Choosing and installing new flooring is a big investment that can transform the look and feel of your home.
Whether you’ve gone for timeless solid wood flooring, sturdy engineered wood flooring, modern laminate, stylish Luxury Vinyl Tile (LVT) or classic parquet flooring, installing them properly is crucial for achieving both aesthetic appeal and long-term durability. Without careful planning and execution, even the best-quality floors can fail to live up to their potential.
Do Research and Plan Thoroughly
Before diving into your flooring project, you need to take the time to research various flooring options. Consider factors such as durability, maintenance requirements and aesthetic appeal.
Assess the specific needs of each room to figure out what flooring material would be the most appropriate and suitable. It would help if you created a detailed installation plan too, including exact measurements and any necessary subfloor preparations.
Do Choose High-Quality Materials
Invest in high-quality flooring materials from reputable suppliers to ensure longevity and performance.
Budget-friendly options can be good, but sometimes they lack durability and may need replacing or repairing frequently, resulting in more money being spent. Choosing to spend more upfront for quality materials can save you money and time in the long run.
Do Prepare the Subfloor Properly
For a smooth and stable foundation for your new flooring, it’s essential that you prepare your subfloor properly.
Thoroughly clean the subfloor to remove any dirt, debris or existing adhesives. Make sure to repair any imperfections too such as cracks or unevenness; anything to ensure that the surface is level before installing your new flooring.
Do Acclimate Flooring Materials
Many types of flooring, particularly wood, laminate and LVT, need to acclimatise to the environment before installing them. You should allow them to adapt to the temperature and humidity levels for at least 48 hours.
Do Follow Guidelines and Instructions
You should always follow the guidelines and installation instructions as they’re specific to your floor. These guidelines often include recommendations for installation methods, adhesives to use and maintenance procedures.
Do Use the Right Tools and Equipment
Before you get started, make sure you’ve got the necessary tools and equipment for the job such as saws, drills, spacers, adhesive applicators and safety gear.
By using the right tools, you can ensure a precise and efficient installation process, whilst minimising the risk of accidents or damage to your new flooring.
Do Allow for Expansion Gaps
Due to fluctuations in temperature and humidity, most flooring warps, especially wood flooring. This is completely natural and won’t necessarily cause you any problems.
To help combat these fluctuations, you should leave expansion gaps around the perimeter of the room and at transitions between different flooring materials. These gaps will help accommodate your floors if they expand or shrink, preventing buckling or warping.
You can use spacers to keep consistent spacing along walls and other fixed structures.
Do Take Care with Transitions
It’s also worth paying attention to transitions between rooms, stairs and other architectural features. You should use transition strips or mouldings to create seamless transitions between the different floors, while allowing for movement and expansion.
If they’re installed properly, transitions can enhance both the aesthetic and functional aspects of your floor and home!
Do Test for Moisture
Before installation, you should conduct moisture tests on both the subfloor and the flooring material to ensure that the moisture levels are within acceptable ranges.
Do Take Your Time
If you rush through the installation process, you’re bound to make mistakes and have subpar results. It’s important to take your time, measure accurately, plan each step carefully and execute the installation with precision.
Patience and attention to detail are key to achieving professional-quality results that will help your floor stand the test of time.
Don’t Neglect Subfloor Inspection
Not inspecting your subfloor before installation can lead to many complications down the line. Ignoring issues such as moisture, unevenness or structural damage can lead to your floor failing and costly repairs.
Don’t Skip Acclimation
Attempting to install unacclimated flooring can lead to dimensional changes such as expansion or contraction once the materials are in place. This can cause issues such as warping, buckling or gaps between planks.
Don’t Underestimate the Difficulty of Installation
Some people may try to DIY flooring installation to save money or even ignore the instructions and guidelines. But it’s essential to recognise the complexity of installing flooring.
Improper installation can lead to irreversible damage and may void the warranty on your floor. If you’re unsure about your skills or lack of experience, consider hiring a professional.
Don’t Use the Wrong Tools and Equipment
Several types of flooring materials require specific adhesives that suit their composition and installation method. If you use the wrong one, you can compromise the bond between the flooring and the subfloor, leading to an array of problems
You should also never compromise on your safety when installing flooring. Use proper safety gear such as gloves, goggles and knee pads to protect yourself from injury. You should keep work areas clean and organised to prevent other accidents too!
Don’t Install Over a Wet Subfloor
A common enemy of flooring materials is moisture. If moisture is trapped beneath the floor, it can lead to mould growth, rot, warping and structural damage over time.
Make sure to address any moisture issues before going ahead with the installation of your floor.
Don’t Overlook Environmental Factors
Factors like temperature and humidity can significantly affect the performance and durability of certain flooring materials.
You need to maintain consistent indoor climate conditions throughout the installation process to minimise the risk of your floor cupping, crowning or expanding and contracting.
Don’t Neglect Maintenance
Taking care of your floor doesn’t stop once it’s installed!
You need to maintain your new floor properly to preserve its appearance and longevity. Neglecting routine care such as sweeping and mopping can lead to premature wear and damage. It’s best to avoid using harsh chemicals too.
You should follow the maintenance recommendations and guidelines of your floors manufacturers to ensure your floors are beautiful for years to come!
