How to Prepare for Flooring Installation: A Homeowner Checklist
What to do before the flooring crew arrives: clearing rooms, appliances, pets, acclimation, and the decisions to make ahead of time so install day goes smoothly.
The short version: clear out small items and breakables, make decisions about trim and transitions ahead of time, plan for pets and kids, and let the installer know about appliances. A little prep before the crew arrives saves time on install day and avoids surprises.
One to two weeks before
- Confirm the product. If you're buying your own flooring, make sure you have enough, with some extra for cuts and future repairs. See buying your own flooring.
- Pick the trim. Are you keeping the baseboard, adding quarter-round, or replacing baseboard? Painted or stained?
- Decide on transitions. Where does the new floor stop, and what does it meet? More in flooring transitions between rooms.
- Painting too? Plan the order. We cover that in paint or floors first.
A few days before
- Acclimation. If your product calls for it, the boxes need to be in the rooms where they'll be installed, with the heat or AC running at normal living conditions. Follow the manufacturer's instructions. Some products need little or none. See flooring acclimation explained.
- Clear small stuff. Lamps, decor, anything on shelves, and everything off closet floors.
- Take down fragile wall items. Tear-out and tapping planks into place can shake walls a little.
- Empty cabinets and drawers in furniture that will be moved.
Appliances and fixtures
Tell us at the walkthrough what's in the room: fridge, stove, dishwasher, washer and dryer, toilet. We'll plan who disconnects what and whether flooring goes under or around each one. Gas appliances should be disconnected and reconnected by someone qualified to do it.
The day of
- Pets. Keep them in a closed room, crate, or out of the house. Doors are open, tools are running, and cut edges are sharp.
- Kids. Same idea. The work area is off limits.
- Parking and a clear path. We need a way to bring materials in and carry old flooring out.
- Thermostat. Keep the house at a normal temperature.
- Be reachable. If we find damage under the old floor, we'll want to show you before we fix it.
Things people forget
- Doors. A new floor that's thicker than the old one can make doors rub. They may need to be trimmed.
- Dust. Tear-out is dusty. Close off other rooms and cover electronics nearby.
- Floor vents. Registers come out and go back in. Check if yours are worth replacing while you're at it.
- Felt pads. Have them ready for furniture legs before anything goes back.
What you don't need to do
You don't need to move big furniture. We move it and cover it. You also don't need to clean the old floor or pull up carpet yourself. We handle tear-out and haul-away and clean up at the end of each day.
How we make it easy
At the free walkthrough, about 30 minutes, we go over all of this with you room by room. Your written fixed-price quote spells out what we're handling, so there's no guessing on install day. From Plainfield to Sturbridge, the prep list is the same. Book a walkthrough to get started.
Quick answers
What should I do before flooring installation?
Clear small items and breakables, empty closet floors, make trim and transition decisions, plan for pets and kids, and tell the installer about appliances in the room.
Do I need to move furniture before flooring is installed?
It depends on the installer. Many, including us, move and cover furniture as part of the job, but you should clear small items and fragile decor.
Do I need to acclimate flooring before installation?
Only if the manufacturer calls for it. Many rigid-core LVP products need little or none, while hardwood typically needs more.