Chatham Park is reshaping Pittsboro — and Chatham County more broadly — faster than almost any development in the state. As tens of thousands of homes are projected to be built over the next two decades, a common question we hear from new buyers is: "The builder's standard flooring is fine, but what are my upgrade options?" Here's what we've learned working with Pittsboro new-construction clients.
What Builder-Grade LVP Actually Means
Most production builders in the Chatham Park area include a 12-mil wear layer LVP as the base flooring allowance. That's adequate for low-traffic spaces, but 12 mil is on the thin end for a busy family household. Kitchens and main living areas in an active home — kids, dogs, furniture movement — are better served by a 20–22 mil product. Upgrading wear layer thickness at the builder's flooring allowance can be surprisingly expensive through the builder's supplier; often it costs less to take the base allowance as a credit and contract independently.
The Post-Close Upgrade Path
We've done a significant number of "first-year upgrades" for Pittsboro homeowners who moved in, lived on the builder floor for 6–12 months, then decided to step up to a better product. The advantage of waiting is that you can see exactly which high-traffic zones are showing wear and which rooms you spend the most time in. The disadvantage is the disruption of moving furniture out of a fully settled home.
If you're pre-close and have the budget, upgrading before move-in is less disruptive and allows you to choose your plank before the paint and trim are finalized — so colorways can coordinate properly.
What to Ask Your Builder (And What to Bring to Us)
Ask for the spec sheet on the included LVP — specifically wear layer thickness in mils and the RH/temperature rating. Then bring that spec sheet to us and we'll show you the equivalent and the step-up options side by side. Seeing the difference between 12 mil and 22 mil in person is often the deciding moment for new Pittsboro homeowners.
Ready to Get Started?
Buying or building in Chatham County? Call <a href="tel:910-709-1097">(910) 709-1097</a>. We serve the entire Pittsboro area and can work around your builder's schedule.