Whether you are having a new home built, considering a remodel project, or your current floors are in need of replacement, it is important to have an understanding of what the flooring installation process is and what you can expect. The type of flooring that you choose and the contractor that you work wit will have a major impact on your overall satisfaction with your new floors.
At Home Care Contractors, we understand tall aspects of flooring installation in Seattle. Our contractors are masters at their craft and have a goal to provide knowledge, excellent workmanship, and impeccable customer service for all of our projects.
If you are considering flooring installation options, give us a call to request your free quote today. Learn more about the types of flooring options available to you and what the installation process entails below.
Why is Flooring So Important?
Every home needs flooring. It impacts so many areas of your house to include its value, amount of upkeep needed, overall design, functionality, and health of your home. Learn more about each factor below.
Impacts The Design of Your Home
The flooring in each room of your home makes an impression. The look, feel, and match with the decor will have a major impact on the aesthetic appeal of your home. Changing the look of your floor can instantly make your home look more modern, cozy, more intimate, larger, etc. It all depends on the type of flooring you choose and how it matches the overall design of your home.
Enhances or Hampers The Functionality of Your Home
If you have pets, children, adventurous hobbies, etc., the type of flooring that you pick will either compliment your lifestyle or hamper it. The difference between a plush carpet and hardwood floors can be night and day. Furthermore, flooring can affect the acoustics of your home, comfortability, and your behavior. Your choice of flooring options will directly impact your lifestyle.
Affects The Health of Your Home
Your floors can either enhance the indoor air quality of your home or hurt it. This is especially true for those that suffer from allergies or other respiratory conditions. Some flooring options are better suited for resisting the build-up of allergens like dust, dander, and other types of pollutants.
Determines The Amount You Spend on Maintenance
Rooms that experience high traffic typically call for flooring installation options that are easy to clean and designed to last longer. The two are not always mutually exclusive though. While cost doesn’t always dictate how long a floor will last, it is usually a good indicator of overall quality.
However, materials like hardwood floors are more expensive, last longer, but will also cost more to maintain. Work with an experienced flooring installation expert to find the perfect balance for your budget and lifestyle.
Affects The Value of Your Home
The more durable, beautiful, and inviting your floors are, the more value they will add to your home. Whether your goal is to increase your overall net worth or attract potential buyers, your floors will play a significant role in the valuation of your home.
The Most Common Types of Flooring
At Home Care Contractors, we offer a range of flooring. Some of the most common include laminate, hardwood, carpet, tile, and vinyl. Each type of floor has its advantages and disadvantages. The importance of the flooring that you choose cannot be understated.
It will affect the cost of the flooring installation in Seattle, how long it takes, how long it lasts, and how much effort you will have to put in to maintain your floors. Before making your final decision on flooring options, ensure that it fits your lifestyle, budget, and design needs.
What Is The Process For Floor Installation?
There are several options available for floor installation in Seattle. An experienced contractor will advise you on the best options for your home. Some of the most common methods of floor installation include nailing, gluing, stretching, and floating.
The type of flooring that you opt for, as well as the expertise of the contractor that you work with, will impact which method of flooring installation is deployed. Learn more about each method of the installation process below.
Nail-Down
Nail-down installations are most commonly used when installing hardwood floors. Flooring installation contractors typically use a technique called “blind nailing.” This process ensures that the hardwood is effectively nailed to the subfloor. In many cases, blind nailing is used in tandem with tongue-and-groove planks so the nails are not visible to the naked eye. Though this method is commonly used when installing hardwood floors, it is not the only technique used with this type of material.
Glue-Down
Experts in flooring installation in Seattle often use strong adhesive glue to install hardwood, carpet, and tile. During the installation process, contractors will apply the appropriate amount of glue to the subfloor as well as the flooring material. The adhesive ensures that the material is steady, sturdy, and durable.
When utilizing the glue-down process, contractors must ensure that the subfloor is devoid of bumps, slumps, and other types of flaws. If they are not addressed and compensated for, your floor will take on the shape and cause issues down the line. For this reason, it is important to work with a contractor that has a keen eye and pays close attention to detail.
Floating
The floating method of installation is typically reserved for laminate and engineered wood product flooring installations in Seattle. Similar to a puzzle, the floating process involves piecing each piece of flooring together. When connected, they create a sturdy and durable floor. Like the glue-down process, this method of installation requires a level subfloor. Elsewise, the material will take on the shape of any flaws within your subfloor.
Stretch-In
The stretch-in process is used exclusively for carpet flooring installation. As the name suggests, this method ensures that the carpet is held tight against the subfloor by stretching it across. Missteps in the process could lead to slack, ripples, or general looseness. This could lead to hazardous conditions. Thus, it is imperative that you work with a proven contractor that has verifiable experience.
How Long Will it Take to Install My Floors?
The time it takes to complete the flooring installation process will depend on the type of material that you choose, how large your project is, and the contractor that you work with. Smaller, less-experienced crews will take longer.
Hardwood flooring, as well as laminate flooring, will require a few days to acclimate. You may also want to calculate how much time it will take to clear your room(s) if you are replacing your current floors. It is important to have an in-depth discussion with your flooring installation contractor to gain awareness of what effort and time will be required of you throughout the process.
Smaller projects can be completed in one day, larger projects may take a few days to weeks. The exact time required will vary on a project-by-project basis.
How to Find A Flooring Installation Contractor
Regardless of the type of work that you need to be done on your home, the U.S. Government recommends that you contact at least two to three contractors before you make a final decision. This method will help to ensure that you are making an informed decision. Steps to finding the right contractor for flooring installation in Seattle include:
- Check With Friends and Neighbors: Those that work with contractors that have been personally recommended by someone they trust are more likely to be satisfied.
- Look at Online Reviews: Check online ratings and reviews for potential flooring installation contractors before you hire them. While relying on the reviews alone is not always reliable, it can help to weed out the contractors with a bad reputation.
- Ask Questions: Ensure that your contractor has verifiable experience with the type of flooring that you are interested in. Ask for pictures, customer testimonials, etc.
- Compare Prices: It’s never recommended to choose your contractor based on the cheapest price. However, it is in your best interest to compare and work with the company that offers competitive pricing in tandem with high-quality. Also, inquire about payment options.
- Ask About Warranties: At Home Care Contractors, we offer a 12-month workmanship warranty. Most installation contractors do not offer robust warranties like this. Thus, it is best to check in advance so you know what is covered.
Work With Home Care Contractors
Home Care Contactors is the go-to company for flooring installation in Seattle for good reason; we do the job better than anyone else. Our team of master craftsmen is highly skilled, well-trained, and prepared to go above and beyond for all of our customers.
Customer satisfaction is at the forefront of everything that we do. If you are interested in replacing old floors, remodeling your home, or installing floors in a newly constructed property, our team has got you covered. Contact us today to request your free quote.