Flooring Installation Checklist: What to Do While the Pros Work

New floors revitalize and transform a space. A solid flooring installation checklist from subfloor preparation through the first few days of shiny new floors can help you prepare for the beautiful floors to come. Floor type plays a role in the prep work, so note the differences in those first steps.

Flooring Installation Supplies

Download Checklist Here

Talk to your contractor about whether you need underlayment to repair an uneven subfloor or additional soundproofing. If you’re installing yourself, use a flooring calculator to determine how much flooring you need to purchase, including extra to account for corners or mistakes.

Supplies vary by the flooring type, but there are a select few tools and supplies that you’ll use no matter the flooring type, including:

• Level

• Tape measure

• Chalk line

As for specifics, you’ll need the following materials for each floor type:

Vinyl or Linoleum

• Flat bar

• Straight edge

• Adhesive trowel

• Floor roller

• Linoleum cutter or utility knife

Ceramic Tile

• Buckets

• Sponges

• Notched trowel

• Wet saw

• Spacers

• Grout float

• Nippers

• Tiles saw

Floating Wood

• Tapping block

• Spacers

• Pull bar

• Chop saw

• Jig saw

• Rubber mallet

• Floor scraper

Traditional Wood

• Drill and bits

• Nait set

• Pneumatic flooring nailer

• Chop saw

• Table saw

Pre-Flooring Installation Checklist

DIYing the prep work may save you some money. However, if you don’t want or have time to complete everything on this list, your local flooring contractor may offer a package that includes many of these tasks. Ask for an all-inclusive project quote if that sounds like you. 

• Remove breakables from the room

• Move furniture, appliances, and floor coverings

• Remove everything from the floor, including closets and storage areas 

• Disconnect electronics 

• Recheck the new floor height to ensure doors can easily open and close

• Prep the room for dust control by sealing off rooms that won’t need to be sanded before installation (wood floors only)

• Remove doors from the hinges

• Remove baseboards

• Remove door trim

• Remove the old flooring

• Check the condition of the subfloor and its hold on the floor joists

• Prep or repair the subfloor, if needed

• Vacuum and clean the floors 

• Keep the room at the correct temperature to properly acclimate flooring before installation

One of the most important things you can do in the preparation phase is address any issues with the subfloor. A poor subfloor can potentially void your new floors' warranty. Most homeowners don’t have the DIY skills to repair the subfloor, so talk to your contractor to make sure that’s included before the installation. 

During the Flooring Installation Checklist

There’s not a lot for you to do during installation. However, you should be available for support or last-minute decisions. 

• Have an adult on location who is authorized to make decisions

• Keep children and pets out of the work area

• Maintain the temperature of the room within a safe range for the flooring material

• Know the services you’ve included in the contract

Post Flooring Installation Checklist

Clean up is typically part of a floor installation service package. But if you’re doing the cleanup yourself or it isn’t quite up to your standards, here are some tasks you can do:

• Dust the floors

• Vacuum thoroughly

• On hard flooring surfaces, use a wet mop to remove remaining residue and footprints

• Reinstall baseboards and door trim if it wasn’t part of the flooring package

• Follow the manufacturer's or installer's timeline for walking on the new floors and replacing furniture and appliances

How Much Does It Cost to Hire a Flooring Contractor or Installer? 

The cost to install floors varies widely based on the square footage and flooring type. Flooring costs range widely from $200 at the low end to $14,000 at the high end, but on average, you’re looking at around $3,150. Consider that extra services like repairing the subfloor, moving furniture, installing underlayment, or installing on stairs can further increase costs.

DIY vs. Hiring a Pro

You can save money by doing some or all of the installation work yourself. Flooring installers typically cost between $0.60 to $4 per square foot. While services like removing old flooring runs $1.50 to $3.50 per square foot, and subflooring replacement runs $3 to $10 per square foot. Taking on any of these jobs will reduce your costs but increase your sweat equity.