What to expect and how to prepare for your Luxury Vinyl Plank flooring installation.

A proper, professional installation is crucial to the life and performance of your flooring. Because of this, it is important to know what to expect before, during and after your installation.

Steamboat CarpetsPlus will send out an estimator to measure your rooms and determine how much product is required to minimize waste and maximize your savings. Wood flooring has to be ordered by the box and extra product is required to allow for layout and waste. We measure as accurately as possible, however you may have additional product at the end of the project. This product is special order and may not be returned. It is best to keep this product in case you need to do minor repairs at a later date.

Trim pieces may be made in a different factory, they are designed to co-ordinate with your wood flooring and will not be a perfect match. You should also open the boxes of wood flooring and check to be sure the wood is the color you are expecting, variations in stain can occur.

The installers will move your furniture if quoted on your estimate. You should remove all breakable items and small items from the area including wiring from TVs, stereos, VCR/DVD and computers.

Most wood products need to acclimate before installation.  Steamboat CarpetsPlus does have a heated warehouse, however whenever possible we would like to deliver the product to your home and allow it to sit in the rooms where it will be installed.

We will give you our best estimate of start and completion times for your project, however due to the nature of this construction there may be unforeseen delays.

With hardwood flooring you can expect noise during installation as your contractor nails the individual planks into your substrate. Depending on the type of installation, adhesives may also be used, in which case you’ll want to be prepared to deal with the odor until the adhesive is fully dried. The installers will need to use your electricity to power their tools and have an area cleared for cutting boards.  Most cutting is done outside but installers may need to undercut door frames etc. which will be done inside. Your installers will use a variety of tools and techniques that can make the work area hazardous. Please make sure that your children and pets are kept out of the work area on installation day.

Floor prep cannot be fully assessed until old materials are torn out. Additional floor prep may be required above what has been quoted. This may include, but is not limited to, unstable sub-floors, patch work needed after removing old flooring, leveling or pet odors that were not present prior to removal of old flooring. There may be additional charges associated with this additional work which will be discussed at time of installation. Be prepared to be at home or available by phone the day of installation to discuss these issues.

You should know that shoe molding and quarter round needs to be removed for hardwood installation. Your installer may do this but at an additional charge and they will not be responsible for damage or breakage due to dry or brittle wood. Painted baseboards, woodwork, and paint may need retouching after the installation is complete.

When hardwood is installed, there’s always the possibility that doors, especially closet doors, basement and bedroom doors may not clear the new hardwood and swing free. Some installers will remove doors in order to install the hardwood and re-hang them if possible. They will shave down or cut doors to insure clearance if possible. Some doors such as hollow core or metal will extra labor to insure that the door height is adjusted to fit with the wood installation. If you would like our assistance in arranging for a qualified carpenter to provide this service after the installation of your new hardwood floor please discuss this with your salesperson.

The installers will clean any debris from the worksite, however you should expect some dust after the installation. After installation we suggest that you put felt pads on the bottom of any furniture to minimize scratches and dents. Place rugs at all entrances and avoid walking on your floors with high heels or cleats.

Keep in mind that no two floor boards will be identical. Variations in appearance are completely normal. As your floor ages, some color change can occur. This also is normal, but can be minimized by limiting  direct sunlight, and periodically moving furniture and rugs. Seasonal humidity changes may cause the wood to expand and contract. Cracks are normal and will appear and disappear between floor boards during seasons of high and low humidity. Keep your wood floors looking their best by properly maintaining your homes relative humidity to 30 to 50 percent. Use a cleaning product recommended for your floors and use it regularly to keep them beautiful for years to come. Do not wet mop or steam mop your wood floor. Dust mopping and a damp cloth or a small amount of cleaner should be all that’s needed.