What to Expect During Your Floor Installation

New flooring is more than just a change underfoot; it’s an opportunity to redefine a space, enhance aesthetics, and invest in your home’s future. The journey to this transformation isn’t just about the final product. It encapsulates the choices you make along the way, each step as integral as the next. What can you expect before, during, and after your flooring installation? Read on to get prepared!

The Path You’ve Paved

• Evaluate the Room: Before deciding on a particular type of flooring, assessing the room’s usage, light exposure, and existing décor is crucial. This helps in determining whether you need a durable floor like tile for high-traffic areas or something warmer like carpet for bedrooms.
• Set a Budget: Before diving into flooring choices, determining a budget ensures you stay within financial boundaries while getting the best value for your investment.
• Choose the Flooring: Before the first plank is laid or tile is set, you’ve sifted through countless options. The type of flooring chosen not only matches your aesthetic preference but also fits the functional needs of the space.
• Select the Contractor: Trusting someone with your home is a big deal. You’ve done your due diligence — researching, interviewing, and ultimately selecting a contractor who aligns with your vision and budget.

What to Expect: Before the Floor Installation

In order to prepare for your floor installation, you should:

1. Acclimate the Wood: If you’re installing hardwood flooring, it needs to be acclimated to your home’s temperature and humidity levels. This will prevent the wood from becoming damaged when it is installed and help it last longer. In order to do this, you will need to store the wood in an unused room for several days. 
2. Clean the Current Floor: Depending on the type of flooring you choose, your contractor may install the new product over the existing floor. As a result, in order to ensure the new floor does not contain old dust, mold, mildew, and allergens, you should thoroughly clean the current floor before the installation begins.
3. Remove Items From the Room: Although your contractor can rearrange and cover up your furniture, electronics, or appliances during the installation, it’s best to remove them from the room beforehand. You should also temporarily rehome breakable items to ensure nothing gets damaged. This can save you time and money on installation day.
4. Remove Doors: Your contractor can remove the doors before installation, but you may want to do this yourself in order to store them somewhere safe. You can easily remove all doors while still keeping the hinges in place.

What to Expect: During the Floor Installation

You should think about the following things to do during your flooring installation:

1. Offer Space for Waste: A floor installation can generate a great deal of waste, so in order to keep the project as organized as possible, it’s a good idea to create a space where your contractors can prepare the flooring and dispose of waste materials. Have garbage bins available to make waste disposal easier. 
2. Secure Pets: When your contractor arrives, be sure to keep your pets in a safe place so they do not become afraid because of the noise caused by the installation or harmed from particles flying in the air. 
3. Prepare for the Noise: Just as you should secure your pets during the installation, you should also prepare your family for the noise that the project will cause. Try to arrange your day so that you and your family are outside or in a part of your home that is far from the installation to minimize disruptions.
4. Anticipate the Mess: Installing new flooring, regardless of the type, often generates dust, debris, and general disarray. It’s wise to prepare by covering adjacent rooms with plastic sheeting, clearing pathways for contractors, and setting up a designated waste disposal area. Also, keep a vacuum and cleaning supplies on hand to manage the inevitable dust and stray particles.

What to Expect: After the Floor Installation

Some things you should think about doing when your installation is complete include:

1. Keep the Room Vacant: In order to allow adhesives on the new floor to dry, your contractor may ask that you keep the room empty for a short period of time after the installation. This can help prevent the floor from being dislodged.
2. Protect Floors From Scratches: When it’s time to put items back into the room after the installation, it’s a good idea to place rubber or felt pads at the bottom of furniture in order to prevent dents and scratches on the new floor. The more you can prevent furniture pieces from having direct contact with the floor, the better.
3. Beware of Discoloration From Rugs: Although throw rugs can help prevent scratches on your new flooring, you may want to avoid rugs with rubber backs because they may cause discoloration of the floor. Talk to your contractor to find out if these rugs will alter the color of the specific type of flooring you chose.

Embarking on a flooring installation journey is both exciting and transformative. While the road might have its challenges, being well-informed eases the path. As you step onto your newly installed floor, you’ll not only appreciate its aesthetic appeal but also the careful planning and decisions that led to its fruition. With every step in your home, be reminded of the value of preparation, trust in expertise, and the beauty of renewal.