New floors before Thanksgiving? LVP timing and costs in Houston (2026)
Yes, if you book soon. Thanksgiving is Thursday, Nov. 26; aim to have the planks installed the week of Nov. 16, which means comparing quotes now and booking by about Nov. 6. A Houston installer typically needs 2–3 days for 1,000 sq ft of LVP, which costs about $4,400–$8,400 installed, or $4,900–$9,300 with old carpet torn out.
A week-by-week plan to Thanksgiving
Work back from the holiday and leave a buffer. Flooring makers ask installers to start only after the other trades are done (Karndean, COREtec), so if you are also painting, the painters go first.
| When | What to have done |
|---|---|
| Oct 26–30 | Rooms measured, two or three written quotes in hand. |
| By Nov 6 | Installer booked, start date in writing, and the plank you chose confirmed in stock (or a delivery date in writing). |
| Nov 9–13 | Painting finished, if you are painting too. |
| Nov 16–20 | Install week. About 2–3 working days for 1,000 sq ft. |
| Nov 21–25 | Buffer for a late delivery, trim touch-ups and moving furniture back. |
| Nov 26 | Thanksgiving. |
The 2–3 day figure is a Houston flooring company's own estimate for 1,000 sq ft of LVP (DG Floors). Tearing out tile is slower than pulling carpet, so ask the installer to add those days to the schedule.
What it costs, by how much floor you do
Installed prices in the Houston area, materials and labor together, by square feet of floor. "Ready" means the old floor is already gone or the slab is bare; "carpet out" includes tearing out and hauling away the old carpet.
| Sq ft | Ready | Carpet out |
|---|---|---|
| 300 | $1,300–2,500 | $1,450–2,800 |
| 600 | $2,600–5,000 | $2,900–5,500 |
| 1,000 | $4,400–8,400 | $4,900–9,300 |
| 1,200 | $5,200–10,100 | $5,800–11,100 |
| 1,600 | $7,000–13,400 | $7,800–14,800 |
What those areas usually are:
- 300 sq ft: a typical living or family room in a 2,000 sq ft home.
- 600 sq ft: the rooms guests walk through: living room, dining room and the hallway between them.
- 1,200 sq ft: roughly the whole downstairs of a 2,400 sq ft two-story home.
- 1,600 sq ft: everything in a 2,000 sq ft one-story home except the bathrooms and laundry.
Over old tile, the same 1,000 sq ft runs about $6,400–$12,000. Fourteen carpeted stairs add roughly $800–$1,500. All prices include quarter round at the walls; new baseboards cost more (our LVP installation cost guide has the extras).
Where the money goes
For 1,000 sq ft with the floor ready to go, the planks (including about 8% extra for cuts and 8.25% Houston sales tax) are about $2,300–$4,700. Installation, quarter round and transitions are about $2,000–$3,600. Tearing out carpet raises the labor side to about $2,500–$4,500; tearing out tile, to about $4,000–$7,200.
Install now, or wait for Black Friday?
Black Friday is Nov. 27, the day after Thanksgiving, so a holiday sale on planks only helps if you install after the holiday. The discount also touches only the materials, about half of the bill. As an example: if the planks for 1,000 sq ft were 20% off, you would save about $460–$940, while the $2,000–$3,600 of installation stays the same. If the goal is new floors for the guests, booking now matters more than the sale. If you will install after the holiday, see what a Black Friday plank sale saves on an installed Houston floor.
Three things that can delay a fall install
- The plank is not in stock. Ask before you book. A special-order plank can push the start date back, so get the delivery date in writing.
- The slab is too wet. If your home is on a concrete slab, as many Houston homes are, the plank maker sets a moisture limit for it. COREtec allows up to 8 lbs (calcium chloride test) or 90% relative humidity; Karndean's limit is 8 lbs or 95%. Above that, the installer needs a moisture barrier or remediation, which adds cost and time. Ask whether testing is included.
- Other work is not finished. Painting, drywall or cabinet work should be done before the floor goes in. Rigid-core planks often need no long acclimation: COREtec says none is required, and Karndean says residential installs generally need none when the planks are already kept at 65–85°F. Check your plank's own instructions.
What to ask in the quote
- How many square feet did you measure, and how much extra for cuts?
- Is the plank in stock? If not, what is the delivery date?
- What is the start date, and how many working days will it take?
- Is tear-out and haul-away included? Quarter round or new baseboards?
- Who moves furniture and appliances, and is that extra?
- Is slab moisture testing included, and what happens if it fails?
Already have a quote? Quote Check compares it with a fair range for your home. To see the price for your own floor plan, enter your address: Homestimo reads your home's size and stories from county records. For tight holiday timelines, our guide to rushed holiday quotes covers the red flags.
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Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to install LVP in a house?
About 2 to 3 working days for 1,000 sq ft, according to a Houston flooring company; tearing out tile or leveling a slab adds time.
How much does it cost to put LVP in a living room in Houston?
About $1,300 to $2,500 for a 300 sq ft living room with the floor ready, or $1,450 to $2,800 if old carpet is torn out first (2026 planning range, materials and labor).
Is it too late to get new floors before Thanksgiving?
Not if you book by early November. Aim to install the week of Nov. 16 to leave a few days of buffer before Thursday, Nov. 26.
Do I need to let vinyl plank flooring acclimate?
Often not for rigid-core LVP: COREtec says acclimation is not required, and Karndean says residential installs generally need none at 65 to 85°F. Follow the instructions for your specific plank.
Should I paint or install floors first?
Paint first. Flooring makers ask installers to start after the other trades have finished.
Planning ranges for the Houston area from the Homestimo estimate engine (mid-range LVP with about 8% waste and 8.25% sales tax, installation, quarter round and transitions), October 2026; they match our Houston LVP cost guide. Material and labor shares are estimates. Install time from DG Floors (Houston); slab moisture and acclimation from the COREtec and Karndean installation guides. The Black Friday example is an illustration, not a quoted sale. Not contractor quotes or an on-site inspection; your floor, slab and plank choice change the price.