Getting Your Home Ready for Flooring Install Day

New flooring is exciting, and install day is a little disruptive. A crew arrives, furniture moves, and your home looks different for a day or two. A bit of preparation takes most of the stress out of it. Here's what we ask of homeowners at Affordable Flooring & More, and why each step matters.

The furniture question

Here's how we split the work: we do all the heavy lifting. We just ask that you box up the small items, breakables, and sentimental items. Think of the things on shelves, in china cabinets, on dressers and nightstands. If a lamp or a framed photo is the kind of thing you'd be upset to see chipped, pack it away or carry it to another room.

A few things are yours to move before we arrive: pianos, safes, fish tanks and pool tables. They're simply too specialized or too risky for a flooring crew to shift. If you aren't sure whether something counts, ask us at the estimate. For carpet jobs, we'll also ask you to clear small items from the rooms, unplug electronics and leave a clear path to the work area. If you need help with a heavy piece, tell us beforehand.

Dust, and where it comes from

Most of the dust comes from demolition, meaning tearing out the old floor. Tile demo is the dustiest of all, because breaking up tile and the material under it throws fine powder into the air. We cover furniture and cabinets to protect them, but you should still expect some post-installation cleanup. Las Vegas homes already deal with desert dust, so a day of construction dust on top of it is noticeable.

Close closet doors, cover open shelving if you can, and pull wall art off the walls in the work area. If anyone in your household is sensitive to dust, plan for them to spend the day somewhere else.

Let the materials settle in

Many flooring materials, wood and laminate especially, need time to adjust to the temperature of the home they're going into. That's called acclimating, and it matters because materials can shift slightly as they warm up or cool down. Keep your air conditioning running at its normal setting so the house is at the temperature you'll actually live in. Our team will tell you how the product you chose should be handled before install.

Moisture, the subfloor and fresh air

Before new flooring goes down, the surface underneath should be clean and even. That's another reason we look at your existing floor during the estimate. If you've had a leak, a sweating pipe or a spot that feels damp, tell us. Moisture problems should be fixed first, because a new floor over a wet spot is a repair waiting to happen.

Ventilation matters too. Adhesives and finishes need airflow, so we may ask you to run fans or open a door or window for a while. The crew will tell you what your specific floor needs. If you have a window that sticks, or a ceiling fan that isn't working, check it ahead of time.

Pets and kids

Doors will be open all day while the crew carries material in and out, and a curious dog or a toddler can slip out in a second. Plan a safe place for pets, ideally away from the work area or with a friend for the day. Keep kids out of the rooms being worked on. Tools, cutting and fresh adhesive don't mix with small hands and paws.

Your day-before checklist

• Box up small items, breakables and sentimental items.
• Move pianos, safes, fish tanks and pool tables, or tell us about them in advance.
• Clear a path from the front door to the work area, including the driveway.
• Unplug electronics and remove wall art in the work area.
• Arrange care for pets and a plan for the kids.
• Keep the air conditioning at its usual setting.
• Tell us about any moisture or leak concerns.

Who does the work

Our own trained crew does every installation. They are not subcontracted out, and our field supervisor oversees the install crews. If something isn't right when the crew finishes, we promptly send an installer back out to correct it, and your installation is covered by a 2-year installation warranty.

You'll find more detail on the preparing your home page on our site, at /preparing-your-home. If you have a question that isn't covered, call (702) 658-6008 and we'll talk it through before install day arrives.