 | Roland Dalrymple has owned Quality Floor in Pittsburg/Frontenac for 15 years. He received his degree in Building Construction Tech at Pittsburg State and has been in the construction related field all his life. For more information or to reach Roland please call 620-231-2690.
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Carpet, Tile & Floor Covering
2013-02-01 08:51:20
What should happen before flooring installation?
Q-A year ago my sister had her house re-floored in what seemed like record time. Unfortunately, now she is seeing some problems that another contractor attributes to not having taken the proper steps prior to installation. Now, we are contemplating doing our floors. What should happen before installation?
A-We live in an age of stiff competition and fast track everything. Unfortunately, it sometimes leads to poor workmanship when not following proper processes. Very often, problems could have been avoided if the contractor would just go through a simple checklist before starting work.
One of the first things to test before work begins is the substrate. No matter how old it is, or whether it looks compromised or not, it needs to be tested. Flooring failures occur every day over substrates that looked to be in superior condition, and this is not the place to take any chances.
If you find any problems with the substrates, any problems that would inhibit proper installation need to be corrected or protected before anything else occurs. This might be an added expense, but the cost of flooring failure is even more expensive, not to mention the time and frustration involved in correction.
Another consideration is getting the materials conditioned to the area in which they will be installed. Wood should be laid out in the space for at least 72 hours before it is laid. having material around the home for a day or two may seem bothersome, but it helps assure a proper installation and worth the short-term annoyance.
Next, the area needing to be floored should be prepared. This involves cleaning and drying the area as well as making sure the temperature and humidity of the area are conducive to any adhesives you might use. Those conditions vary according to the materials used, so you will want a contractor that knows the products.
The process is simple and well worth the extra time. Fortunately, most contractors will not cut corners and want to see that their work meets the highest standards. If you have questions, I am always here to help.
