How can you get ready and prepare yourself for the new flooring you are going to install?
Careful considerations need to be taken into account while choosing the flooring for your home. Flooring is important and cannot be neglected; it needs to be perfect to suit your lifestyle, preferences and needs. After reaching a decision to get a particular flooring, you will need to select and hire a contractor to replace or install the flooring in your home. Different flooring companies have different specialties; some specialize in laminate flooring while some have plenty of experience with vinyl. There are some contractors who specialize in wooden floorings and there are some companies which are general and can install any type of flooring. The general contractor will have a team of experienced professionals or they may subcontract your work to a specialist contractor. It does not matter which one should you select but your decision must be based on the experience and similar type of work that particular contractor has done before and also the company you hire, must have excellent reviews from the customers. Installation or replacement of flooring is long, tiring and difficult job, so you should be very careful who do you want to work with. You can reach out to other satisfied customers from the company and ask about their experiences with the company. You also need to sit with your contractor and go over the entire project in detail, to learn about the details regarding the project, along with important milestones, deadlines and final completion of the entire flooring project.
Read the complete article to learn more about how to make preparations for the installation of new flooring in your home!
Different Floors Need Different Prep Work
Flooring types all do the same basic thing, but the methods for laying them are different. Some are nailed, some are glued, and some come with the glue attached. Some should have a vapor barrier or padding laid beneath them, while others can go down right against the subfloor. Each type requires its own special preparation steps. The type of subfloor can also change the requirements for laying the floor.
That said, there is still a basic set of prep steps that applies to every type of flooring. This article goes over the basics that apply to most of them, including what you can do to get ready for a contractor.
First Clear the Deck
Before the contractor arrives –or you start laying your own DIY floor – you’ll have to clear the room completely. While it’s possible to work around a large or heavy piece of furniture or appliance by shifting it from one side of the room to the next, you’ll run a greater risk of marring the newly laid floor. You also risk damaging your piece of furniture or scratching your fridge. If you simply can’t remove an item, you’ll have to drape it with a dust cloth and be prepared to give it a thorough cleaning when the job is done.
Remove the Baseboards
With any type of flooring, you or the contractor must remove the baseboard trim from the walls. This allows you to leave a gap between the wall and the edge of the flooring, which is a must for all wooden flooring and a good idea even with synthetics. The gap allows for expansion and contraction of the flooring as the temperature and humidity change. Leaving a gap also makes it easier to get the first line of flooring started: You can snap a straight chalk line as a guide rather than trying to cut an uneven edge to match the inevitable unevenness of the wall. When the baseboards go back on later, they will hide the gap.
Do Your Research
A final note for do-it-yourselfers: If you have never laid this type of flooring before, get instructions before you start. Ask the supplier for advice, and look online for handyman websites that provide instruction.
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