundry rooms and bathrooms, where water and grit land first.
Choosing a floor for a mountain home
Moisture. Wet boots, wet dogs and the path in from the hot tub all bring water inside. By the doors, tile and LVP handle standing water best. Hardwood and most laminate want water wiped up, not left to sit.
Temperature swings. Winter air is dry with the heat running, and a second home may sit cold for weeks, then warm up fast when you arrive. Wood moves with humidity, and engineered hardwood moves less than solid. Many vinyl floors list a temperature range, so check it if you turn the heat way down while you’re away.
Dogs. Claws scratch every floor eventually. Matte finishes, textured surfaces and a busy grain hide wear far better than a glossy, smooth floor.
Rentals. Guests aren’t as careful as owners. Pick something durable, easy to clean and easy to repair, and keep a box of spare planks so one damaged board doesn’t mean a whole new floor.
Brandon & his team are fantastic. The crew is cheerful & personable. Many homes in our neighborhood use Swiftwater Earthworks for jobs large & small.
The prep nobody sees
Most of a floor’s life is decided before the first plank goes down. The old carpet or vinyl comes up. The subfloor gets checked to make sure it’s flat, solid and dry. Squeaks get fixed while they can still be reached. Floating floors need a flat base and room to expand at the walls, hidden under the baseboard. Skip any of that and even a well-made floor will gap, buckle or squeak.
Older homes and bigger projects
Older houses bring their own puzzles, like uneven subfloors and new boards meeting original ones. If that sounds like your place, read about hardwood flooring in Roslyn. If the new floor is part of a bigger refresh with paint, trim and fixtures, see small remodels.
Tell us which rooms you’re redoing and how they get used. Ask for a free quote or call 509-260-3659.
