Flooring is one of the main attributes of the house and is among the few home improvements that can enhance the beauty of a house in the shortest time. However, the type of flooring contractor needed to do the installation is very important so that one is able to get good quality products and have them installed well and at reasonable cost. When you have this many choices it can be hard to try and find out where to start when you are looking at getting new hardwood flooring and whether to go with a large chain flooring company or if you should hire a contractor. To that end, below is a guide to essential factors to consider when hiring a flooring contractor.
Experience Level
Selecting the right contractor for your floor is also another important thing to consider and one of them is the level of experience. A company that has been installing floors for several years is likely to know what to do when prepping the subsurface, measuring the area, installing the flooring material of your choice, and dealing with emerging complications. They will appreciate the peculiarities of some rooms and kinds of floorings, which can be seen as opportunities as well.
However, an inexperienced contractor is likely to cause problems that may leave floors not to last as long as they should or may not be as attractive as required. Potential contractors should be asked about the amount of business experience they have and what kind of hardwood flooring installation in bala cynwyd they do the most to help one determine how skilled the contractor is.
Types of Flooring
It is also important to ensure that the company you choose has working experience in the type of floor you want to install apart from hardwood, laminate, vinyl plank, tile and carpet. To sum it up, some of the contractors focus on some specific hardwood flooring as opposed to other general contractors who provide various services. Get to know if they have completed similar projects like the flooring project that you want them to do for you.
Licensing and Insurance
The state license should be obtained by the qualified contractor who works in the specific type of flooring. Licensing ensures the person or company has proper certification to install floors in your state or region. To avoid poor work and ending up paying for a raw and unlawful contractor, ensure you check their license. Moreover, only choose those companies which will have general liability insurance and the workers’ compensation policy in case there is an accident in your company. Require the contractors to show you an insurance certificate.
Project Quote
In this case you need to give more than just the price bid by various flooring contractors, and try to have it in terms of bids. A very low quote can be a sign that a contractor is being unprofessional, using substandard materials, or is just out to make a quick buck. The estimate should outline a detailed project description of all aspects of a project such as materials to be used, time frame, warranties and payment structures. Never purchase insurance without getting at least three different quotes.
Warranties
Actually, all types of flooring as well as professional installations should be backed up by manufacturer and labor warranties in case of product defects and bad workmanship. hardwood flooring is a durable structure that comes with varied guarantees of its material and quality ranging from 1 year, 5 years, 10 years or even lifetime or other term depending on the quality of the floor. The contractor should also provide a workmanship warranty of 1 to 3 years on the installed systems.
Differences in terms provided under warranty for materials and workmanship should be considered and contrasted between bids along with defining what is inclusive and exclusive of the warranty offer before awarding a contract. Additional labor warranties can also be a bit expensive but the services are worthwhile when it comes to fancy flooring.
References and Reviews
Some of the most convincing recommendations one can get are ever spoken by recent customers and the reviews are highly informative when it comes to flooring contractors. Trustworthy companies should have no issue in supplying several references if needed. For references, it is also a good practice to follow up to ask how it went, if the contractor was able to complete within the given budget and time, how the floors are holding up, and would they recommend the company to your project.
Attention to Detail
When you meet the contractor for the first time, pay attention to how much of an effort the contractor is willing to pay to the details of your project such as measuring the area, inspecting the existing floor, and explaining the proposed layout, and materials. Contractors who decide to take measurements on their own and who address all aspects of work, show attention that is equal to care taken during installation for improved final outcomes.
Safety Standards
Some of the common issues that may arise during hardwood flooring installation in bala cynwyd include the tearing down of the existing floors, which emit dangerous dust and air particles. Proceed and inquire about measures put in place such as sealing off work areas, using dust control systems, and mask usage by workers. Businesses that care about safety can be relied upon to finish the job well and make sure that the work area is clean.
Project Management
Overall, your flooring project should be assigned a project manager who is responsible for the project from beginning to end and will be your liaison. The project manager should oversee all matters of the job such as crew timings, material supplies, work plans for the day, inspection, completion deadlines and if in some cases the project requirements change then he should handle change orders. Where there is no oversight in project management, there is the likelihood of poor schedule control, inadequate quality of work, and communication issues.
Selecting the right contractor that will provide the best flooring for your project is not easy and this involves analyzing numerous aspects in relation to experience, showroom visits, warranties and among others. To avoid frustrations of having to replace a company after a short while because they do not measure up to your hardwood flooring installation in bala cynwyd expectations, it is advisable to spend some time comparing their credentials, quality of work, price, and their attitude towards customers before you choose to hire them.
If you are interviewing companies you should fill in all of these points and only then feel comfortable with your final decision. Once you have the right contractor on board you are on the right track to great looking floors that will surely improve the look of your home for many years.
