Shopping for new floors?
Filled with trepidation and worried you will make an expensive mistake? Don’t feel alone—-almost everybody feels that way! We understand that this is something you have probably never done before, there are so many choices, and so much information to absorb. You are smart to learn from the experience of others.
Here’s a list of the Top 6 flooring mistakes to avoid:
- Selecting the Flooring Product Without Considering Your Needs and Lifestyle.
There is no universal best type of flooring for everybody. Different types of floors will hold up differently depending on factors such as traffic, pets, kids, etc. Knowing your family’s lifestyle and picking a flooring that fits into that lifestyle is something that a lot of people don’t consider. For example, picking a high gloss hardwood floor when you have young kids and pets is setting the floor up for failure. All floors have their pros and cons. You need to take the time to determine which product will best meet your needs (lifestyle, budget, appearance, maintenance, etc.) while creating the fewest concerns. Spend time talking with flooring professionals and be honest about what you do not like about your current floor and then listen to the recommendations and advice. Be open to products you have not considered or did not know existed. - Falling For Advertising Gimmicks
There are lots of claims that companies will make to get customers in the door: “buy one room, get two free” or “free installation.” If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is! Companies that advertise these things are not giving you anything for free. The cost to cover the “two free rooms” is hidden in the price of the one room you are paying for, or in the labor charges. Get more than one estimate, make sure you are comparing apples to apples, and look at the bottom line prices. - Selecting Poor Quality
Putting in new floors is an expensive project. It takes lots of planning and saving to make sure you are getting a high quality product that will last for a long time. You don’t want to end up choosing a product that you’re going to have to replace in a short amount of time because it is poor quality. Ultimately it will cost you more money than you’ll save by going with a low quality flooring. - Not Understanding What You Are Buying
Picking a new floor can be a daunting task. There are hundreds of different products to choose from and you want to make sure you are getting the best quality product for your budget. All tile is not the same, just like all cars are not exactly the same. For example, ceramic tile is totally different and less costly than porcelain tile, just like a Kia is not at all like a Rolls Royce. The more you know, the easier it will be to make the best choice for your home. - Skimping on Installation
You can buy the best quality product on the market, but if it’s installed incorrectly, there will be problems and it will not last as long as it should. It is important to do research on installation. You are paying a lot of money to put in new floors, so you want them to be installed correctly! When choosing an installer, make sure they are familiar with the product going down and have experience dealing with that product. You want your investment to last for years, so don’t cheat yourself by cutting corners with installation. The very best installers usually do not install a wide variety of products; most specialize in certain areas in order to be a true craftsman. We at Burgos Tile can connect you with the right installer. - Ignoring a Damaged or Uneven Subfloor
A subfloor is the structure upon which all the floors in your home are anchored. Depending on the construction of your home, the subfloor may be cement/concrete or plywood.
Flooring manufacturers require your subfloor be flat, clean, dry, and structurally sound prior to the installation of your new floor. Many flooring products also have requirements as to how level your subfloor must be. Carpet and pad hide the fact that a subfloor is damaged or is not level. Tile and wood do not Flooring installations can fail due to lack of proper floor prep and leveling. Also, in the event of a product defects claim, the manufacturer’s product warranty can be void due to this improper installation.
Over time, wooden subfloors, like any wooden structure, are subject to damage. Water damage, termites, mold and dry rot can all weaken a wooden structure, making it uneven and more likely to break. The situation is further complicated if your house has settled and sagged. For many floor coverings, the subfloor must be level to within 3/16” over a 10’ span. Cement slabs are usually uneven and this is something that should be corrected prior to the installation of the new hard surface floor.
Installing a new floor atop a damaged or compromised subfloor simply doesn’t make sense. You wouldn’t put an expensive custom paint job on a rusted out car, would you? Of course not. The same principle applies to flooring.