Hardwood flooring has a natural beauty that can improve the look of any home. However, the installation process is complex. First, the wood must acclimate to your home’s temperature and humidity.
To expedite the acclimation process, you should remove furniture and appliances from spaces where your new hardwood floors will be installed. You should also close any pilot lights in the room. However, if you need some professional help, you can contact Chicago Hardwood Flooring Installers.
No matter what kind of flooring you’re installing, a professional installer ensures your results look good and stand up to the test of time. Professionals are licensed and insured, which gives you peace of mind that your project will be safe and successful. In addition, they’ll provide the highest-quality materials and labor for a better outcome than you could achieve on your own.
Hardwood floors are an investment, so you want to hire a contractor who will treat your project like one, too. The best way to evaluate a flooring contractor’s professionalism is to look at their customer reviews and portfolio of previous work. You can also ask for a list of references and contact them to see what other homeowners have said about their experience working with the contractor.
You can also consider asking a contractor about their membership in the NWFA (National Wood Flooring Association). This organization offers industry standards and training programs that are designed to improve the wood flooring skills of professionals across the nation. The NWFA also offers certifications that validate wood flooring expertise.
If you’re planning a large installation project, you can help speed up the timeline and make it easier for the installation team to complete their job by making your home as ready as possible. For example, you can remove furniture in the areas that will be getting new hardwood and cover electronics with rugs or sheets to prevent dust from coating artwork or damaging delicate electronic components.
The flooring professional will typically set up an appointment to deliver the new wood floors and allow them to acclimate to the humidity level of your home for several days. Once the material has acclimated, the flooring crew can begin taking up old baseboards and trim, preparing the subfloor, and laying the first rows of hardwood flooring. This process can take up to three days if the installers are installing floors in multiple rooms in your home.
Hardwood floor installation is a dusty job, so you should expect to clean up a lot of dust throughout the course of the project. To make it as easy as possible for the installation team to do their work, you should remove items from furniture in areas that will be affected and vacuum daily. You can also cover artwork, electronics, and decorations with rugs or sheets to prevent them from getting covered in dust.
Experience
When a homeowner hires a hardwood flooring installation company, they should consider the contractor’s experience. A flooring company that has been in business for a long time has the benefit of building a reputation for quality work and may be more likely to offer a warranty on its services. It also means that the installers are more familiar with the wood floor materials and installation procedures than a newer flooring contractor.
A good flooring company will be able to recommend the best type of wood for a particular home and its owners. This will involve considering factors such as the style of the home, the amount of foot traffic, and how much light the room gets. The flooring company should have a showroom where homeowners can see flooring samples and get advice on what will look good in their homes.
Most major flooring companies have a wide service area and can supply products to customers nationwide. Some also have showrooms in different cities where people can see how a particular product will look in their own homes. Some flooring companies will even provide a tool on their website that allows customers to enter their ZIP code and see if they are in the company’s service area.
During the installation process, homeowners should expect to have a lot of dust in their homes. This is because wood floors are cut with a saw or other power tools that create a lot of dust. It is recommended that people wear eye protection, a mask, and protective gloves when working with wood floors.
Professionals will remove existing baseboards and trim to prepare the space for installing hardwood floors. Then, the installers will lay the first boards in place along the perimeter of the room. They will leave a space around the perimeter to allow the wood to stretch and shrink with changing temperatures. They will also install moldings and trim that match the wood.
Wood flooring installation contractors typically make a total net profit of between 3 and 7 percent. This includes the price of the materials, labor costs, and any taxes that are applicable. It is important for a contractor to set their prices fairly so that they can cover their costs and still make a profit. Contractors that charge too little are not likely to stay in business for very long.
Availability
Whether homeowners are looking to improve their home’s value or simply enjoy the look of hardwood floors, hiring a professional flooring contractor makes good sense. Wood floors require specialized skills to install, and a professionally installed floor is more likely to be covered by the manufacturer’s warranty. Additionally, the installation process can be complicated and time-consuming, and the installer will have a high level of knowledge that helps ensure the work is completed correctly.
When searching for a hardwood flooring company, customers should ask about the company’s services and pricing models. They should also find out if the company carries the type of hardwood that they want to install and whether there are any additional fees for installing premium underlayment or moving furniture.
The cost of installing hardwood floors depends on the type and size of the room as well as the condition of the existing subfloor. Generally, solid hardwood is more expensive to install than engineered wood flooring. This is due to the fact that solid wood is more sensitive to humidity and temperature changes, while engineered hardwood is not.
Other factors that impact the price of installation include the amount of trim and transition pieces needed to install the new floor. For example, doorways, pillars, fireplace hearths, and cabinetry often need to be removed or adjusted before installing hardwood, which increases the time and labor costs of the project. Additionally, if the homeowner has photos or other items hanging on walls in the room that need to be moved, this will add to the overall costs.
Many wood floor contractors offer up-front prices on their website, making it easy for homeowners to compare options and get a feel for the different cost levels. It’s important to note, however, that these quotes are typically estimates and will not be final until the project is started.
Hardwood floors are a popular choice for homeowners because they provide a warm and inviting aesthetic that matches most interior designs. They are also durable and long-lasting, and they can be restored if they become damaged over the years. In addition, wood floors are easier to maintain than carpets, as they don’t trap dust, allergens, and pollen like other types of flooring.
Warranty
A company’s warranty is an important consideration when choosing a flooring installation professional. Customers should ask customer service representatives if the company provides a labor and material warranty that helps protect their investment. Customers should also inquire if the flooring company offers service plans that cover damages that fall outside of a standard installation warranty.
The flooring installation services include a lifetime labor warranty and a limited manufacturer’s warranty. In addition, the company offers a variety of financing options and free estimates. Customers can find out more about the company’s financing options and other benefits by visiting its website or booking an in-home appointment with a flooring expert.
Flooring installation services include a labor and material warranty that helps protect the customer’s investment. The company also has a wide selection of hardwood flooring options product line designed to reduce noise and increase temperature retention. Customers can use the company’s augmented-reality visualizer tool to see what different flooring products will look like in their home. The company’s comprehensive service plan covers damages that are not covered by a standard installation warranty, making it an excellent choice for families with kids or pets.
Most manufacturers have specific instructions regarding how their flooring should be installed. If the hardwood floor is not installed according to these specifications, the manufacturer’s warranty may be voided. Many installation warranties contain language that specifies that the structural warranty only applies “if the floors are properly installed and maintained.”
When selecting a flooring contractor, it is important to consider the company’s workmanship warranty as well as the manufacturer’s warranty. This is especially true if the company is both the floor installer and the manufacturer. Many hardwood flooring contractors provide their own installation and workmanship warranties in addition to the manufacturer’s warranty for their materials.
Before the flooring professional arrives, the homeowner should prepare for the installation process by removing furniture and electronics from the room. This will help make the work area more spacious and reduce the amount of dust that is generated during the installation process. It is also a good idea to cover any furniture or items that cannot be moved with plastic to prevent damage from dust and debris.