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Getting new floor covering can be a major change in your home and installing new floor covering is no easy task. This should be left to a professional! Whether you are tackling the project yourself or hiring a professional, these are tips you will want to be aware of. Being aware of these misconceptions can help you have a smoother installation.

GENERAL INSTALLATION MISCONCEPTIONS

1. Once the installation is complete, there is no need to save leftover material. Leftover material is needed in case of repairs. Having the original material will ensure that your repair will be the same shade / dye lot as the original installation.
2. The installer will arrive on time and be completed as originally promised. Often, the installer will run into situations at another jobsite that require more time and attentio. Just remember that if it were your house, you would want the installer to take their time for a quality installation.
3. Floors can be installed in any weather. Some types of flooring cannot be installed in extreme heat or cold.
4. Floors can be installed in any stage of new construction. Some builders for example, prefer that tile be installed under the kitchen cabinets. So, this would need to be done earlier in the process. Since it is durable to dirt and traffic, it can be installed earlier. Carpet, on the other hand needs to be one of the very last items to be installed so that it doesn’t get abused before you move in!
5. I have a 16×16 room. I should only need 256 SF of material. All flooring materials have waste factors. This is needed in case cuts need to be made where full pieces cannot be installed. For rooms that are large, like 16 x 16 that are receiving carpet will need much more than 256 square feet of material because carpet only comes 12′ wide, 13′6″ wide or 15′ wide. Therefore, multiple pieces will need to be ordered and not all of the material can be used.
6. If my designer drew it on paper, it can be installed. Sometimes intricate patterns will not fit the size or shape of a room or shower properly. Checking with the installer before finalizing a pattern is a smart and safe move.
7. On a DIY installation, the more glue used the better. Only the amount recommended on the installation instructions should be used. Too much glue can cause failures in the installation.
8. Furniture moving is included in any professional installation. This is usually a separate item with a separate charge. Check your quote thoroughly and communicate with your flooring professional to see if this is included in your estimate.
9. There is no need for me to be home during the installation. It is best if you can meet the installers when they first arrive to clear up and questions and do a pre-installation walk through. If you want to leave while the work is being done, be sure to be home before the installers leave to do a post-installation walk through in case you have any questions or issues that need to be addressed.
10. It is the installers responsibility to repair damage to baseboards, repaint trim boards or rehang doors when the installation is complete. These are usually separate items with separate charge. Check your quote thoroughly and communicate with your flooring professional to see if these items are included in your estimate. Most flooring installers do not repaint the trim if there is damage during the installation. This is usually the responsibility of the homeowner.

CARPET INSTALLATION MISCONCEPTIONS

1. If the carpet sheds after installation, it is defective. This is a natural and should be expected.
2. Seams are avoidable and should be invisible. Seams are a normal part of carpet installation and are not always invisible.

HARDWOOD/LAMINATE INSTALLATION MISCONCEPTIONS

1. Should be installed tightly up against the wall. Hardwood and floating floor installations need room to expand and contract.
2. Can be installed the day it arrives. Hardwood needs to acclimate to the temperature of the space it will be installed in to minimize expansion and contraction.
3. If they sell it at a box discount store – it must be easy to install. Just because a floor is sold at a discount store, box store or online, it still requires the same amount of care during installation.

TILE/ STONE INSTALLATION MISCONCEPTIONS

1. Can be installed in1 day. Small repair jobs can often be done in one day, but most tile jobs are laid on the first day and then the installer comes back the next day to grout. If the job is going to be sealed, the grout needs to cure before the sealer can be applied.
2. Can be walked on the same day it is installed. Tile needs time to set properly and should not be walked on for 24 hours after it is installed. (unless a radid setting thinset is used)
3. Grout can be sealed the same day the tile is installed. Grout needs time to cure before it can be sealed.
4. Once the installer leaves, you should not have to caulk ever again. It is the responsibility of the homeowner to maintain caulking after the initial installation.
5. Tile does not have to have a grout joint. All tile needs to have a grout joint because tiles are not exactly the same size. Having a grout joint helps the floor like uniform and hide any size differences between each individual tile.
6. Any size tile can be installed on a shower floor. Tile floors in the shower need be slope in order to drain water, so most tile shower floors need to be 6″x6″ or smaller.
7. Can be glued directly to any floor. Tile needs to be set with thin-set and have an anti-fracture membrane (backerboard or Schluter) under the tile to prevent cracking.

Understanding these common misconceptions can help your expectations to be realistic and your installation smooth and successful!