What questions to ask when replacing flooring?

Author: Dr. Karen Windler  |  Last update: Tuesday, September 5, 2023

11 Questions to Ask Before Hiring a Commercial Flooring Contractor
  • Are you properly insured? ...
  • How long have you been installing LVT and hardwood and can you provide references? ...
  • How much experience do you have with LVT and hardwood flooring installations since they require different subflooring preparation?

What questions should I ask a flooring company?

Questions to Ask When Getting a Flooring Estimate
  • Do I have to pay for the estimate? ...
  • How long will the installation take? ...
  • Are you insured? ...
  • Do you have worker's compensation? ...
  • Is your work under warranty? ...
  • How does the clean up process work? ...
  • Will I have to pay anything if you have to come back to fix something?

What do I need to know before replacing flooring?

4 Planning Tips to Follow Before Replacing Your Floor
  • Find Out About Your Current Flooring. According to the Minnesota Department of Health, vinyl and asphalt floors may contain abestos. ...
  • Consider Resale Value. ...
  • Know What to Expect From the Installers and Subcontractors. ...
  • Take Your Time.

What should a flooring estimate include?

A good estimate should also include any additional items such as moisture testing, subfloor considerations, existing floor conditions and artistry requirements that could affect the overall cost of the job.

What to look for after floor installation?

Seams and end joints are close together, with no gaps. The hardwood will meet the walls snugly, without any edges showing. The hardwood will show air bubbles, debris or dirt particles underneath the floor.

Buying Questions - The Questions to Answer Before Buying a New Floor

What time of year is best to install flooring?

In winter, cold and dry atmospheres cause potential cracking risks to your flooring, especially if they aren't properly acclimated. Spring and fall provide nice in-between weather and temperature conditions, not leaning toward any extremes, generating ideal installation circumstances.

What time of year should you get new flooring?

The spring and the fall are the most optimal seasons flooring projects.

What is the 60 30 10 rule flooring?

To simplify color choices, you'll use 60% of a dominant or primary color, 30% a secondary color, and 10% accent shade or color. The idea is to show you how to balance color in a room using your favorite colors.

Does the 60 30 10 rule include flooring?

Once you have your three colors, you need to distribute them according to the rule. The dominant color should cover the walls, the floor, and the large furniture pieces. The secondary color should cover the curtains, the rugs, the smaller furniture pieces, and some of the accessories.

What is considered expensive flooring?

5 Types of High-End Flooring
  • Natural Stone Flooring. A natural stone floor is one of the most opulent high-end flooring because of its naturally shiny appearance. ...
  • Distressed Hardwood Flooring. ...
  • Exotic Hardwood Floors. ...
  • Luxury Vinyl Plank. ...
  • Mosaic Ceramic Tile.

How much should I spend on new flooring?

Flooring installation can cost anywhere from $2 to $20 per square foot of flooring installed, or $1,000 to $10,000 for 500 square feet of flooring. The national average flooring installation cost is around $7 per square foot or $3,500 per 500 square feet, which includes the cost of both materials and labor.

How many days does it take to replace flooring?

On average, a two-person crew can lay 800 to 1,000 square feet of flooring per day. Depending on the size of the planks and size of the room, the project can take one to three days to complete. However, you need to account for removal as well as any prep work that may be needed.

What is better vinyl or laminate flooring?

While costs are similar, the value of premium vinyl far exceeds that of laminate based on quality and value. Unlike laminate, premium vinyl is durable and stable, resistant to moisture and climate, and is easy to install and maintain. Laminate is restricted to light traffic and low moisture applications.

What type of flooring do home buyers prefer?

You may have already guessed it, but the floor with the highest resale value is hardwood. Since hardwood is always in demand, it is an easy choice to up level your home.

What are the characteristics of a good flooring?

Characteristics of a Good Flooring
  • Initial cost.
  • Durability.
  • Hardness.
  • Smoothness.
  • Cleanliness.
  • Appearance.
  • Sound insulation.
  • Thermal insulation.

How thick should my flooring be?

Does thickness matter? Well, it depends. Typically, solid hardwood flooring is between 5/16 and ¾ inches thick. Those are pretty standard thicknesses that serve most needs.

What is the rule of 3 flooring?

A good rule of thumb is to stick with two or, at the most, three types of floors for your whole house. For example, you could choose a type of large tile for high-traffic, high-spill areas like the kitchen, foyer and dining room. Then you could use smaller tile in the bathrooms.

Does flooring need to be the same throughout the house?

There's nothing wrong with using the same flooring throughout your home. There's nothing wrong with using different floorings. But what you don't want to do is use two that are almost the same, but not quite.

How much waste do you account for flooring?

Hardwood, laminate and vinyl plank flooring

Hardwood, laminate and vinyl floor boards typically have a lower waste factor since these materials are not as fragile during installation like tile. It's therefore generally safe to plan for a 10%-15% waste factor on top of your measurements.

How many types of flooring is too much?

Having more than two different types of floors colliding with one another is confusing to the eyes and may make your space seem cluttered or mismatched. When making your design choices, do not exceed more than two different types of material per floor of your home.

Does floor have to be perfectly level for vinyl plank flooring?

No. Rigid vinyl planks like Sound-Tec, Studio 12, and Foundations float over minor subfloor imperfections. They mask slight subfloor unevenness. However, because of the precisely milled clip system, a flat substrate is recommended for support.

What is the dominant color?

Dominant color is achieved when one color serves as the focal point in a photo. The color expresses more intensity among other colors in the picture. This type of photo tends to instantly catch the attention of the viewer.

Can you put furniture in soon after getting new flooring?

Although it's best to wait for as much as possible, 2 to 3 days should be enough to put the furniture back in place safely. Keep in mind that you'll want to be extra careful to not scratch your new floors. so avoid sliding the furniture.

How much can new flooring increase home value?

For example, if your home is valued at $500,000, installing hardwood floors could increase its value by $15,000 to $25,000, providing a substantial return on investment. One of the reasons hardwood floors are so popular is that they are easy to care for.

Does new flooring increase property value?

So the short answer to “does new flooring increase home value?” is yes—if you're smart about your selections. The right upgrades also make your house move faster on the market. Follow these 5 pro tips to get the most out of this wise home investment.

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