How To Plan For Installing New Flooring and How We Can Help!

Having new flooring installed in your home can be hectic, but adequate preparations can save time, money, and help the process go smoothly. The flooring installation process involves a lot of equipment and machinery, so you should thoroughly clean and prep your home before the contractors arrive. Whether you are having carpet, hardwood, vinyl, or laminate installed, there are certain steps you can take to ensure the installation process goes off without a hitch.   

Choose the Right Flooring

The first step is assessing your existing carpet or hardwood condition and choosing the new type of flooring you want.

Here are two tips to help you pick the right flooring for your home: 

• Know your style: Consider the aesthetic of your home and choose colours and patterns that will complement and enhance the current style of the area. Consider which floor textures appeal to you and think about how the new flooring will enhance the furniture and home décor you currently own. Do you prefer the rich grain of hardwood floors, or do you like thick, soft carpets? Consider your style and how you want your home to reflect that style.

• Consider your lifestyle: Flooring choices should vary depending on your lifestyle and the room you are redecorating. For bedrooms, carpet may be preferable to hardwood as it is more comfortable and retains heat. For bathrooms and kitchen areas, tile is often a good choice as it can be cleaned easily. If you have pets or small children, pick flooring that is resistant to stains and can be easily cleaned. 

Set a budget before you choose your materials and resist the temptation to go over that number. 

Measure the Room Before Installation

Preparing for a flooring installation requires measuring each room separately and adding their totals together to ensure you order the proper number of materials. You should always order extra materials for trimming purposes or to have extra materials on hand for use in the future. Draw a rough draft of the rooms you are measuring and write down the measurement totals as you go. Follow these basic steps to ensure you get precise measurements: 

• Measure the width and length of each area at its widest point, and round the number up to the nearest half foot. Convert the measurements to decimals for more straightforward calculations. 
• Multiply the width times the length to determine the number of square feet in each area. For instance, a room that is 20 inches long and 15 inches wide measures 300 square feet.

While most flooring contractors will perform their own measurements, it is best to calculate your own measurements beforehand to determine your budget and make sure you are getting a fair price. 

Remove Existing Carpet 

To ensure the finished product is smooth and flat, you should remove old flooring before the new material is installed. Removing old flooring that has been glued to the subflooring materials can be a difficult task. You first need to scrape off the first layer of flooring and remove the adhesive from the subfloor. You can often complete this step with a flooring edger or a floor buffer. 

Removing flooring that has not been glued to the subfloor is easier, but it still takes a systematic approach. Cut a strip out of one section of flooring with a circular saw so you can easily remove the other areas. You should remove nails on hardwood floors individually to avoid cracking the boards. 

Work With an Expert

Are you looking for floor tile installation services in Ottawa? Contact Handyman Connection today to help you plan, stage, and install your new flooring. We provide flooring services in Ottawa that are affordable, reliable, and performed by licensed technicians.