Starting a new flooring installation project can be a major task, but putting in the extra effort to make sure you are prepared beforehand can help make the whole process a lot easier.
Proper preparation can affect nearly every aspect of the project, from the overall timeline and quality of the installation to how long your new flooring will last.
However, proper preparation is about more than just making sure that the project itself goes smoothly. It’s also about protecting your home and the furniture and other belongings you have in it.
Without preparation, your chances of having to deal with collateral damage are much higher, but as long as you do things the right way, you can prevent all potential damage and guarantee that your installers will be able to work as efficiently as possible.
Easily the most obvious reason that preparation is so important is for preventing delays.
Professional flooring installers can only access your flooring if the room is clear of all furniture and appliances. If you fail to do this ahead of time, it means that we’ll need to stop working to move everything for you, completely halting the installation process in its tracks and making it a lot less likely that we’ll be able to complete the project in your ideal timeline.
Preparation can also go a long way to protect the new flooring that you are installing.
Dust, moisture, and generally unclean conditions can all negatively affect new flooring materials during installation. Proper preparation helps guard against this, helping the new hardwood, vinyl, laminate flooring, or tile acclimate to the new environment properly and helping the material perform as it should long into the future.
Proper preparation should begin long before the installation team arrives. Before you start thinking about preparing for the physical installation itself, there are still a few essential things that you’ll want to take care of before you set a start date.
Finalizing your flooring choice, layout, and room transitions is a must for avoiding delays from last-minute changes. During this stage, we’ll confirm measurements, material availability, and the installation timeline for your home so that you can be absolutely sure that every detail will perfectly match your vision.
You also need to take time to review your installation agreement and timeline. You should familiarize yourself with the scope of the project, estimated timeline, and access requirements, so that you can plan your life around it. No one wants any unexpected surprises, and if you can plan your work schedule, potential childcare needs, and pet arrangements ahead of time, you’ll be a lot less stressed throughout the entire duration of the project.
It's time to break ground on your flooring installation project, but just how should you prepare the rooms in your home before your installers arrive?
Here’s what you need to know.
The most helpful and important thing that you can do to prepare your home for flooring installation is to clear your rooms of all furniture, decor, appliances, and anything else that might get in the way.
Even areas like closets and pantries, that often share flooring with the adjacent room, should be cleared and cleaned so that your installers have complete access to the floor without having to remove everything inside.
In many cases, our professional installers will handle removing old flooring. However, we may also need to remove or adjust things like baseboards, depending on the best type of flooring that you want to install.
Regardless of the specifics, you should double-check what we’ll handle ahead of time to help prevent any confusion or delays on installation day.
Rooms like kitchens and laundry rooms with lots of appliances often require extra planning. You should disconnect and move refrigerators, dishwashers, washing machines, dryers, and any other large appliances so that your flooring installers don’t have to waste time doing it during installation.
Installing new flooring often leads to minor changes in the height of the floor.
This can be a problem that causes interior doors not to open or close properly. The good news is that in most cases, these height changes are minimal, and so you can either remove and replace doors or simply sand or trim them down so that they have sufficient clearance.
You should also empty any closets in the installation area. This allows your installers to install the new flooring wall-to-wall, creating a cleaner and more consistent appearance throughout the space.
The everyday environmental conditions inside your home can also have a big effect on the installation process and long-term flooring performance.
Here are some key considerations:
Maintaining normal indoor temperature and humidity is essential for helping new flooring materials acclimate properly to your home.
This is especially true when installing hardwood flooring and certain vinyl flooring products, so you should keep your HVAC system running as usual to make sure that the new flooring acclimates to the normal environmental conditions in your home.
Flooring installation involves plenty of tools, materials, and heavy foot traffic, all of which don’t create an ideal environment for children and pets.
Though this may be one of the more challenging parts of preparation, do your best to plan a safe area for your children or pets to hang out during the installation process, as this will keep them out of harm's way and allow your installers to work without interruption.
Now that you know exactly how to prepare your home for your next flooring installation project, it’s time to talk about installation day with My Dad’s Flooring America.
Here’s what you should expect.
Once our installation team arrives, we’ll walk you through the entire process and address any final questions that you may have. This doesn’t normally take long, but it helps us ensure that we’re on the same page and that you know exactly what to expect before we start.
You should also be ready for the noise and dust that come with every flooring installation project. Our installation team will always do their best to contain everything inside the work area, but planning on limiting your own access to these areas during the process will be incredibly helpful.
Preparation doesn’t end once installation is complete. You should also prepare to take a few immediate steps after installation.
Certain flooring types require waiting periods before walking on them or moving furniture back into place, so you should do your best to adhere to these limits for the best long-term results.
Once installation is complete, you can review the finished work with our installation team. We handle cleanup as part of the installation, leaving your space ready for use after the recommended wait times.
Are you ready to transform your Douglassville home with new, beautiful flooring? Give us a call at (610) 385-3833, or contact us on our website.
Our friendly team of local flooring experts is always here to answer your questions, and we’ll happily discuss the ideas you have for your flooring installation project.
We even offer you recommendations, free in-home consultations and measurements, and samples of all your favorite flooring options, so that you have all the information you need to make the best choice for you and your home.
Nothing transforms the look and feel of a home quite like new flooring, so don’t push off your next project any longer. Contact My Dad’s Flooring America and take the first step toward getting the luxurious new flooring you deserve today
