How to Prepare Your Room for New Flooring

If you have ever performed a home improvement project, you must be well-aware that it requires you to make a detailed plan and make sure you provide all materials needed for its successful completion. You are probably applying a new coat of paint on the walls and the ceiling every year, but when it comes to installing a new flooring, things get a bit more complicated.

The flooring does not need to be replaced every year provided that you maintain it properly, protect it against scratches and do not use harsh cleaning supplies. Anyway, if you are going to install a new floor, you need to be informed about the main stages of the process.

• It does not matter if we talk about a home improvement project or an itinerary for your next vacation, preparation is essential for the smooth process and the great end results. The first thing you need to do before the experts arrive is to clear out the items of furniture as well as any other items that would be a bother for lifting the old flooring. Make sure you keep all fragile items and valuable gadgets at a safe place. Everyone who has had a flooring renovation project can confirm that the most stressful part about having the flooring partially or completely replaced is the havoc and the fact that you never know where to find an item you really need.

• Depending on the type of flooring you will have installed, you need to prepare for cleaning up some mess. If you have settled for vinyl flooring, you will not have a lot of mess to handle, but the situation with hardwood floors is a bit different. Hardwood flooring installation usually goes hand in hand with a thick film of dust, so you’d better take preventive measures and take down the curtains. You are not advised to take them back before the room is completely finished, the walls are re-painted and there is nothing that would damage/stain the curtains.

• If you want to install hardwood flooring, you have a very important factor to consider. An esteemed flooring contractor points out that depending on the wood and the finish, your flooring material has to go through an acclimatisation process that lasts between 2 and 7 days. In brief, acclimatising allows the wood to adjust to the room temperature and the humidity and ensures a smoother, more precise installation process.

• When the big day finally arrives and you start the home improvement project, you need to take care of a few more things. If you have pets, make sure they do not have access to the renovated room. In addition, you have to ensure enough space for the flooring installers so they can cut or sand the wood. In case there is a limited number of power outlets in the room, make a trip to the nearest home improvement store and buy a decent extension cable. Right before the installation, you can ask a few more questions just to make sure you and the installer are on the same page.  

• Let’s discuss the post-installation period and the proper maintenance of your new flooring. Don’t forget to ask your installer is there any time you have to wait before being able to put the furniture back in place without damaging the floor. In order to make sure furniture will not cause scratches and marks, you can add furniture pads.

• However, before you move in all pieces of furniture and be able to enjoy the fantastic end results, you need to clean up the newly installed floor. The cleaning itself can take any time between 15 minutes and several hours. Regardless of the type of flooring, you have installed, you need to perform a thorough clean-up of the entire room – dust the window sills, sanitise, remove spots, etc. In most cases, the newly installed floor does not require the usage of harsh commercial chemicals. A solution of warm water and dishwashing liquid does a great job. You can even substitute the dishwashing liquid with a cup of vinegar, but the latter is not recommended if you have installed a hardwood flooring. As for the long-term maintenance, you should not underestimate the importance of regular sanding/ polishing.

The lack of time is among the frequently quoted reasons why people tend to postpone the completion of huge home renovation projects such as flooring installation. To a certain extent, they are right, but don’t forget that you can always arrange a dedicated professional who can do the job right and your involvement in the project will be narrowed down to choosing the best flooring option, moving furniture and purchasing the materials!