New floors can completely redo a room, making it look brand-new, clean, and current. But going from laying that first row of boards to a finished floor is when things can go wrong. Underestimating preparation time before installation creates delays, surprise problems, and frustration. With a bit of preparation at home, new flooring installation can mean fewer surprises and a smooth fitment experience.
Preparing Your Home for New Flooring: Dos and Don’ts
Clear the Room
Have you ever moved furniture and realized you own way more stuff than you thought? The couch and tables are no problem, but how about that bookshelf packed with old DVDs or the cabinet stuffed with things you haven’t touched in years? It has to go—or it makes things more challenging later.
Moving couches or cupboards across floors causes scuffs and gouges in the flooring, especially when the subfloor is in bad shape. Lifting furniture is a guaranteed formula for a pulled muscle, so get some furniture sliders. If space is at a premium, the garage can keep things out of the way without making the home resemble an obstacle course.
Inspect Underneath
Removing old floors is like opening a surprise gift—you don’t know what to expect… Sometimes, it’s just a bare subfloor, looking good as new. Other times, there’s water damage, unusual discoloration, or a stubborn layer of glue to remove.
Floors with soft spots, dips, and canted wood must be addressed before installing new subfloor and flooring. These issues won’t resolve themselves on their own, and they end up shifting boards and cracking the new flooring system.
A little elbow grease in the assessment and preparation phase saves you:
- Time
- Money
- Hassle
This is especially important if you’re considering luxury vinyl flooring or engineered hardwood flooring, as both require a stable, level surface to avoid future problems.
Allow the Flooring to Acclimate
The flooring cannot go straight from store to floor. Different flooring types, including wood flooring, vinyl flooring, and laminate flooring, expand or contract with temperature and moisture fluctuations. If this happens after the installation, it translates to the boards shifting and swelling in areas.
Stack the boards in the room you want to fit them to and leave them there for a few days before you start the home renovation project. Don’t leave them in the garage or on the porch; leave them in the room you want to fit them to. Let the boards settle, and they’ll fit within 72 – 96 hours.
Don’t forget the subfloor. Even the best carpenters can’t fix a creaky, uneven, or rotting subfloor. If your subfloor is uneven, every bump and gap is highlighted on the new floor after fitment. The result is an unsightly mess.
Use screws on plywood flooring to secure the new boards firmly in place and prevent movement. Concrete should be moisture-checked before fitment, especially in basements. Moisture levels are usually higher in the basement than in the rest of the home.
Apply leveling compound where necessary to create an even finish.
Prepare for a Mess at Home: Flooring Creates Dust
Whether you choose to install your new flooring yourself or hire pros to handle the job, there will be a mess. The reality is that pulling up any type of floor and installing new boards is a messy job. Sawdust finds its way everywhere.
Carpet, tile, or wood debris mounts up quickly. If you’re cutting the boards inside the home, expect debris to fly everywhere, spreading to every room.
- Sealing up vents keeps fine dust from circulating in the home.
- Place plastic sheeting in doorways between rooms to reduce how far the dust travels.
- If it’s a significant project, rent a dumpster for all the old material instead of making multiple trips to the dump.
Considering hiring professional flooring installers can make a big difference in controlling the mess, especially for large projects.
Upgrade Your Home with New Flooring Options
Installing new flooring can enhance the appearance of your home and increase its value. A wide selection of flooring options is available for your home upgrade and includes popular choices such as:
- Carpet
- Engineered Hardwood Flooring – A popular alternative to solid hardwood.
- Vinyl Flooring – Including Luxury Vinyl Plank (LVP) or Luxury Vinyl Tile (LVT).
- Laminate Flooring – A practical and affordable option that will look good for a long time.
- Ceramic Tile – This durable option is low maintenance and ideal for kitchens.
- Eco-Friendly Flooring such as bamboo, cork, and reclaimed wood.
Each flooring type offers different benefits, from water-resistant flooring options to durable flooring for high-traffic areas. Choosing the right material for your space can help ensure your investment lasts for years.
Leave Room for the Doors
New floors elevate the flooring height if you don’t remove the old boards or tiles. A quarter-inch difference can prevent the doors from closing properly. Materials like thick hardwood flooring or tile flooring have little space for clearance. This creates dragging in unexpected areas.
You should check the following places for clearance before fitting the flooring:
- Clothes closets
- Bathrooms
- Exterior doors
Trimming doors before fitment is much easier than after discovering clearance issues once the flooring is already installed.
Prepare Your Home: New flooring Preparation
A little preparation can go a long way. New flooring installation creates a tremendous visual impact, but fitting it is no easy feat. Follow these tips, and things will go as planned.
For more helpful advice on choosing the best flooring for your space or professional flooring installation services, explore our full range of flooring solutions today.
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