What to Expect Before Your New Flooring Is Installed

Article Summary

A little preparation before new flooring is installed can make installation day easier for everyone involved. This guide covers what happens before flooring installation, how to prepare your home, and what to expect based on the flooring you’ve selected.

New flooring is selected, the project is scheduled, and now it’s time to get your home ready for flooring installation. Fortunately, homeowners aren’t responsible for figuring out the technical details themselves. Your primary role is making the space accessible, protecting your belongings, planning around the work, and following any project-specific instructions provided by your flooring team.

The exact process will depend on whether you’re installing carpet, hardwood, luxury vinyl, laminate, tile, or a combination of materials. This guide covers what happens before installation, how to prepare your home, and what you can expect once installation day arrives.

What Happens Before New Flooring Is Installed?

Before installation day, the flooring team coordinates the details needed to move the project forward, including measurements, material requirements, scheduling, and installation considerations specific to the selected product.

For homeowners, this is a good time to review the scope of the project and make sure you understand what to expect. Confirm which rooms are included, the anticipated timeframe, how existing flooring will be handled, and arrangements for large furniture. If flooring transitions from one material to another or there are other unique details in the space, those should be discussed ahead of time too.

You don’t need to know every technical step involved. You should simply feel confident about what the flooring team will handle and what you need to do before they arrive.

Have questions before installation day? Technique Flooring can walk you through the process and make sure you know how to prepare for your specific project. Contact us here.

Preparing Your House for Flooring Installation

The goal of preparing your home is simple: give installers an accessible work area while keeping your belongings safely out of the way.

Start by removing smaller furniture, lamps, electronics, décor, plants, toys, and personal belongings from rooms receiving new flooring. Closets may also need to be cleared if the new floor extends inside them. Ask about large furniture ahead of time rather than assuming you need to move everything yourself.

Remove fragile or valuable items from nearby shelves and surfaces, and clear hallways and entryways so installers can carry flooring, tools, and equipment into the work area.

Pets should be secured away from the project, particularly because exterior doors may be opened frequently. Children should also stay outside active work areas. If a kitchen, bedroom, home office, hallway, or another frequently used space is involved, plan how your household will function while that room is temporarily unavailable.

Not sure what you need to move? Call Technique Flooring at (254) 690-1444 before installation day so you can prepare without doing more than necessary.

How Installation Looks Different for Every Flooring Type

Not all flooring installation projects require the same preparation or follow the same process. The material underneath, installation method, and requirements of the new product can all affect the work involved.

There may also be product decisions to make before installation. With carpet, for example, choosing the right carpet padding can affect comfort and performance. Pet owners may want to consider carpet options designed with pets and everyday cleanup in mind.

For luxury vinyl projects, learning more about COREtec flooring and its practical features can help you better understand the product before it goes into your home.

Talk with your Technique Flooring consultant about your specific flooring so you know if there are any additional steps to take before installation day. 

Your Pre-Installation Checklist

Use this general checklist as installation day approaches, keeping in mind that instructions provided for your particular project should always take priority.

• Confirm your installation date and any arrival details provided.
• Remove small furniture and personal belongings from the work area.
• Clear closets if new flooring will extend inside them.
• Move fragile and valuable items away from nearby surfaces.
• Confirm arrangements for large furniture.
• Clear a path from the home's entrance to the installation area.
• Secure pets away from the work zone.
• Plan for children to stay outside active installation areas.
• Make arrangements for rooms that may temporarily be unavailable.
• Complete any flooring-specific preparation requested by your installer.
• Make sure the flooring team has a reliable way to reach you if questions arise.

Keep your project instructions handy, and contact Technique Flooring at (254) 690-1444 before installation day if you're unsure about anything on your preparation list.

What to Expect on Flooring Installation Day

Every project is different, but knowing the general flow of installation day can help you plan.

1. The crew arrives and reviews the work area.
   Installers get oriented to the project, bring in the necessary materials and equipment, and prepare the areas where they'll be working.
2. If included in the project, existing flooring is removed.
   If flooring removal is part of your installation, existing carpet, hardwood, luxury vinyl, laminate, or tile will be removed as appropriate.
3. The surface underneath is evaluated and prepared.
   Removing an existing floor can reveal conditions that weren't visible beforehand. The installers will evaluate the surface and determine what preparation is necessary for the new flooring.
4. Your new flooring is installed.
   This step looks different for every material. Carpet, hardwood, luxury vinyl, laminate, and tile each have their own installation methods and requirements.
5. Transitions and finishing details are completed.
   The crew addresses the finishing elements included in the project, such as transitions between flooring materials and other installation-specific details.
6. The work area and finished floor are reviewed.
   Once installation is complete, the project moves into cleanup and a final review of the new floor, including applicable information about care and maintenance.

Installation timelines vary by material, project size, preparation requirements, and conditions uncovered after an existing floor is removed. A single carpeted bedroom, for example, won't necessarily have the same installation timeline as tile throughout several connected spaces.

Technique Flooring provides professional flooring installation throughout Central Texas and can explain what the installation process will look like for the flooring and scope of your particular project. Get started with a free estimate.

Key Takeaways

• Preparing for flooring installation is primarily about making your home accessible and following the project-specific instructions provided by your flooring team.
• Clearing personal belongings, protecting fragile items, creating an accessible path, and making plans for pets and children can help your home stay organized during the project.
• Carpet, hardwood, luxury vinyl, laminate, and tile have different preparation and installation requirements.
• Large furniture and existing flooring should be discussed ahead of time so everyone understands what will be handled before and during installation.
• Conditions beneath an existing floor may not be visible until removal begins, and additional preparation may occasionally be necessary.
• Installation timelines depend on the flooring material, size of the project, preparation involved, and conditions within the home.

Technique Flooring provides new flooring and professional installation for customers in Harker Heights, Copperas Cove, Belton, Salado, Georgetown, and Round Rock. Visit the Killeen or Temple showroom or call (254) 690-1444 to shop flooring and talk with the team about your upcoming project.