Hardwood floors are a favorite option among homeowners. These floors are elegant, clean, and contemporary, plus they come in a wide range of styles so you can get the exact look you’re going for. Hardwood floors are also extremely durable, and can last for decades with proper care and maintenance, but this starts with quality installation.
For such a long-term investment, it is best that you hire a professional hardwood floor installer to get the most value and to avoid any warranty issues later on. Here are a few questions to help you find the best installer:
- What kind of hardwood do you recommend for a specific area/room?
- How long will the installation take to completion?
- Who will move the furniture, appliances, and fixtures?
- How will they handle any unexpected issues, such as a damaged subfloor? What will be the implications on the budget and schedule?
- How will you minimize dust?
- Do they have liability insurance?
- What kind of warranty do they offer?
- Can you provide references of previous similar projects?
- What are the terms of payment? What percentage is the downpayment?
Before making any decisions, request a written proposal that includes all essential details, such as the materials and labor that the installer will supply, any items that they won’t provide, timeframes – start date and expected date of completion, warranty information, and payment information. If you accept the proposal, you can sign the project contract to commence the work.
Be prepared to answer a few questions as well
The flooring installer will also have a few questions for you to determine the scope of the project and how soon you want to get started. Some of the questions you can expect include:
- Whether you have a preferred type of hardwood
- Where you plan on getting the hardwood and other materials
- What rooms you plan on installing the hardwood floor
- The current floor and whether you plan on removing it yourself or professionally
You can expect a few more questions to help clarify the nature of the project. So you should have a good idea of what you want when scheduling the meeting with your preferred hardwood floor contractor.
Final note
Make sure that you schedule the appointment at a convenient time for you and your potential contractor so you have enough time to go through the various questions. Also remember to check their website and online reviews and testimonials to see if the information is consistent.
