From prep to cleanup, check this list for easier floor installation
Your flooring installation checklist starts with prep work like removing furniture, checking door clearances, and addressing subfloor issues before installation begins.
Expect to pay $200 to $14,000 for professional flooring installation, with average costs around $3,150 depending on your room size and flooring type.
You should keep children and pets out of the work area and maintain proper room temperature during installation to protect your new floors.
Hiring a local flooring company provides reliable help with subfloor repairs and installation, keeping your project on schedule and ensuring proper fit.
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.
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:
Flat bar
Straight edge
Adhesive trowel
Floor roller
Linoleum cutter or utility knife
Buckets
Sponges
Notched trowel
Wet saw
Spacers
Grout float
Nippers
Tiles saw
Tapping block
Spacers
Pull bar
Chop saw
Jig saw
Rubber mallet
Floor scraper
Drill and bits
Nait set
Pneumatic flooring nailer
Chop saw
Table saw
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.
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
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
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.
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.
Joseph did a great job with the staircase and trim. Timely and efficient, clear communication about the work, very fair pricing. For the stairs in particular, done very skillfully in an old house (1893) in a tight spiral, and very creative with how to do the handrail. Did a nice job with...
Vouis Trim Carpentry L.L.C.This company does it right. Firstly, I want to say that Landan was a joy to work with. He was so kind, transparent, and had everything under control. His entire team showed up ready to work and they were all very respectful of the fact that we were in an office space. A little backstory – we...
Krumlauf FloorsFinished Basements Plus was wonderful from beginning to end! First, they came out quickly for an estimate. I had 4 estimates and theirs was by far the best. (2 of the estimates were more than $20K higher than for the exact same work). Beyond their fair pricing, the work was excellent. They...
Finished Basements Plus Inc.Very professional, knowledgeable and helpful! Completed the install on time and as expected.
Ward's ServicesExcellent, Prompt, Courteous Service!!! They were super friendly and quite personable. I felt very comfortable with the gentlemen that did the installation. They installed it exactly where I asked them to and they did an excellent job!! I loved their service so much.
Tether HouseWindow Depot did an amazing job installing the windows in my basement! The process from start to finish was by far more than what I expected. I would highly recommend Window Depot if you want professionalism from the the consultation to the installation. Dont settle for mediocre when you can...
Window Depot USA of Central OhioAFS was excellent from start to finish. Jess, the sales associate, was fantastic...very knowledgeable and very professional. The installation crew was excellent. I couldn't be more pleased with the process. Best of all, my new floor looks fantastic!
America's Floor SourceWe were having 2”x 2” tile installed . There was a small installation error and the new additional replacement tile was from a different lot and the colors didn’t match. Joe assured us that he would rectify everything , which he did without hesitation. We decided to go with the 18” x 36” tile...
CarifaTileDid an amazing job transforming my yard. Also installed sod in places, would recommend to everyone.
Cardinal Landscaping & Construction LLCWe hired Jim to replace our hardwood floors with new hardwood. He and his helper Jerry did a fantastic job. Their work ethic is impeccable!! We would highly recommend McColl Floors!
From average costs to expert advice, get all the answers you need to get your job done.
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