New floors are exciting, and a little planning in the days before installation makes the whole project go faster. Here's what we suggest to our own customers.
Clear out the small things. Empty closets that are getting new flooring, and pack up anything on shelves, tables and dressers in the work area — breakables, electronics and decorations especially. We can move standard furniture, but it goes much faster when it's already empty.
Plan around the noise and dust. Tearing out old flooring and cutting new planks is loud, and sanding hardwood creates fine dust even with good containment. If you work from home or have small children or pets, plan to be in another part of the house, or out, during the busiest days.
Think about doors and appliances. New flooring is sometimes taller than the old, so interior doors may need to be trimmed to swing freely. Refrigerators, ranges and washers have to come out for the floor to run underneath them; let us know in advance and we'll plan for it.
Give hardwood time to acclimate. Solid hardwood is delivered several days before installation so it can adjust to your home's temperature and humidity. Keep your air conditioning or heat running normally during that time — it's one of the most important steps in avoiding gaps and cupping later.
Leave the rest to us. We remove and haul away the old flooring, prepare and level the subfloor, install the new floor, put back baseboards and transitions, and clean up before we leave. If you have questions before your project starts, call or text (678) 683-0638.