Choosing flooring for a new home or business can be quite the undertaking. There are so many options, and it’s easy to get confused about what type of floor is best for your needs. To help you make an informed decision, we’ve compiled a list of questions to ask any flooring contractor who will ensure the installation is as quick and painless as possible.
– What type of flooring do you specialise in?
Some flooring contractors specialise in more than one type of flooring. For example, a flooring contractor may specialise in both natural and synthetic floor coverings, or carpet and vinyl flooring. When talking to any prospective flooring contractors, make sure you ask them which types of floor they are qualified to install (and where their expertise lies).
– What flooring is best for my particular floor?
Not all flooring is the same. For example, flooring might be appropriate for a kitchen or bathroom but not for the bedroom. Therefore, it is important to ask your flooring contractor what flooring will best suit your needs before having any floor coverings installed in that area of the property or building.
– What installation methods do you use?
Not all floor coverings are installed in the same way. Contractors should be able to tell you what flooring installation method they will use when working on your flooring project. Some flooring might be glued down, some floor coverings may have to be nailed in place and others are laid on the floor like tiles. Knowing which flooring installation method will best suit your needs is important before contracting a flooring installer to do the work.
– How long does it take to install flooring of this type?
The length of time flooring installation can take depends on the floor covering type and what needs to be done. For instance, floor coverings that need to be glued down require a great deal more time than floor coverings that are laid on the floor like tiles. You may need to make arrangements for you or any colleagues/family members to stay elsewhere for a few days, finding child or pet care or cancelling your work schedule.
– Can I get a quote over the phone or online right now, without having an in-person meeting with you first?
Contractors may offer flooring quotes over the phone, but it is best to schedule an appointment in person before getting a quote. Flooring needs to be measured and evaluated during this meeting for colour or texture matching purposes so that you know what type of floor coverings will work with the decor of your home or business premises.
– How long have you been in business?
The length of time a flooring contractor has been in business is an indication of the quality and experience level. A flooring company with a long history will also have more references that you can contact to find out about their service levels. Choosing someone with only a brief amount of experience could be a risk whereas a flooring contractor who has many years of flooring experience is more likely to be able to provide a higher level of customer service.
– What are your payment terms?
This will depend on the flooring contractor’s business model but some may request that you pay for materials and labour upfront with flooring companies who offer excellent credit terms being less common in the industry than they were in the past.
– What flooring products do you offer?
The flooring contractor you are considering should be able to offer flooring for your needs. Flooring contractors who only provide services may not have the flooring products that will best suit what you want so make sure they can supply those as well.
– What is your warranty policy?
This varies depending on what flooring materials are installed and how they were installed with some offering lifetime warranties.
– Do you have flooring samples?
A number of flooring companies will provide free flooring samples so that the homeowner can experience different textures, colours and thicknesses. This is a good way to find out what type of floor coverings suit your home best before committing to a purchase.
– Can I see examples of jobs that were done for other customers like mine?
By seeing actual examples of work carried out by the flooring contractor, you can get a clearer idea of the flooring contractor’s work. This will help you to see how flooring looks like and how flooring is laid out which will enable you to make a more informed decision on your flooring project.
To find out more information about our residential, commercial and industrial flooring services, please contact our flooring specialists at Winton Flooring on 0161 773 3895 or send an email to info@wintonflooring.co.uk.