Did you know that 90% of American homeowners who upgrade to hardwood floors have more of a desire to be at home? Hardwood floors are also a solid choice, adding value to your home and giving you a great return on your investment.
If you’re considering installing new hardwood floors, you’re likely searching Google for hardwood flooring installers near me. But how do you know what to look for in a company with so many options out there?
Luckily, you’ll just need to keep reading this guide to learn everything you need to know about choosing the right flooring contractor!
Table of Contents
Check Online Reviews
When you’re looking to hire a flooring contractor, it’s essential to do your homework first. You need to learn everything you can about the companies you’re considering.
Your first step is to make a list of the top five local flooring contractors in your area. Google is a great place to start. Many people also use sites like Angi’s List or Home Advisor to find top-rated flooring contractors in their area.
Read the Google reviews for each company and see if they’re responsive to negative and positive reviews. It’s also a good idea to check the Better Business Bureau (BBB). The BBB is an excellent resource for complaints, reviews, and ratings. You’ll get a good idea of how happy people are with a particular company’s quality of work.
You’ll also need to review the company websites. Most reputable companies have customer testimonials and a portfolio of their completed work online. Get a good overview of the types of flooring they typically install.
For example, the company that installs this concrete coating system has detailed descriptions and pictures of their work. You’ll get a good idea of what to look for when evaluating company websites.
Check for Licensure and Insurance
Each state has rules regarding the licenses and certifications a contractor should have to perform their job. Contractors need specific skills and need to take a test to obtain licensure. A license is the best way to determine that the contractor you choose has the knowledge to do the job correctly.
Some general contractors also do flooring work. Most of the time, general contractors must be licensed through your state’s licensing board. Flooring contractors can also be subcontractors like plumbers and electricians.
You’ll need to research to determine what type of license a subcontractor should hold in your state. In general, you should be able to refer to your local Secretary of State’s website to get the necessary information.
Insurance
Finally, you’ll need to ensure that the contractor you choose has insurance coverage.
Reputable companies should have at least general liability insurance. General liability insurance protects businesses from any claim that could occur during an installation.
If a company employee gets injured in your home, this insurance will cover bodily injuries, preventing you from getting sued for damages. It also offers protection against any property damage that could occur.
Compare Price Quotes
Before hiring a flooring contractor, you need to shop for the best deal. Remember, although you want to find the best contractor for the job, you must also ensure you’re getting a fair price.
It’s best to compare quotes from at least three different companies in your local area. Get a written quote and check how detailed they are about the project and the scope of work involved. Note how quickly it takes a company to give you an estimate.
Also, pay attention to how professional and polite the company is to work with. If a company is challenging to communicate with when you’re getting an estimate, it’s a sign to look elsewhere.
Finally, remember that flooring contractors offer different services. You’ll need to ensure the services you need are listed in the price quote. For example, there are at least two steps to flooring installation. First, you’ll need the contractor to remove your existing floors since it’s not recommended to install new floors over your existing floors.
Taking the time to compare flooring contractor fees is well worth your while.
Ask Detailed Questions
Once you get price quotes, you should take your research one step further. Don’t be afraid to ask detailed questions. Reputable contractors will spend as much time as necessary to answer your questions.
Put a list of questions together to ask potential companies, like:
- Can you make recommendations about wood grain or color?
- What type of maintenance will my new floors need?
- Do you foresee any possible issues during the installation?
- Do you have a plan in place to overcome installation challenges?
- What is the timeline to complete the installation?
- How often will you update me about the progress of the installation?
Disposal and Cleanup
You’ll also need to find out information about clean up and disposal. Remember, flooring removal and installation will create a lot of trash. The last thing you want is to find out after the installation that you’re responsible for the cleanup.
Find out how the company plans to dispose of old flooring materials. Your city will typically have regulations on proper disposal. It’s also important to realize that different flooring materials have different disposal rules.
You may even be able to recycle some of your old flooring materials.
Moving Furniture
Depending on how many rooms are getting new floors, you’ll likely need to remove furniture. It’s essential to ask the company if they’ll move the furniture or if you’re responsible for this.
In addition, check to see if the company is willing to move furniture back into the room once the flooring installation is complete.
Keep in mind it will be your responsibility to remove small items and clear off furniture. Most flooring installers won’t handle electronics like hooking and unhooking TVs and computers.
Finding Hardwood Flooring Installers Near Me
Now when you’re searching Google for hardwood flooring installers near me, you’ll know exactly what to look for.
Remember to take your time researching, and don’t be afraid to ask as many questions as you need to feel comfortable. Before you know it, you’ll find the best flooring contractor for your project.
Make sure to check out the rest of our blog to learn more helpful home improvement and construction tips!
