How to Hire Hardwood Installers and What to Expect

Hiring qualified hardwood installers makes all the difference. This guide will help you select qualified professionals and be prepared for the process.

A study by CNN found that hardwood floors can add anywhere from 3% to 5% to the value of your home. This increase in value may depend on the type of wood flooring you choose and how you installed it. 

To get the most out of your hardwood flooring investment, you must hire professional hardwood installers! Do you want to learn how to select the most qualified flooring installers? 

Keep reading this guide for the top factors to consider and what to expect during the hardwood install process. 

Get Recommendations

One of the easiest ways you can find a reliable contractor for hardwood installation is by getting recommendations. There are many people you can ask for word-of-mouth recommendations. 

For example, you can ask the store where you are buying flooring materials. They will often have a contact list of independent installers and can help you select a reliable installer. 

You can also ask your neighbors and local friends that have had new floors installed recently. This will allow you to check out the work that a company did to ensure that you will love the results.

Getting these recommendations will also allow you to get feedback from the homeowners to learn more about the installer's customer service, their work habits, and more. 

Research Credentials

Whenever you hire a contractor to work in your home, it is essential that you research their credentials. This will ensure that you are hiring a reputable professional!

First, you need to make sure you hire a licensed contractor. Different states have different requirements for obtaining a contractor's license, but a contractor with a license will have the training and qualifications necessary to install your flooring without making flooring installation mistakes. 

You also need to find a contractor that is fully insured. If they are working in your home, there is always a chance that they could cause property damage or get injured on your property.

Hiring an insured company will make sure that you are not financially liable for any of these accidents.

Consider Services Offered

You should also consider what services an installation company offers. While you may be able to find several companies that offer installation services, you may need other flooring services now or in the future. 

For example, you may need a company that also provides removal services. This is only the case if you are not able to install your flooring directly over the existing floors. 

Many flooring contractors will offer both services, so you can get the removal and installation done by the same company. 

You may also want to find a company that offers flooring repair services. If you need to replace a damaged or missing panel, you can hire the same company that installed the flooring in the first place. 

Get a Written Contract

It is also essential that you get a written contract from your hardwood installers before they start work in your home. This will ensure that everything is in writing and that your contractor will not make any changes to the cost or services that they include. 

You also need to clarify the terms when you get a contract. This includes requesting a breakdown of costs, information about what the service entails, and more.

Clarifying the terms of the contract will ensure that there are no surprises when it comes to your flooring installation. 

In this contract, you also need to establish a timeline for your project. This way, it will get done in a timely manner and your flooring installation will not get dragged out for weeks or months. 

Ask About a Warranty

Before you select a company to work with, you should also ask them about their warranty options. Most reputable companies will offer a warranty for at least a year after their installation. 

This will ensure that they offer great workmanship and high-quality materials. If there are any issues with your flooring within the time of the warranty, you will not be financially responsible for repairs or replacement. 

A warranty will also provide you with peace of mind.

Get a Pricing Estimate

You must also get pricing estimates from several companies before you choose your hardwood installer. This way, you will get an accurate idea of how much your flooring installation will cost. 

Many companies will offer free in-home estimates for any type of flooring, including hardwood, laminate, tile, and more. 

Getting several estimates will allow you to shop around and find a company that fits your budget!

Learn What the Price Includes

Finally, you need to learn what is included in the price. While the price of installation is important to understand, different companies will include different services in the price. 

For example, does the flooring installation include the removal of the existing floors? Will the installers help you remove furniture and other belongings from the room?

How to Prepare for Flooring Installation

Before you get your new hardwood flooring, you need to prepare for the installation process. Here are some of the steps you should take to prepare for the process. 

Acclimate the Wood

First, you need to acclimate the wood to the temperature and humidity levels within your home. This needs to be done before it is installed, otherwise, it can lead to damaged flooring. 

Make sure you store your flooring in your home for several days before you start the installation process. This hardwood acclimation prevents the wood floors from shrinking, expanding, or distorting too much. 

Clean and Remove Furniture

Next, you need to clean the current flooring and remove the furniture and other items from the rooms where the flooring will be installed. 

Depending on the type of flooring and installation services you choose, your contractor may end up installing your new flooring over the existing floor. Because of this, you need to clean the current flooring to remove dust, mildew, and other allergens before installation. 

You also need to remove anything that will be in the way of the installation. This will save you time and money when it is time to install your new flooring. 

Remove Doors and Baseboards

Not only do you need to remove furniture and other belongings from the room before your installation, but you also need to remove doors and baseboards. 

Otherwise, these will get in the way of the installers. In some cases, the installers will remove these for you. Other times, they will cut the flooring to fit underneath the doors and baseboards. 

Removing these yourself will ensure that your flooring is installed perfectly!

What to Expect From Hardwood Installation

There are a few different phases of hardwood installation. Learning more about each of these phases will help you prepare for the installation process and will help you know what to expect from your hardwood installers. 

First, your contractor will conduct a size estimate. They will come to your home and measure each of your floors with special tools to calculate a square-foot measurement for your project. 

Often, your contractor will over-estimate during this process because some of the wood will be wasted while it is cut to size. 

Next, you will get a price estimate from your contractor. This may happen immediately after the size estimate. The cost of hardwood flooring installation will depend on the type of material you choose, the company you work with, and more. 

Because of this, you should always get estimates from several different companies. This way, you can shop around and get the best price and value for your hardwood installation services. 

As was mentioned before, you should clarify what is included in this price with your contractor. 

Once you have selected a contractor for your flooring installation and the type of flooring, they will deliver the flooring to acclimate it to your home. This will typically happen a few days before the actual installation to allow the wood to reach a moisture balance. 

Finally, your contractor will start the installation phase. If the subfloor of your home is not in good condition, they will need to replace it before they start laying hardwood planks. 

You can expect your installers to arrive early in the day and set up their saws and other tools outside of your home. 

Looking for Hardwood Installers? We Can Help

When you are installing hardwood floors in your home, it is quite a big investment. To get the most out of your investment and to find the best company to work with, you must consider each of these factors!

By learning more about a hardwood installer company and what to expect, you will be prepared for your installation process. Are you looking for hardwood installers in Arizona? Eagle Flooring West can help!

Contact us today to learn more about our hardwood flooring installation services or to get a free estimate for your new floors.