Flooring Installation
Having new floors installed is a potentially major process, especially if part of a multi-room or whole-house renovation. New flooring materials provide a fresh new aesthetic in your home, which makes choosing the right materials and styles exciting. The process also presents certain challenges, such as knowing what types of materials to buy and where to find the best prices. Flooring also needs to be installed correctly. Each type of material has its own installation processes and requirements, so you have to choose between a DIY project and hiring a professional flooring installation company. Continue reading to learn more valuable information about flooring installation today.
New Flooring Installation – Here’s What to Do First
One of the first steps to take when considering a new flooring installation is to determine how many rooms are receiving new floors. If a multi-room installation is happening, you then need to assess two aspects. These aspects include the amount of square footage of flooring you will need and the consistency of flooring materials, colors and styles in multiple rooms, or house wide as the case might be. If a single room is receiving new flooring, you still need to assess the best style, color, and material to purchase. This of course has a lot to do with your current décor/aesthetics and intention of modernizing, changing, or upgrading your current flooring situation.
Types of Flooring
Choosing your flooring type is an obvious integral part of the installation process. It is advisable to consult with a professional flooring installation company for this part of the process, even if you ultimately choose to perform a DIY flooring install or hire a different installation company with better prices in the end. Available flooring materials have both expanded and advanced in recent years. For example, hardwood flooring is now sold in multiple types, and this is not including the actual species of wood (for example, oak, mahogany, cherry, etc.). For your consideration, listed directly below are most types of available flooring types, followed by some commonly species of wood chosen by consumers for their hardwood flooring.
Types
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Hardwood (natural and engineered).
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Resilient (laminate, vinyl plank/LVP, vinyl tile/LVT).
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Vinyl sheet.
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Tiles (stone, ceramic, porcelain, cement, unglazed, glazed, wood-look).
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Carpet (tile, broadloom/wall-to-wall).
Common Wood Species
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Oak (most popular; warm character and a variety of domestic and imported options).
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Maple (also popular; domestic; light character; challenging to stain; harder more durable wood).
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Walnut (often considered a luxury wood; rich dark character).
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Hickory (showcases details of wood grain; hard complex character; variety of natural grain patterns).
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Bamboo (eco-friendly option; highly durable; adds unique aesthetics and character to your home).
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Cork (composite-type of flooring; made of bark; pressed into planks; follows hardwood installation protocols).
Budget
Finances are always a consideration for every type of home renovation. Choosing the type of flooring you prefer for your home is largely affected by your budget in addition to room or-home-wide aesthetics. Begin by thoroughly assessing your budget. Then research the type of flooring you prefer to see if it is an affordable option. If not, have at least one (and if possible, two) backup options, with which you would be happy.
Additional First Steps and Considerations
You need to decide if you have the information, skills, and equipment to perform a DIY floor installation or not. If not, you need to consult with multiple professional (and certified) floor installation companies to find the best match and prices for your needs. Considerations for durability are also necessary. Is the room (or rooms) receiving new flooring installation heavily trafficked, or more decorative or designed for occasional leisure or entertainment purposes? What types of temperatures and climate fluctuations occur predominantly where you live, and in the room or rooms where your floor installation is scheduled? Finally, you need to understand the installation requirements for the type of flooring you choose. How much will you be displaced from necessary room(s) during the installation? How long will the installation take?
How Long Does a Flooring Installation Take?
The time required to complete a flooring installation depends on a wide range of factors. The square footage of the replacement flooring and number of rooms receiving installs are of course two primary factors. Room shape and contractor availability are additional factors. If your room or rooms have unique shapes with a variety of curves, angles, or items to cut around, an installation might take longer than normal. New flooring requires acclimation periods as well, however. Acclimation to humidity and temperature takes at least three days, and more for more specialized types of woods.
Hardwood flooring might take one to three weeks to arrive pre-install. Hardwood flooring is then delivered to your home for the minimum three-day installation period. The installation itself takes approximately one to four days, but again this varies on the flooring type and other factors as mentioned above. Preparation work, if required, might take an additional several hours to two days. Resilient and carpet flooring might take less time overall. Beware of installation companies offering exceptionally low prices and uniquely fast installation, however. Independent research indicates a trend for some installation companies to use underpaid, uncertified labor to undercut the prices of more experienced flooring installation contractors.
How Much Do Flooring Installations Cost?
Flooring installations cost between $1,500 and $4,500 on average, or approximately $3,000 per 500 square-foot space. Prices per square foot average between $3 and $22, depending on the type of flooring material installed. For example, hardwood flooring costs between $6 and $22 per square foot, laminate materials cost between $3 and $10 per square foot and carpeting costs between $3.50 and $11 per square foot. Other flooring material types and their costs per square foot include:
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Natural stone ($6 to $20 per square foot).
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Ceramic or porcelain tiles ($15 to $20 per square foot).
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Vinyl or linoleum ($3 to $7 per square foot).
Store Financing and Grants
Financing through popular installation companies such as Lowes and The Home Depot is available for qualified buyers. FloorsUSA also offers special financing deals on flooring installation. Section 504 Home Repair Program grants might be available for qualified homeowners with special needs or other qualified situations.
Finding Professional Floor Installation Companies Near You
National Floors Direct is one of the largest and most popular national floor installation companies today. Home Advisor is an excellent resource for locating the best services in your area. Additional top flooring installation contractors or resources to find them include: