How to Prepare for Professional Hardwood Floor Installation

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Each year, homeowners spend an average of $60,000 on home renovations and repairs. Why? Because they add value to the house and make it feel like a true home. If you’re considering upgrading your house, nothing adds more value and long-term luxury like installing hardwood floors. But like any home improvement project, you’ll need to get your house ready. It’s not as simple as making the hardwood floor installation appointment and letting the crew get to work. Without the right preparations in place, the project will take longer. The longer it takes, the more inconvenient it is for your family. Here are a few must-do tasks to take care of before your installation team arrives.

Move the Furniture Out

Your installation team can’t install new wood flooring when the room is full of furniture and decorations. Take a look around the house and remove any furniture in areas where the floor will get installed. Pick up area rugs and runners to give the crew full access to your original flooring materials. You’ll also want to remove any artwork, electronics, or decorations from the space. Hardwood installation is a dusty job. All that dust can coat your artwork and damage electronics. If you can’t remove them, cover them with drop cloths, towels, or sheets. If you need help moving furniture around the house, let your installation team know. They may be able to work around your furnishings to an extent or can find someone to help you move larger pieces out of the way.

Take the Doors Off the Hinges

Every contractor does whatever they can to protect your house during the installation process. That doesn’t mean accidents won’t happen. The most common damaged item during any hardwood floor installation appointment is the door into the room. Before the installation appointment, remove the doors and store them in a safe spot. This will reduce the risk of scratches and damage when the team hauls flooring materials and tools inside. If you’re worried about the trim or molding along the baseboards, don’t be. These need to get removed before laying wood flooring. Once they finish installing the floor, your team will reinstall the trim. You won’t have to worry about finding someone else to handle the job.

Protect Your House From Dust

As we mentioned, installing new flooring is a dusty process. Between cutting the floorboards, sanding, and finishing the planks, dust will build up. While your installation team will do what they can to contain their dust, you still need to protect the rest of the house. Hang plastic sheeting in doorways where the flooring isn’t getting replaced. Cover upholstered furniture in rooms you can’t seal off from dust. Scour the room for air vents and duct openings and cover these with plastic as well. Remember, dust can circulate through your HVAC system. If your vents aren’t protected, it can spread to every room in your house. Once the crew leaves, vacuum the house and fold up any protective sheeting. Take it outside to dispose of or shake it out for future use.

Secure Pets and Small Children

Flooring installation requires the use of heavy and sharp tools and equipment. Even though your contractor tries to watch the space throughout the installation appointment, they can’t be everywhere at once. This means small children and pets can get underfoot. At best, they’ll slow down the installation process. But at worst, they could get injured in a matter of seconds. Before the team arrives, make sure all pets and young children stay away from the area. Keep them occupied during the full installation process. If, for any reason, you can’t watch them, hire a sitter or take your children to daycare. You can always leave your pets at a good boarding kennel for a few days to keep them safe and out of the way. The less your contractor has to worry about keeping others safe, the faster the installation gets finished.

Clean the Floor Thoroughly

It may seem counterintuitive to clean the floor before replacing it, but it can speed things up for the installation team. If you have carpets, vacuum them after removing the furniture. If you have old hardwood, tile, or laminate flooring, vacuum the surface. Then, give it a good scrub with a mop to pick up any remaining dust and debris. The less dust you have from the installation site, the easier it will be to get your home back to normal.

Communicate with the Installation Team

Making an appointment is only the beginning. Communicate with your team and ask if there are any additional tasks they want you to take care of.If you plan on staying at the house during the installation, let them know. If you’re leaving for a few hours, make sure they know how to reach you. Questions pop up during installation and the sooner you can answer them, the faster they can get the job done.If your driveway is small or you have limited parking space, explain where they can park. The last thing you want to deal with is an upset HOA while your contractors are busy installing your new floor.

Schedule a Professional Hardwood Floor Installation

Every home is different and the steps you’ll need to prepare for your hardwood floor installation may not be the same as your neighbor. That’s why it’s important to hire an experienced pro. They’ll go through exactly what you need to do during the estimate.If you’re ready to upgrade your floors, drop us a line and schedule a consultation. We’ll help you find the perfect wood and stain for your home.  

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