What to Expect With Your Flooring Installation

Laminate Floors

Laminate flooring rivals carpet for ease of installation, since it is manufactured to snap together with a minimum of adhesives. Add to that the fact that laminate can be installed over most pre-existing surfaces without having to tear them out, and you can expect a relatively easy time weathering your laminate installation. That said, you need to be patient. Most manufacturers recommend that laminate flooring materials spend two to three days acclimating to your home and its humidity levels before they are installed.

Many homeowners also get into trouble trying to install laminate flooring on their own. Snap together flooring is DIY-friendly, but it's also not for everyone. Don't overestimate your carpentry skill and create a substandard floor that will have to be fixed by a flooring contractor. It may cost more to fix the floor than it would've been to install in the first place. Plus, you may need several days or even weeks to find and schedule a reputable, affordable flooring contractor.

Hardwood Floors

With hardwood flooring you'll need to expect a noisy couple of days as your contractor nails the individual planks into your substrate. Depending on the type of installation, adhesives may also be used, in which case you'll want to prepared to deal with the odor until the adhesive is fully dried. Perhaps the largest inconvenience when installing wood floors comes after the planks have been set and a urethane finish is applied. It will take three to four coats of urethane to finish your floor, and each coat must be allowed 4 to 12 hours to dry between applications, during which time the floor cannot be used. Urethane also packs a powerful punch when it comes to odor, so you'll want to avoid the area being treated until it has fully dried in order to avoid the fumes.

Easily the biggest inconvenience is in certain climates the wood planks often need to be stored in the room where they will be laid for a week or so to adjust to the relative humidity in the house. If you are flooring an older, smaller home, this can put the pinch on your available space, but know that this will not be this way for very long.

Tile Floors

Tile flooring installation may not be the most technically challenging floor to install, but subtle problems can quickly balloon into utter chaos. Small tiles require tedious precision. Large tiles need immaculate sub-flooring for the setting to avoid raised edges. Even small mistakes can create huge eyesores. And if your contractor used an epoxy-based grout, retiling these problem areas can require the jaws of life and increasing big headaches for the homeowner.

The sealant may also need multiple coats that require various drying times. Plus, the most likely candidates for tile flooring (kitchens and bathrooms) are also the most frequented areas of the home. Arguably, no flooring looks as good as new tile, but no flooring installation is also as critical to get right the first time.

Final Note

Honestly, if you have the means and opportunity, the best plan may be to avoid that area of your altogether for the duration of the project. Eat out, order pizza, or use a different bathroom. Alternately, plan a short vacation or stay with friends or family during your flooring installation. This way you'll be out of your contractor's way, and by the time you get back everything will ready to go.