Flooring Project Prep Steps

Any flooring project is significant in that it requires some planning on your part to smooth the way for your contractor to get the job done in as little time as possible. Your prep steps will vary depending on the type of flooring you're having installed, but here are some good general guidelines to help any flooring remodel project get off on the right foot.

Clear the Work-Space
With any flooring project, the biggest obstacles to getting started are your personal belongings and furniture. All of this stuff is going to have to be cleared out in order to give your flooring contractor room to work his magic. Store larger furniture in an adjacent room if possible. Remember, you'll have to move it all back in a few days or weeks so the less ground you have to cover, the better.

For smaller items, store them in a garage or basement until the work is finished. Don't forget valuables and knick-knacks, even if they are off the floor to begin with. Your flooring contractor will be as careful as possible around your possessions, but even the most careful flooring installer can inadvertently damage items when lugging around heavy materials and working with power tools and cords. As a general rule, it's best to get anything you don't want broken out of the way before the work begins.

Clean the Area
This prep step is often overlooked when considering flooring because the pre-existing material will usually have to be removed before the new floor is installed. The general feeling is if they're going to make a mess, why clean in the first place? While there is some truth to this sentiment (no need to break out the mop bucket or the steam cleaner), it's still helpful to your contractor if you give the area a light sweep or quick vacuum before the existing material has to removed. Your contractor is going to have plenty of mess to deal with of their own making. They will appreciate not having to deal with yours as well.

Remove Pre-existing Flooring
If you've got a free weekend before the project begins, you can cut your costs and make things easier for your contractor by pulling up the pre-existing flooring before they arrive. It will take some time and a little effort on your part, but you'll thank yourself when you get the final bill and your contractor will be excited to be able to skip this step of the process. Most contractors will anticipate removal of the pre-existing flooring as part of the job, however, so if you don't want to bother with this big of an undertaking, by all means leave it to the pros.

Planning for the Invasion
Any major flooring remodel will require your contractor and his crew to make multiple trips through your house during the course of the installation. Anticipate where the highest level of foot traffic will be and plan for it. Scrounge up some old strips of carpet to lay down in high traffic areas to protect any flooring that isn't being removed, and cover furniture and remove valuables that are in the most highly used pathways.

Final Considerations
Your preparations ahead of time will be duly noted by your flooring contractor and appreciated. After the work begins, however, it's best to give your contractor a wide berth and leave the work to the professionals.