New floors change how a whole house feels, and everyone replaces them for a reason. The carpet is tired and the boards squeak. You just moved in and the floors were never your style. You are selling, the kids and pets are tough on everything, or you finally want the floor you always pictured. Whatever your reason, a floor is only as good as what is under it and how it goes in. Here is what good installers get right.
The song: Solid Ground (Do It Right)
Old one? Selling? Kids and pets?
Tell me which one, and go get that flooring bid!Solid ground, do it right,
flat and level, seams so tight.
Three bids, same list, side by side,
solid ground, done right!
Which one are you? Every reason in the song has its own floor.
Five reasons people replace their floors
| Reason | What people often choose | What to ask |
|---|---|---|
| Old and worn | A fresh floor through the main rooms; squeaks fixed first | Will you fix the subfloor and squeaks before the new floor? |
| Just moved in | One floor through the house for a clean, open look | Can it run through every room without transitions? |
| Selling the house | Neutral, durable floors that photograph well | Which rooms make the biggest difference before listing? |
| Kids and pets | Scratch- and water-resistant floors, tile in wet areas | How does it handle spills, claws and toys? |
| The dream floor | Wood or wood-look floors, warm underfoot | What does this floor need for the climate here? |
What good installers do before the first plank
- Check the subfloor: solid, flat and level; loose spots screwed down, dips filled, humps sanded
- Moisture test: concrete slabs and subfloors tested, and a moisture barrier where needed
- Let it acclimate: wood and some other floors sit in the room before installation, per the maker
- Plan the layout: where to start, which way the planks run, and where the cuts land
During the install: the details that last
- Underlayment suited to the floor and the room, for sound and moisture
- An expansion gap along the walls, hidden by the baseboard or trim
- Staggered seams, so no lines or patterns repeat across the room
- Smooth transitions between rooms and floor types, with no trip edges
- Clean cuts at door frames, stairs and vents
Pick the floor for the room
- Kitchens, baths and laundry rooms: water-resistant floors or tile
- Basements: floors made for concrete and moisture
- Bedrooms and living rooms: wood, wood-look or carpet for comfort
- Busy hallways and entries: the toughest surface you can, plus a good mat
How to plan it
- Measure every room and plan for extra for cuts and waste, often around ten percent
- The same list to every pro: the rooms, the floor, the subfloor work, removing the old floor, moving furniture, baseboards and transitions
- Schedule around life: where you will live, where the pets go, and when the furniture moves
- Pay as it's done: the last payment after you walk the floor together
Read get flooring bids from local pros and the flooring guide.
Get flooring bids on BidHandyman
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