You finally picked out your new flooring and now you’re getting ready for installation day. While you’re probably really looking forward to the finished product, it’s important to do a little preparation beforehand, no matter what type of flooring you’ve chosen. But, don’t fret, we have you covered with a list of great tips.
Know who’s doing what
You need to figure out if you’re installing the new flooring or if you’re having installers come out. If installers are coming out, then you’ll also need to figure out who is handling the removal of the old flooring and the furniture in the area. If you want to move this stuff, it will need to be done before the installer shows up. If you’d like the installer to handle these things, you should have this arranged in advance.
Check out the flooring height
Your new flooring might be higher than your old flooring, so it’s important to find out if this is true ahead of time. You’ll want to measure to see if the doors will still be able to shut. You’ll also want to see if any trim needs to be moved or removed before the flooring can go in. If the doors will stick because of the height of the new flooring, then you’ll need to arrange for someone to shave or saw off some of the bottoms of the doors to provide enough clearance.
Clean the room thoroughly
This job can get messy. Make sure to remove as much dust and dirt as you can prior to the installation; this way you’ll have less to deal with afterward. Remember to sweep/vacuum your old floor beforehand.
Remove breakables, decor and more
To help avoid anything accidentally getting broken, remove any items that are fragile before installation. It’s also a good idea to take down drapes and wall decor that you want to avoid getting dusty. Other items will need to be moved from the room to make it easy to install the flooring. Don’t forget to also clear out any closets that the flooring is going into as well.
Remember the appliances
If your flooring is going into a room with appliances, then you may need to have them unhooked and removed before installation. This can sometimes require shutting off the gas, electricity or water. If you’re not experienced with this, look into hiring someone to handle this for you to avoid potential issues.
Consider the room temperature
Sometimes there will be recommendations for the ideal temperature of installation. You can always check to see what the manufacturer or installer recommends.
Make a plan for your pets
It’s best that pets don’t have access to the room during installation. It can get very messy. You don’t want your pet getting into the dirt. It’s not good for them and it can spread the dust around. Also, keep in mind, if you have a pet that likes to escape any chance they get, it may be a good idea to have them in a safe area where they won’t try to get outside as the installer is coming and going.
Give kids something fun to do
You’ll want to keep kids out of the room while new flooring is being installed. As mentioned above, it can be a dusty endeavor. It won’t be a safe place for kids to be roaming. Plan to provide them with some fun activities to keep them entertained.
Take special consideration for how your flooring will be installed
If you’re getting rectangle or linear tile, it should run parallel to windows or in a narrow room to the longest wall. This is also true of hardwood flooring. Also, keep in mind that added stability is achieved by installing hardwood perpendicular to floor joists.
Make it easy to get in and out of the room
If an installer is coming in, you’ll want it to be easy for them to access the room. Make sure to remove anything that could be in their way getting in and out of the area.
Paint and wallpaper first
If you’re planning to paint or wallpaper the room as well, do this first. It’s best to do any remodeling before the new flooring is installed. Just keep some extra paint to touch up post-installation nicks.
These are just a few of the things you can do to help everything go smoothly. If you have any more questions about installation or flooring in general, please reach out to us at Carpets America. You can call us at 801-377-8002. We have a variety of options available, and our friendly staff is happy to assist you in finding the ideal choice to meet your needs. We also want to help the project go off without a hitch so that you can enjoy your refreshed space.