Buying a new floor can be a frustrating and confusing process. Here’s a list of things to keep in mind before heading out to purchase your new floor.
Observe the Room Layout
When thinking about purchasing a new floor, draw an outline of the room. Indicate where the entrances are placed and measure the room carefully and accurately with a measuring tape. In addition, write down the width and length of a room. Remember to include closets and other areas that need the new flooring. Smaller print patterns can make the room seem a lot bigger.
It is important to consider adjoining rooms and the flooring on those rooms. Jot down which direction the room is facing and if there is a sliding door. Determine how much natural light enters the room. You might want to choose a laminated floor, ceramic tile or porcelain tile.
Finally, bring along swatches of fabrics from your furniture, curtains and wallpaper. These fabric samples will help you decide on the color and style of your flooring.
The follow questions will help you select the right floor for your room:
- How much foot traffic does the room get in any given day? The number of people passing or using the room would indicate the level of wear and tear the room would take. This knowledge would help you in deciding the type of flooring to get. A room with a high volume of traffic needs more durable flooring.
- What is the main function of the room? A room used mainly for leisurely activities will have less wear and tear. Delicate flooring materials can be chosen in this case.
- How many pets do you have? Pets tend to abuse the surroundings they are in – floorings may be damaged from scratching.
- How many kids do you have in the house? All the playing that the kids do tend to damage the flooring.
- What color do you prefer? Remember that lighter colors make rooms seem bigger.
- How long do you want the flooring to last? Ideally, the flooring would last forever but wear and tear eventually damages the flooring. Sooner or later, it will need to be replaced or you may want to simply change the look of the room after a certain period.
- How much is the flooring going to cost?
- Is the subfloor preparation part of the quoted price?
- Is the quoted price inclusive of the installation? Additional installations costs could be a budgeting concern – you would want to know the actual amount you’re going to spend.
- Is the removal of pre-existing flooring included in the quoted price?
- Is the quoted price inclusive of moving all appliances and furniture in the room?
- Are all the necessary materials included in the quoted price? You wouldn’t want to find out during the installation that some materials are not included and that you still need to purchase more.
Here are some suggestions on what to ask installers and specialists at a store:
- Are the installers independent, or are they store employees?
- Whose insurance will pay for installation errors?
- Are all the materials recommended by the manufacturer, so warranty will not be voided?
- Discuss with the salesperson the warranty information of the manufacturer. Keep a copy of the warranty.
- Discuss the maintenance procedure and keep a copy of the manual or brochure.
- Have everything documented including the diagram of the installation. Also, keep track of the amount of flooring needed in the room.
- Ask who will be responsible for the removal of fixed features in the room – for instance, a toilet.
Always check the website of the store to give you an idea of what they have. Take note of the affiliations to groups or other organizations. It would be best to email the store in advance to answer questions, it can save a lot of time.
Finally, have all the product information documented. The document should include the name of the manufacturer, product name, color, style and the installation procedure.