Murray sits right in the middle of the Salt Lake Valley, between Midvale and Millcreek, and the homes here reflect that central, established character. You’ve got post-war bungalows near the old downtown, mid-century ranches scattered throughout, and 1980s-90s builds filling in the gaps. That mix of eras means Murray flooring projects come with a wider range of challenges than most cities along the Wasatch Front.
Murray at a Glance
With just over 50,000 residents, Murray is anchored by the Fashion Place Mall area, Intermountain Medical Center, and a walkable downtown that’s been quietly improving.
You’ll find 1940s and 1950s homes near Murray Park and west of State Street. The east side trends newer, 1970s to 1990s, with some infill construction throughout. Property values are solid but not inflated, which means you want your flooring investment to be smart, not extravagant.
Best Flooring Options for Murray Homes
Luxury Vinyl Plank (LVP)
LVP is the workhorse choice for Murray renovations, and for good reason. In a city full of older homes with imperfect subfloors, LVP is forgiving. An SPC-core vinyl plank can float over minor subfloor irregularities that would cause problems with hardwood or tile.
For a typical Murray home, expect to pay $5-10 per square foot installed, depending on wear layer thickness and brand. We recommend a minimum 20-mil wear layer for main living areas.
LVP is also the clear winner for Murray basements. Older homes here often have basements that were finished (or half-finished) decades ago, and moisture is always a concern with aging foundation walls. LVP doesn’t care. It’s 100% waterproof and installs directly over concrete. More on that in our basement flooring guide.
Engineered Hardwood
If you want the warmth of real wood, and your subfloor is in decent shape, engineered hardwood is a great fit for Murray’s main-level living areas. The layered construction handles Utah’s dry winters far better than solid hardwood: the National Wood Flooring Association specifically recommends engineered over solid in low-humidity climates, and it gives older homes a premium feel without the premium headaches.
Installed cost runs $8-14 per square foot in the Salt Lake metro. For Murray homes, this makes sense on the main level and sometimes the upper floor, but skip it for the basement.
For a full comparison, check out our hardwood vs. LVP guide.
Laminate
Laminate is worth considering if you’re flooring a large area on a budget, bedrooms and hallways, specifically. Modern laminate looks surprisingly good, and at $4-8 per square foot installed, it stretches your dollar. Just keep it away from kitchens, bathrooms, and basements where water is a factor.
Murray-Specific Considerations
Older Subfloors Need Attention
This is the big one. A 1950s Murray home doesn’t have the same subfloor as a 2015 Daybreak build. You might be dealing with original hardwood subfloors, plywood that’s seen better days, or concrete in the basement that was never properly sealed.
Before you pick your flooring material, you need to know what’s underneath. Uneven subfloors cause clicking, gapping, and premature wear in floating floors. Moisture in concrete slabs can destroy anything that isn’t waterproof.
A proper subfloor assessment is step one, and it’s something we do during every in-home consultation. No guessing.
Basement Moisture in Older Homes
Murray basements, especially in pre-1980 homes, are notorious for seasonal moisture. The water table along the Jordan River corridor is higher than many homeowners realize. Even if you’ve never had a visible leak, moisture vapor can migrate through concrete year-round.
Stick with SPC-core LVP for these spaces. It won’t absorb moisture, it won’t grow mold, and if the worst happens, individual planks can be pulled and replaced.
Renovating Without Over-Improving
Here’s something we talk about a lot with Murray homeowners: matching your flooring investment to your neighborhood. A $15/sq ft hardwood install in a home surrounded by $350K properties doesn’t make financial sense. You’ll never recoup that cost at resale.
Murray’s sweet spot is usually in the $6-10/sq ft range for main living areas. Understanding what flooring does for home value helps calibrate that investment. That gets you a quality LVP or a mid-range engineered hardwood that looks great, performs well in Utah’s climate, and doesn’t over-capitalize your home.
For more on how flooring affects home value, see our flooring cost guide for the Salt Lake area.
What Murray Homeowners Are Choosing
The trend we’re seeing in Murray right now is pretty consistent: LVP on the main level and basement, with engineered hardwood as an upgrade for open-concept living areas.
Homeowners near Fashion Place and the east side of Murray tend to lean toward engineered hardwood, their homes and property values support it. West of State Street and in the older neighborhoods, LVP dominates because it solves the most problems for the best price.
Lighter tones are popular across the board. light oak and blonde wood-looks brighten up older homes that can feel dark, especially mid-century ranches with smaller windows. Wider planks (7 inches and up) are the standard now and make smaller rooms feel more spacious.
One thing we hear constantly: Murray homeowners wish they’d replaced their carpet sooner. Utah’s dry climate is hard enough on flooring, start with the right material and you’ll get years of worry-free performance.
Ready to See Your Options at Home?
We’ll bring curated flooring samples to your Murray home and help you choose the right material for every room, basements, subfloor challenges, and all. No showroom trip, no pressure, no guessing.