10 things to do before flooring day

10 things to do before flooring day

New flooring can completely change a room, but a little preparation beforehand can make flooring day much easier.

Whether you’re having carpet, vinyl, laminate or another type of flooring fitted, here are 10 simple things to check before your fitter arrives.

1. Finish your decorating first

If you’re painting, wallpapering or carrying out other work in the room, try to get this finished before your new flooring goes down.

It’s much easier to paint walls and skirting boards without having to worry about protecting your brand-new floor from dust, paint and other mess.

Flooring tip: Flooring is usually best left until the final stage of your room makeover.

2. Clear as much furniture as possible

Give your fitter plenty of room to work by removing furniture from the room wherever you can. Remember to empty wardrobes, cupboards and drawers if they need to be moved.

Smaller items such as lamps, ornaments and plants should also be removed. If you have particularly large, heavy or awkward furniture, check in advance whether this needs to be moved before fitting day.

We do offer a room clearing and floor removal service - please ask in store when ordering your flooring.

3. Decide what is happening with your old flooring

If your existing carpet, vinyl or other flooring needs to be removed, make sure you know who is responsible for the uplift and disposal.

If you're removing it yourself, don't leave it until the morning of fitting day!

Once the old flooring is up, the condition of the floor underneath can also be checked.

4. Check the subfloor

What’s underneath your new flooring matters.

The subfloor needs to be suitable for the flooring being fitted and may need to be cleaned, repaired, levelled or prepared before installation.

Problems such as uneven areas, loose floorboards, old adhesive or damaged sections can affect the finished result. Sometimes additional preparation, such as plyboarding or smoothing, may be needed before the new flooring can be fitted.

5. Check your doors

New flooring can sometimes alter the finished floor height, particularly when changing between different flooring types.

Check that doors will still open and close properly once the new floor and underlay are in place.

If a door needs easing or trimming, it’s worth knowing this before flooring day rather than discovering it afterwards.

6. Move or prepare appliances

If you're having flooring fitted in a kitchen, utility room or another area with large appliances, check what needs to be moved before the fitter arrives.

Washing machines, cookers and other plumbed-in or wired appliances may need to be dealt with separately.

Don't attempt to disconnect gas or electrical appliances unless you are qualified to do so.

7. Protect the rest of your home

There may be some dust and debris involved when old flooring is removed and new flooring is fitted.

Where possible, close doors to other rooms and consider protecting adjoining floors and high-traffic areas.

It’s a simple step, but it can save you plenty of cleaning afterwards.

8. Make sure the room is accessible

Your fitter needs to be able to get the flooring and equipment into the room easily.

Before the day, think about:·
Is there a clear route from the entrance to the room?
Are hallways and doorways free from clutter?
Is there somewhere suitable to park or unload?
Are there any particularly narrow or difficult access points?

If there are any access issues, let us know beforehand.

9. Keep children and pets safely out of the way

Fitting flooring involves tools, materials and plenty of movement around the room.

For everyone's safety, keep children and pets away from the work area while the old flooring is being removed and the new flooring is fitted.

And if your dog is anything like ours, they may be very interested in what's going on!

10. Check any specific instructions for your flooring

Different flooring products can have different requirements before and after fitting.

For example, some types of flooring need time to acclimatise to the room before installation.

Your fitter or flooring supplier should be able to tell you if this applies to your chosen flooring.

It's also worth checking whether there are any instructions about when you can walk on the new floor, replace furniture or carry out further work.

YOUR FLOORING DAY CHECKLIST

Before your fitter arrives, make sure you've:

☐ Cleared the room

☐ Cleared the room

☐ Arranged uplift of the old flooring

☐ Checked the subfloor

☐ Checked door clearance

☐ Dealt with appliances

☐ Protected adjoining areas

☐ Made sure there is clear access

☐ Kept children and pets safely away

☐ Checked any specific instructions for your flooring

If you're unsure about anything before flooring day, ask before the fitting starts.

Your flooring team will be able to tell you what needs to be done beforehand and whether any additional preparation is required. A little preparation can make the fitting process much smoother and help ensure your new floor gets the finish it deserves.

Ready for a new floor?
Pop into your local Karpet Kingdom store and speak to the team about your flooring plans.

We have stores across Coventry and Warwickshire, with expert advice available to help you get your room ready.