Choosing a Flooring Installer
According to the United States Department of Labor, thirty-five percent of professional flooring installers that lay carpet, hardwood, vinyl, or tile are self-employed. The remainder are employed by companies and corporations. The consumer should never need to travel far to locate an installer after flooring material is purchased. In most cases, the chosen flooring for a home or place of business can be installed by a professional that works for, or is contracted by, the place where the flooring was bought. If a self-employed independent contractor is preferred, possibly to reduce expenses, it is possible to find a number of them listed in newspaper ads and various other sources.
The installation of most types of flooring, especially that of hardwood or tile, is an arduous task. Installers spend a substantial amount of time on their knees. Strapped kneepads are necessary to relieve pain associated with such continuous pressure, and for preventing the possibility of long term knee injuries. (In some states, flooring installers are required by safety regulations to wear them). Installers must also rise, bend, and kneel again frequently throughout the installation, at times while handling fairly heavy tiles. There are moments that the installer is required to move heavy furniture and large rolls of carpet, risking injury to the body’s back. Whenever a consumer disagrees with a pay rate thought of as too costly for the installation of a floor, all the factors mentioned here should be taken into consideration.
A flooring installer hired to complete the task of laying your floor should know how to inspect for any defects or other problems with the base surface (the subfloor) where the flooring will be installed. And in addition to knowing how to install flooring, the installer should have extensive knowledge of how to prepare that subfloor for the flooring that will be placed on it. For any type of flooring, the subfloor should be checked that it is completely level. No one wants a floor with dips and bumps because the surface below wasn’t straight; something that might even create a tripping hazard after the flooring is layed. Padding areas with coatings of concrete or sanding down sections of a subfloor should be a part of the installation in such situations. The subfloor should also be cleaned and wiped well of any debris or particles, something that may appear as bumps on the top layer of vinyl flooring if not removed, or cause problems with other types of flooring. Any areas of a subfloor that squeaks should also be worked on.
Prior to installation, flooring installers should also be aware of the potential for high foot traffic on the installed flooring and where it is most likely to occur. By understanding traffic, carpeting installers, for instance, will know best where to create seams when attaching separated portions of the carpet. When vinyl tiles are installed, it is very important that the first row is set with dead straight accuracy, insuring that the remaining tiles are also straight and the overall completed floor appears as it should.
Before hiring a flooring installer, it may be a good idea to shop around. Ask questions and get several estimates. It is absolutely imperative to have the person you want for the job, if you are to have the floor that you want.
Mira Floors and Interiors is Greater Vancouver’s premiere floor and window covering specialist for both home owners and commercial spaces. Mr. James Alisch and his team can assist in all aspects of floor installations, carpet, hardwood, laminate, vinyl and tile. For further information about your flooring options go to Mira Floors and Interiors
