It is exciting to be in the final leg of your hardwood floor installation project. You may have taken weeks researching the various wood species and styles of hardwood to finally reach a decision of the hardwood you plan to look at and walk on for a lifetime. You have every right to feel excited that you are ready to schedule the installation. Before you do that, however, there are a few tips about hardwood floor installation that can help you have a pleasant experience and love the end result.
- Tip 1 – Have the hardwood flooring delivered at least three days prior to hardwood floor installation so that it can acclimate. Some products take longer than that, so be sure you follow the manufacturer guidelines. There is no maximum period of time, so feel free to get it far ahead of time if that works out better for you. The reason for acclimating hardwood is to avoid gaps, cupping, and other problems if it acclimates in place and shrinks or expands.
- Tip 2 – Discuss the project at length with your hardwood floor installation professional so you know exactly what they included in their quote. For example, do you need to remove the baseboard or will they do it, and will they handle preparing the subfloor or not? Be sure you are on the same page about whether an old flooring material needs to be removed first and who is responsible for doing so.
- Tip 3 – Be sure to discuss any special installation requests, such as diagonal installation, patterns, or tricky areas that could increase the estimate.
- Tip 4 – Consider a place where hardwood can be cut without creating mess in the work area. It should have power for the installation equipment and be protected from sun and weather.
- Tip 5 – Arrange to have children and pets cared for away from the hardwood floor installation site for their safety, as there are several dangerous tools in use.
If you have additional questions about hardwood floor installation, feel free to contact us at Complete Flooring Works. We are happy to discuss your project in depth so you know what to expect when we arrive at your Raleigh, North Carolina home.
