Installing new flooring is a home improvement project that can instantly transform the look and feel of your living space. Whether you’re replacing old, worn-out floors or simply want to update your home’s style, a flooring installation is a significant investment that requires careful planning and preparation.
Understanding the process involved in installing different types of flooring can help you set realistic expectations and ensure a smooth, successful installation. From plush carpets to sleek LVT planks, each flooring material has its own unique requirements and challenges.
At Greg Stone Flooring, we offer a wide range of flooring options in a host of colours and patterns to suit your home. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll dive into the details of what to expect when installing new floors and how you can prepare your home to make the installation easier.
How Do Flooring Installations Differ Depending on Material?
Carpets
Carpet installation involves several steps. First, your installers will lay down padded underlay to provide cushioning and insulation beneath the carpet – this helps to enhance comfort underfoot but also extends the longevity of your carpets. Next, a tack strip is installed around the perimeter of the room – this has nails pointing upwards that will grab and hold the carpet in place along the edges.
With the room prepped, the installers will bring in the carpet rolls and use a knee kicker to position and stretch the carpet. They start by laying out the carpet and cutting it to the approximate size and shape of the room, leaving extra length on all sides. The lengthwise carpet strips are seamed together using a special heat and tape process. Finally, the excess carpet along the baseboards and walls is trimmed down, creating a polished, seamless look.
Laminate
The process of installing laminate flooring begins with proper preparation of the subfloor, ensuring it’s level, clean and free from any debris. Next, a moisture barrier or underlay is laid down to protect the laminate planks from moisture and provide a cushioned surface for installation.
The laminate planks are then arranged according to the desired pattern, with each plank carefully interlocked with the adjacent pieces using a tongue-and-groove system, which creates a tight and seamless fit. As the installation progresses, spacers are used along the walls to maintain an expansion gap, allowing the flooring to expand and contract with temperature changes.
Tiles
Installing carpet tiles is a versatile and modular flooring option that offers benefits like easy installation, flexibility and simple maintenance. The installation process begins with properly preparing the subfloor by ensuring it is clean, dry and level. Any existing flooring should be removed, and any cracks or imperfections repaired before the new floor is laid down. A moisture barrier or underlayment may also be necessary depending on the subfloor material and manufacturer recommendations.
Installers can then begin laying the tiles from the designated start point according to the planned pattern, firmly pressing each one into place to ensure a smooth surface. Excess tiles are trimmed as needed along walls, corners and doors with a utility knife or carpet trimmer, and edge strips or door bars are added for a finished look. For residential environments, tiles are usually laid loose so they can be taken up more easily in the future if need be. For commercial settings, the occasional tile will be fitted in place with an adhesive to anchor them for high traffic areas.
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What Homeowners Should Expect
Our fitters are highly skilled and can provide a swift and professional installation so you can enjoy your new floors in next to no time. However, there are a few things to remember if you’ve never had floors fitted before. First, whether you fit the carpet yourself or hire our professional team, you’ll no doubt find that the carpet sheds slightly which is completely normal. Vacuuming, daily, if possible, for the first few weeks, will help resolve this issue and helps the carpet settle into place.
Dust and debris can also be common from where your previous floors were lifted and removed. Our installers always do their best to keep dust to a minimum, but it’s not always completely avoidable, so covering doorways or closing doors to other rooms can help minimise the dust entering the rest of the house. We always clean up any mess created during installations, so rest assured that your home will be left neat and tidy before we leave.
Another common issue for the first few days after a new floor is fitted is a slight odour which is caused by ‘off-gassing’ and is due to the chemicals in the adhesive or the floor itself. These volatile organic compounds are harmless and evaporate at room temperature, which is why you may notice them once the carpet or new flooring is in place. Be sure to ventilate the room well for the first couple of days; vacuuming can also help.
Tips for a Smoother Installation
While much of a successful flooring installation relies on the skills and experience of the professional fitting team, there are several tips homeowners can take away to help the process go as smoothly as possible. First and foremost, maintain clear and open communication with your installation team from start to finish. Discuss any concerns upfront, provide them with a detailed overview of your expectations, and be available to answer questions or make decisions during the process. Two-way communication prevents misunderstandings – we pride ourselves on ensuring we exceed the expectations of our customers at every stage by taking the time to communicate.
Remember that your fitting team are experts, so be sure to closely follow any instructions or guidance they provide related to preparing the space, restrictions on use after installation and more. Their job-specific advice will help protect your new floors and keep them looking their best.
Finally, remember that a proper flooring installation takes time and can’t be rushed. Depending on the flooring type and area size, it may take anywhere from a few hours to fit a carpet in one room to several days to fully complete a whole house. Build allowances into your schedule for potential delays caused by unforeseen circumstances.
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Installing new flooring can transform the look and value of your home. From plush carpets to wood-effect LVT, each flooring type requires a specific installation process with its own set of considerations.
At Greg Stone Flooring, we pride ourselves on delivering a smooth and professional installation process – from initial consultation to enjoying your new floors, you’ll be surprised how fast and efficient our team is. Get in touch with us to arrange a home visit or visit us at our warehouse to browse the vast selection of floors we have available.
