HELPFUL PRE-INSTALLATION HINTS

FOR CARPET, VINYL AND CERAMIC TILE

The following information is a checklist of items to prepare your home for your new installation. Proper preparation helps the installation go smoothly and efficiently.

PREPARATION: Where applicable, before installation, empty any closets receiving the new floor covering. Remove all items from underneath beds, and remove bed coverings, fragile lamps, knickknacks, glassware from china cabinets, books from bookcases, furniture, baseboards, stove and fridge, and pictures on the walls. Disconnect all computers, stereos, TV’s, VCR equipment, or any other electrical equipment. Inform your Sales Representative of all wires located under the carpet , such as alarm wires or systems. Check for cable wire connections under existing floor covering (cable company may have to remove or disconnect).

SPECIALTY FURNITURE: Many items may require professional movers because of the weight or the value of your possessions (eg. Stoves, storage boxes, wall units, sleep sofas, four-poster beds, waterbeds, heavy pool tables, pianos, safes, computers or electronic equipment.)

REMOVAL OF EXISTING FLOOR COVERING: If you need to remove the existing flooring and you have elected to do it yourself, please have it done 24 hours before installation. The sub floor must be level and completely free of dirt, glue, etc..  If not, it may force us to postpone the installation and result in an extra charge to you for labor, travel, etc. Expect minor touch up painting to be needed after installation. Normal installation methods may slightly scuff baseboards or walls. Our installers will use extreme care to minimize this. 

UNFORESEEN CHARGES: If you are not doing the installation yourself, there may be an additional charge, when the take-up and removal of carpet or flooring are done, to address problems that were not visible until after the removal. Water damage, urine soaked carpets, floors with structural damage, asbestos floors, etc., are not always detected until the installation process has begun. If this is a possibility, discuss it with your flooring consultant so that you can negotiate a better price.

SUB-FLOOR: If you elect to install your own sub-floor make sure you ask for the specifications for installing it, and that you follow those specifications. The sub-floor specifications for carpet, vinyl and ceramic are all different and failure to follow the instructions applicable to your floor will eventually damage the installation.

SETTLEMENT: Buildings, including homes, are designed to accommodate settlement. But in the process of settlement, sometimes you get uneven settlement. Uneven settlement (eg. entryways) will cause the ceramic tile and grout to crack even with a perfect installation. So, make sure you keep a few extra tiles if you are building a new home, to replace any cracked tiles with tiles of the same dye lot.

SEAMS: Seams are not completely invisible and will be less noticeable with different types of carpet or vinyl patterns.  If you choose to have fewer seams, this may increase the amount of carpet/vinyl you need, but will add satisfaction and professionalism to the job.

SECURED PREMISES: (eg. Condominiums). Please check with your building management for parking accessibility and delivery times for your installation (such as, elevators, service entrances, etc.).

DOORS: If you have purchased a better (or taller pile height) carpet or a thicker carpet pad, or if a new sub-floor is being placed on top of an existing sub-floor, you may need to arrange to have your doors trimmed to accommodate the new carpet height/ floor level. Check right away and make arrangements to have this done before the installation date.

PROPER POWER: If you are building a new home, make sure that adequate power, light, ventilation and heat will be available 24 hours before, and during, the installation.