Where flooring jobs go wrong
Flooring is one of the most complaint-heavy trades in home improvement. Not because the materials are bad, but because too many installers skip the preparation steps that make installations last. The most expensive hardwood floor will fail on a poorly prepped subfloor.
The 10 pitfalls
Skipping subfloor preparation
High spots, low spots, soft spots, and squeaks do not disappear under new flooring.
No moisture testing before wood installation
Concrete slabs hold moisture even when they look dry.
Bait-and-switch on material grade
A quote describing materials vaguely leaves room for substitution.
Skipping acclimation for hardwood
Solid hardwood needs 3-7 days sitting in your home before installation.
Cheap or missing underlayment
Some installers use the cheapest foam they can find to protect their margin.
Surprise demo and transition charges
Removal of old flooring can add $1-$3 per square foot.
Paying in full before the job is done
Once you have paid in full, the contractor has no incentive to address punch-list items.
Installing over existing flooring to hide subfloor problems
Installing over existing flooring can be done correctly when the base is solid.
No written warranty terms
A verbal warranty is worth nothing when the installer does not pick up the phone six months later.
Choosing based on price alone
Price differences between quotes usually reflect different material grades, different subfloor prep standards, or different warranty terms.
The short version
Get product specs in writing. Ask about subfloor prep and moisture testing before you ask about price. Pay in stages. A good flooring job should last 20-50 years depending on the material. The decisions you make in hiring determine more than anything that happens on installation day.
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