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Get Ready for Your New Flooring

 

Naturally you are excited to have new flooring!  Here are a few steps to familiarize you with some things you can do to help to insure your installation goes smoothly.

 

Before your Installation Crew Arrives:

---All the furnishings of the rooms need to be removed.  Arrangements for handling some of the larger items can be made with your installation crew in advance if necessary.  Examples may include kitchen appliances, larger furniture items, bath fixtures (toilet/pedestal sinks).  There will likely be a separate charge for their service depending on your particular needs. 

---Accessory items (lamps, knick-knacks, china, etc), electronic items (televisions, computers, technology/office equipment, etc.) and over-size, delicate or irreplaceable items (pianos, pool tables, art/collectibles, antiques, etc.) will be your responsibility to handle or have moved by professionals. Linens will need to be removed from bedding if those items are to be moved. 

---Have a clear understanding of the services the installer will provide and be aware of those that you agree to handle.  Discuss with your Floor Trader representative or your contracted installer who will remove and dispose of the existing flooring and prepare/clean the subfloor as needed for the new flooring. 

---Before the installers arrive, complete other remodeling projects intended in the room such as painting or construction.  As careful as the installers may be, scuffs or marks on baseboards cannot be avoided completely due to the nature of the carpet backing and trimming tools used, especially on surfaces recently painted or varnished. 

---If old carpet is being removed, we encourage vacuuming the old carpet to reduce the possibility of airborne dust and dirt.  After the carpet and cushion are removed from a wood subfloor, remove or hammer down the staples, removing any tufts of old pad for a smooth surface. On a concrete subfloor, scrape any residual patches of pad/adhesive to achieve a smooth surface.

---This is your opportunity to address any stains or odors in the subfloor.  Finally sweep or vacuum the subfloor leaving the surface as clean as possible. It is best to have the temperature/humidity at a similar level to the occupied home. 

---All hardwood products need to be acclimated to their new environment for a period of time prior to installation so that the natural material can expand or condense prior to installation.  While not the exact conditions of your home, our warehouse will suffice for the most part however the installers may request bringing the material to your home in advance.  

During the installation:

---In roll goods, placement of seams is important.  Seams will ordinarily be placed in the least visible, least trafficked areas dictated by room configurations.  It is unreasonable to expect seams to be invisible.  

---There are many ways carpet can be installed on stairs.  The standard method is the "waterfall" method in which the carpet seems to "flow" and is attached at the notch where the back of the platform and the base of the riser connect.  If you would like a more tailored/contoured look, let the installers know in advance.  These are more time-consuming and will likely incur an additional charge.

---On "nailed-down" wood floors, the direction of the plank is usually determined by the subfloor joists.  For "floating" flooring (not attached to the substrait) or installation on a concrete slab, the "better" choice is often determined by the light sources or room(s) layout.  Let your installer know your preference.  Feel free to contact your installer or estimator with any specific details you want to confirm.

---When the baseboard needs to be removed/re-set to complete a tile/vinyl/hardwood flooring installation, marks and the rare breakage of a board, can occur.  Of course, the installers use caution and proceed with care, but don’t be surprised if some touch-up is needed.

---New, thicker flooring may prevent doors from swinging clear and free.  The installer will remove the doors and re-hang them if possible.  If the doors do not clear, you will need to arrange to have them trimmed.  The installers are not equipped for this.  You may require a qualified carpenter to shave or cut your doors down after installation.

---We ask you to provide an adequate supply of fresh air during installation.  Open windows and doors, use an exhaust fan, or operate the fan of your heating/air conditioning system.  Indoor humidity should be maintained between 45-65%.

---Safety First!  Flooring installers use a variety of tools and techniques that can make the work area hazardous. Be sure that children and pets are kept out of the work area. If you’re installing flooring in the kitchen, for example, plan to have food and drink available in another room so that entering the kitchen during work hours won’t be necessary.

After The Installation:

---No matter how conscientious installers are. installing new flooring will create a mess to some degree.  Typically, larger waste items are collected by your installer but they will not vacuum the new carpet or clean the surface of new hard-surface materials.  If possible, they will leave some carpet or vinyl pieces or partial boxes of material for you to store for that "just in case" emergency! 

---Prior to the completion of the installation, it’s important to walk the job site with the chief installer. This “walk thru” gives you an opportunity to ask questions and ultimately “sign off” on the overall job.

---Breathe easy.  That “new smell” may put a smile on your face, but may not make your lungs very happy temporarily.  While most flooring is now low on Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC), ventilation is still the order of the day. Materials used to make flooring, as well as the adhesives and glues used to install them, can emit odors for up to 72 hours. Open windows, turn on fans and ventilate the space.   

---New Carpet Sheds.  It’s a fact of life.  It's normal and will decrease after the first few vacuumings.  Relax!  The pile is NOT coming out.. only the loose ends that have gotten below the surface during the manufacturing/installation process.  You're simply vacuuming the loose fibers away. Your new carpet may also sprout. In other words, small loops or tufts may become visible after installation. Fret not. Just use scissors to trim the loose fibers to the consistent pile height.  As the years go by, wrinkles or ripples may appear as a normal part of use.  It may be necessary to re-stretch your carpet at that point.  Contact us or your installer.

---When moving furniture or appliances, don’t rely on furniture or appliance wheels and don’t drag your appliances over your hard-surface floor! Lay down a piece of thin plywood and move the appliance over the floor on the wood, or use furniture sliders made specifically for this purpose.

---Protect your hard-surface floor by covering the legs of furniture with felt protectors and avoid narrow "pizza cutter" casters on chairs.  Wide casters are better because they distribute the weight more evenly.  

The Floor Trader Showrooms are independently owned and operated. Prices, products and services provided may vary by location.

The Floor Trader Showrooms are independently owned and operated. Prices, products and services provided may vary by location.