Best flooring contractors near Dayton, WA

While not always required, experts recommend removing baseboards before removing old carpet and installing a new one. This practice leads to a smoother process and a cleaner, more professional-looking finish. Removing the baseboards allows for a seamless carpet installation without the risk of damaging either the carpet or the trim. It also provides a good opportunity to repaint or stain the baseboards and inspect the underlying wall for any issues. If you prefer a quicker option, you can carefully cut the old carpet along the edge of the baseboards, but this may result in a less polished installation for the new carpet.

You can get away with stretching the carpet with some remaining items of furniture, so long as you have ready access to the parts of the carpet that require maintenance and you are not stretching through the furniture, as this leads to tears and fraying. Try to remove at least 50% of the furniture if you can’t remove it all.

You may be wondering, how long does carpet last? It depends on the type. For your Berber carpet, it should last 10 to 15 years with regular cleaning and maintenance. For the longest lifespan possible, you should call in a carpet cleaner for a deep cleaning at least once a year. 

Also, you can opt for higher-quality Berber carpet and underlayment which will last longer. And if you have pets, make sure to house-train them and use extra rugs in areas you expect high foot traffic.

Whether you install flooring before or after kitchen cabinets depends primarily on the type of flooring you are using. For materials like hardwood, tile, and sheet flooring, the best practice is to install the flooring first. This ensures the cabinets are installed at the correct height and on a stable surface. However, you should not install cabinets on top of floating floors, such as laminate or luxury vinyl plank (LVP). These types of flooring need room to expand and contract with temperature and humidity changes. Placing heavy cabinets on top can restrict this movement, potentially causing the floor to buckle and making the cabinets unstable. For floating floors, install the cabinets first and then lay the flooring up to them. Other reasons to consider installing cabinets before the flooring include saving money on materials (since you won't need flooring under the cabinets) and avoiding potential damage to your new floor during cabinet installation. Additionally, installing cabinets directly on the subfloor might prevent voiding your flooring's warranty.