The difficulty of choosing a flooring contractor

​So I’m guessing you’ve decided to make some floor renovations and are currently looking for a flooring contractor. Well, that’s excellent! It’s always great to give your home a little facelift now and then. 

Let’s not get ahead of ourselves though, there are quite a few steps you must take before you go and jump head first into a renovation you know nothing about. 

Here are a few questions you can ask your potential contractors before you get started to ensure that you not only have a safe and lasting renovation but also to make certain that everything flows smoothly during and after the renovation. 

This is supremely important. Not only do you want your contractor to be credible but things happen, and if say a pipe were to burst, you’ll want to be sure that there’s insurance in place to cover damages and reparations. 

You don’t want to be liable for an emergency that you aren’t responsible for especially when there’s an ongoing renovation. 

Having a contractor license is great, but there’s also a plumbing license, an electrical license, and so on. You want to be certain that whoever is disconnecting the water or gas lines is a licensed plumber; (How disastrous would it be if you had an unlicensed plumber reconnecting your gas line improperly)? 

Say for instance, that you’re renovating a condo -something goes wrong- and all of a sudden you’re no longer solely responsible for your condo, but all the surrounding condos as well. This is a prime example of why verifying their credibility is crucial.

​You want to have a clear estimate of how long a project will take. You also want to know what problems could occur during the process, you don’t want to have your contractor working on your floors for 6 months if the job should only take a week or less.

You also want to have an understanding of how the project will progress - will they be there every day or only a few days out of the week (which days?). 

Thankfully, today, there are many ways to contain dust, make sure that the contractor will cover the necessary areas with plastic and that they’ll work to protect your furniture and fixtures. 

Also, be sure that they’ll clean up afterward, this may seem like an apparent thing to do, but you’d be surprised at how many contractors get away with not doing so. 

Moreover, if there’s going to be some sanding involved, you can opt for a dustless sanding option that requires specialized equipment but this just prevents any dust from spreading throughout your home.

​It’s recommended that you remove all loose, breakable, and valuable items as well as all paintings and other wall hangings. Also, confirm with your contractor if they’ll cover your appliances and furniture; some contractors do and others don’t, so just inquire to be sure.

Many states require floor contractors to have a license and in the state of Georgia, it’s illegal for a contractor to install commercial or residential flooring without a current Georgia license. Personally, I wouldn’t want to hire someone without a license to install flooring in my home.

Anyone who installs, repairs, or maintains flooring whether in residential or commercial buildings needs flooring installers insurance. This protects the contractor from liabilities and supports them if something goes wrong. 

Hiring a contractor without insurance could hold you liable for damages or anything that goes wrong. 

When searching for local contractors for flooring, people tend to choose independent flooring contractors, based of price, however, sometime they might skip out on insurance or proper licensing just to be able to give a lower estimate than other companies, and this could make things difficult down the line for both the owner and the contractor.

There are a variety of contractors for various types of flooring, many have a niche that they specialize in and work within, for instance, there are laminate flooring contractors,  wood flooring contractors, flooring repair contractors, commercial flooring installers, and so on.

Regardless of the type of floor job you are seeking, locating a professional is essential to ensuring the job is done quickly and efficiently. 

When you hire a professional, rest is assured, the flooring, the installation, the clean-up, etc, is thoroughly taken care of, and they’ll have their proper licensing and insurances in place. 

They’re seasoned in the business so they know exactly what to expect and you can relax and let them do what you’ve paid them to do.

So you want to find the best commercial flooring contractor? Of course, who wouldn’t? Here are a few tips for locating the perfect commercial flooring contractor. Let’s dive in!

First things first, what type of job are you looking for? It’s nice to have a mental image of the finish you’d like to have. This will help a great deal when it comes time to communicate with your contractor about the work you desire. It’ll also help in your decision process later on when you’re selecting the perfect pick for the job.

Secondly, choose reputable contractors near you. How many clients have they had? Check out their reviews and read their testimonials to find out what their previous customers’ experience was like and decide whether or not you’d prefer to have a similar experience.

Thirdly, by now you’ve probably narrowed your options down and can begin scheduling consultations. More often than not people want to find the best flooring company, which is fine, but that usually comes with a greater cost. 

My advice would be to focus on who will do the better job rather than to focus on the “better” company. Many companies are deemed “the best” or “better” but what it all boils down to is their ability to execute your vision efficiently and at a reasonable price.

Well, there you have it! You now have some guidance on choosing a flooring contractor. 
If you are a resident of the metro Atlanta area and looking for a flooring contractor, please don't hesitate to reach out to All Floors Center at (404) 610-9344. We will do our best to answer all your questions in a timely manner.