Installation Guide
Installation Guide
If furniture will be moved, remove and box any items on or around the furniture.
If beds are being moved, remove all linens and bedding.
Pool tables, grand pianos, aquariums, waterbeds, etc. require special handling and should be moved prior to installation.
Remove all hanging objects from the walls directly in and around the area of installation (at least 36" from the floor). Vibrations from the installation may cause damage to these items.
Disconnect and move any electronics, appliances and computers.
If flooring will be installed in a closet, remove all items on the floor and all low hanging items (at least 36" from floor).
Installation can be dusty (especially if removing old flooring) and noisy.
Our installers are not responsible for damage to valuables that have not been removed from within or around the installation area.
Our installers need access to an area where they can store and cut flooring materials during the course of the installation. Make sure that you have cleared an area, typically in the garage or porch, for this purpose.
Our installers will need access to electrical power.
It is the homeowner's responsibility to arrange for a licensed professional to disconnect and reconnect any gas or water connections if needed.
Plan to be home the entire day of the installation.
Should concealed imperfections or damages be revealed during the removal of your existing floor, additional work will be required. Subfloor damage and imperfections can only be determined after we remove the existing flooring. Any imperfections found in the subfloor and requiring correction are the responsibility of the customer.
Our installers will not install any cable or wiring underneath the flooring. Doing so can damage the wires and may also void the manufacturer's warranty of your flooring.
Communicate to our installers the locations of any security wires in your home so they do not cut them by accident.
We are not responsible for any problems that may arise due to pre-existing structural conditions such as asbestos, mold, or building code violations.
There will be some variation in shade or characteristic between the sample you chose and the product actually installed in your home. However, the difference will be within the manufacturer's tolerance specifications.
In most homes the walls are not square, making it impossible for the pattern on the flooring material to be parallel to every wall.
For material with a pattern, it is the homeowner's responsibility to communicate to the installer which wall they would like to have the pattern run parallel to. Otherwise the installers will use their best judgement.
If your existing floor is laid under quarter round, we cannot be responsible for the breakage of any moldings when the existing floor is removed or a new floor is installed over the existing floor.
In some cases, the new flooring may not be as thick as your existing flooring. As a result, some of the old paint lines on your walls may show after installation. You may have to re-paint any painted baseboard after installation.
It is not the responsibility of our installers to fix squeaky subfloors or wall structures.
If necessary, our installers will remove doors and set them back in place. However they will not be able to undercut doors if the new floor is higher than the existing floor.
We are not responsible for excessive gaps under baseboards or door jambs if the new floor is thinner/lower than the existing floor.
Vibrations from the installation may cause cracks in wall moldings and popping of some loose drywall nails. We are not responsible for such damage since it is an unavoidable part of the installation procedure.
After installation, be sure to thoroughly examine the job with your installer to ensure your satisfaction before they leave your home.
Due to the stiff nature of certain flooring materials, even with our installer's best efforts it is possible that walls or baseboards could be scratched during installation. Any re-touching or re-painting will be the responsibility of the customer.
After installation, our installers will remove all waste from flooring and any other installation related trash on the site.
The removal of your existing floor and installation of your new floor will create some dust that cannot be avoided. We recommend a thorough cleaning after installation.
If you have a preference for the direction of the pattern on the carpet, discuss it with your sales professional at the time of sale.
Seams are inevitable. Our installers will do the best they can, but you still may be able to see some seams depending upon the placement of the seam and the type of carpet.
If you prefer a seam placement in any particular area of the room, please discuss this with your sales professional. Otherwise we will determine the best area for seam placement.
In some instances, we may not be able to match the pattern of the carpet on the stairs with the area next to it or may require extra carpet to do so.
Carpet is manufactured in standard widths and must all be installed in the same direction, which can lead to leftover pieces. If desired, we will leave smaller remnants for your use or for an additional charge we can bind them to create runners or rugs.
Your new carpet may shed small amounts of fiber within the first year after installation. Do not be alarmed if your vacuum fills up quickly.
You may see shaded areas of lines across the width of your carpet. These result from the weight of the carpet resting on itself during storage. These marks will disappear in time with normal traffic and vacuuming. If roll marks are still visible after 90 days, please call your sales professional.
We can run floating hardwood floors and glue down wood floors in any direction. Please notify your sales professional if you have a preference.
Nail down hardwood floors must be run perpendicular to your floor joists.
Putting top nails in the floor is necessary. This is done to nail down the hardwood in an area where the regular nail gun cannot operate (the first couple of rows) or to improve a board's stability in the middle of the floor.
During installation, some boards may splinter or crack. If this occurs, we will remedy the situation by either filling the void or replacing the board.
The transitions will not match the grain and color of the hardwood 100%. The portion of the tree used for transitions may be different from that used for the hardwood board. This difference is more pronounced in stair nosing.
Filler is used to mask small imperfections in the manufacturing of the floor. It is a standard part to the installation procedure to fill in areas such as nail holes, gaps, or chips that are smaller than the width of a penny.
The typical waste for hardwood floors is 7% or higher, depending on the shape of the room and the material being used.
For best results, minimize walking on any glued down hardwood for a period of 24 hours.
Since wood is a product of nature, it is very common for wood flooring to expand and contract as the seasons change.
Flooring material should be acclimated (24-48 hours) in its intended environment before installation.
You should maintain proper climate controls at your home to prevent excessive gaps from appearing in your hardwood floor.
Shade variation of ceramic or porcelain tile is a natural aspect of the tile. We will do our best to mix the tiles throughout your floor, but keep in mind that the tiles will not all be the same.
A grout sealer should be used with cement based grouts to minimize staining. Since the grout must cure for 30 days before the sealer can be applied, this is not a process that installers typically perform. Sealers will wear and wash out over time and should be re-applied on a regular basis in order to remain effective.
A slight discoloration in ceramic grout is common. Shading variations may also occur in the grout after it is installed as some joints may be slightly deeper and take longer to dry.
The grout should dry 12-24 hours before walking on the floor.
Please take special care and be sure to keep a few extra tiles in case future repairs are needed.
We can install your laminate flooring in any direction because it is a floating floor. Notify your sales professional if you have a preference.
Laminate floors may need to be separated at doorways with the use of a t-molding.
Flooring material should be acclimated (24-48 hours) in its intended environment before installation.
Do not drag any heavy objects on the vinyl especially in the first 48 hours after installation.
Avoid stepping on the seam sealer for 24 hours after installation.
In the event that an existing resilient floor which may contain asbestos needs to be removed, the following options are available. We can install new underlayment over your old resilient floor to prepare for new floor covering. Also, many of the new flooring materials can be a floating installation. If removal of an existing floor containing asbestos should become necessary during installation, you will need to arrange for this work to be done by a certified abatement specialist.