What We Installed Most in 2024: Flooring and Countertops That Actually Last

Here's what we installed more than anything else in 2024—and why.

Flooring: GAIA Impala SPC Luxury Vinyl

This was our top seller by a wide margin.

GAIA Impala is a stone polymer composite (SPC) luxury vinyl with a 20 mil wear layer, built-in IXPE underlayment, and a ceramic bead finish that resists UV damage and staining. It's waterproof, clicks together with the Uniclic system, and carries a 50-year residential warranty.

But here's why clients actually chose it: it looks like real hardwood, handles moisture without warping, and installs clean.

Why Installation Quality Matters More Than the Product

You can buy the best flooring on the market and still end up with a floor that clicks, separates, or feels uneven underfoot. Six months after install, something feels off. The product didn't fail—the subfloor prep did.

Subfloor flatness is everything.

Before any plank goes down, we check for level. If the subfloor has dips or high spots, we address them—sometimes with self-leveling compound, sometimes with grinding or shimming. It takes longer. Most installers skip it. And that's why their floors develop problems.

The other thing clients care about more than they expect: transitions and elevation changes. Where the new floor meets existing tile in the bathroom. Where it steps down into a sunken living room. Where it hits the slider door threshold. These details make or break how the finished floor feels. Done wrong, you get awkward lips and visible height differences. Done right, it flows.

Countertops: Pure White Quartz with Undermount Sink

For countertops, pure white quartz dominated. Clean, bright, and nearly indestructible.

Quartz is engineered stone—ground quartz bound with resin. It doesn't need sealing like granite or marble. It doesn't stain from coffee or wine. And because it's harder and more consistent than natural stone, it's less likely to crack during transport and installation.

That last part matters more than people realize. Natural stone slabs—especially marble—are fragile. A hairline fracture during fabrication or a bad bump during install can crack a slab. With quartz, the risk drops significantly. That means fewer delays, fewer replacement costs, and more predictable jobs.

What Does a Real Countertop Job Actually Cost?

Here's a baseline for a single prefab slab (106" standard) with one sink cutout and a 4" backsplash—the minimum scope for a countertop replacement:

And that's before faucet, soap dispenser, or any plumbing beyond the sink.

Most average kitchens need 2–3 prefab slabs to cover all the counter space. So a typical full kitchen counter replacement with demo, new quartz, undermount sink, and basic backsplash runs $8,000–12,000 depending on layout and linear footage.

What drives the price higher: Full tile backsplash instead of the 4" slab lip. Counters wider than 25" (which require larger or custom slabs). Additional cutouts for cooktops or extra sinks. Edge profiles. The scope determines the price—not the rate.

The Sink Setup Everyone Wanted

Almost every countertop job this year included the same configuration:

This setup became our default recommendation because it works. The square sink maximizes usable space. The single-hole faucet keeps the counter clean. The built-in soap dispenser and disposal button reduce countertop clutter. It's a small thing, but clients notice the difference every day.

Why These Two Won

Both products share the same qualities: they look premium, they're durable, and they install predictably.

That last part is the contractor's perspective, but it benefits the client too. When materials behave consistently, jobs stay on schedule. Fewer surprises, fewer callbacks, fewer "we need to order another slab because this one cracked."

Soto Bay Construction · Oakland and the East Bay