How to Hire a Hardwood Floor Contractor

Hardwood is a popular flooring choice. Whether you're installing new hardwood floors or having older floors refinished, find a contractor who can do the best job.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Yellow Pages
• Calculators
• Electronic Personal Organizers
• Telephones
• Measuring Tapes
• Contractor Referral Services
• Calculators

1. Determine the areas where you want the hardwood flooring to be installed or refinished.

2. Learn about the differences in material costs for various flooring products if you're having new floors installed, and decide which type of flooring you want to use. (See Tips for details about different options.) You can shop for flooring at a building-supply store.

3. Ask friends and relatives for recommendations to help find a contractor, or look in the yellow pages under 'Floors.'

4. Have contractors come to your home to measure and give estimates. Get several price quotes from competing contractors.

5. Discuss the finishing/coating options with the contractor. Do you have children or pets who make greater protection a must?

6. Ask to see pictures of past jobs if you're looking for a contractor to do specialty work, such as elaborate parquet or inlays.

7. Learn whether each contractor is experienced in the specific work you want done. For example, a contractor may install very high-quality standard oak floors, but may not be sufficiently skilled to handle a complex project with inlays or difficult cuts.

8. Ask the contractors for references and check them. Are previous customers happy with the work that was done?

9. Select the contractor who provides the best combination of satisfied references and price.

10. Make arrangements with the contractor to cover damage to painted trim and other items that may be damaged when refinishing or adding a floor. (You may have to accept the fact that you'll have to repaint or touch up base moldings in a room that's being worked on.)

11. Execute a contract specifying the work to be done, price, payment schedule, start date and estimated completion date. Try to pay the minimum possible deposit, and arrange a payment schedule that matches the completion of work and delivery of materials to the site.

Tips & Warnings

• Many types of wood-flooring products are available. The most common type of hardwood flooring is unfinished oak, typically in 2 1/4- or 3-inch-wide strips (3/4 inches thick), nailed into place. These floors are sanded and coated with polyurethane on site.
• Many engineered wood products are also available that offer thicknesses significantly less than 3/4 inch. These 5/16-, 3/8- and 1/2-inch thick products are particularly useful in renovations where a subfloor is already in place.
• New unfinished flooring has to arrive at the house a week or two before it is laid in order to adjust to the environment. For the same reason, it will have to sit unsanded for another week or two after installation.
• The process for finishing wood floors requires several coats, laid down over two to three days (or more), during which you can't use the floors and may even have to vacate the house due to strong fumes.

[callmetito]

on 4/29/2009 Great article!Here is another helpful article on hiring a wood flooring contractor: http://www.rendeflooring.com/blog/bid/19717/Thinking-about-hiring-a-hardwood-flooring-contractor

on 11/22/2005 Too often, many are unfamiliar with proper procedures, which leads to damage or failure before the owner has a chance to enjoy their new investment. Hardwood flooring projects should be done at the very near end of any building or home improvement activities. Check out this link:
Guide To Hardwood Floors In The Home; Wood Flooring Options

on 11/22/2005 If you are installing a glue-down floor, obtain a calcium chloride moisture and PH kit - or hire an independent inspector - to determine if your moisture level is acceptable for the floor being installed.