5 Questions to Ask Your Contractor Before a Hardwood Flooring Installation
Any hardwood flooring installation job is a major and serious work. It must be handled by professionals with lots of experience. It is best to find a flooring contractor that has local knowledge and has handled thousands of similar jobs. Before you hire an installer, you must ask them a few important questions. Here are 5 questions to ask your contractor before you hire their services for your hardwood floor installation job.
1. Are You Licensed & Insured?
Ask the hardwood flooring contractor if they are licensed and insured. This information will help you know if they have taken all the steps required to run their business as per the law. Flooring installation and repair come with a certain degree of risk. There is always room for unexpected events. Knowing that you are dealing with a licensed business can give you some peace of mind. When they are insured, you will not have to worry if something goes wrong during the work.
No one wants anything to go wrong when installing their flooring. However, you should be prepared for anything. Your floor installer should have proper contractor’s insurance and worker’s comp for all their workers.
2. Are You a Member of the NWFA?
Always work with a hardwood installer that is a member of the National Wood Flooring Association (NWFA). If you are not certain about their claims, ask them to provide a copy or number of their certification. This is a universally recognized certification. A certified installer will have mastered their craft. They also engage in continued education and training to keep their skills up-to-date.
3. What Type of Hardwood Do You Recommend for My Home?
Ask your hardwood installation expect about the type and species of hardwood they would recommend for your home. They can assess your needs, preferences, and rooms to determine what can work best for you. This is an evaluation that you may not be able to do yourself. The ideal hardwood floors are made of spices that are durable and are readily available.
The right contractor should be able to guide you in considering multiple options, including:
- Maple
- Oak
- Cherry
- Ash
- Walnut
- Mahogany
- Herringbone Pattern
- Wide-Plank Hardwood
- High-Variation Hardwood
If you prefer a hardwood floor that offers a contemporary, authentic, and rustic look and feel, consider a wide-plank hardwood design. If you seek a more natural look, high-variation hardwood is a good option. No two planks are alike, creating a more organic look.
4. How Will You Handle Installation Issues or Unexpected Problems?
As already mentioned, there is always room for unexpected issues to arise. Many contractors will create a straightforward plan for the hardwood flooring job. The right contractor will also create plans for contingencies. Your subfloors may have damage and may need repairs or replacement. Ask them if they can handle such problems. Also find out how this can affect the overall cost and timeline of the project.
5. Will Your Run a Moisture Test & Its Impact on the Floor?
Moisture will always affect hardwood flooring in one way or the other. Your location and the climatic conditions can also have an impact on the long-term form of your wood flooring. The right installer should have local knowledge of the area. They should not only run a moisture test as part of the installation process, but they should also guide you on what to expect with your flooring.
They must provide you tips on how to take care of your hardwood flooring against moisture. You should learn certain preventative measures to prevent moisture from affecting your home.
So, make sure to ask these 5 questions to a hardwood flooring installer before you hire their services. Hardwood floors are major investments and they are meant to last for a lifetime or even generations. Make sure you are choosing an experienced, licensed, and reliable contractor that can do the job right the first time.