A flooring contractor can be a single person, a business or even more than one person who installs, cleans and maintains floors in residential homes and commercial buildings across the country. The majority of today’s flooring contractors are family businesses run from their own home or garage. Many of these contractors began their careers cleaning carpets as young children and later went on to become mechanics and installers. Some continue to this day performing original contracting work for others, while many others run their own contracting firms with other carpet cleaning services included in their package. Some flooring companies focus entirely on commercial flooring, while others focus on residential customer only.
Every flooring contractor has different types of equipment on hand to do the job. Some will use power equipment, such as hydraulic jacks and power rollers; others will use specialized machines like vacuum trucks and water jetting systems. A good contractor will have a large fleet of power equipment on hand so that when a job is requested, it can be done as fast as possible. Some commercial customers request an estimate of how much the job will cost before any work is done so that they can get a better idea of the total costs involved.
When hiring a flooring contractor, it’s important to take into consideration the type of installation done. Some installations are easier than others and some require more skill than others. Also, a contractor may suggest an installation over materials such as carpet or vinyl floors because certain installations are more difficult to install over these materials. It’s important to know exactly what type of installation is needed so that you can explain your needs to the contractor. If the flooring installer suggests an installation over a particular type of material, the contractor should also indicate which materials are required to complete the project.
The most common installation is the installation of a new subfloor over a carpeted or vinyl floor. Installing a subfloor is very simple and the process does not require a great amount of skill. The subfloor is simply laid down and secured in place. Most people choose to install their own subfloors because they are less expensive than having one installed by a professional. If you choose to install your own subfloor, it’s important to know the basics of installing flooring materials and to be aware that you must keep the subfloor dry during the installation process.
Linoleum is not a good choice for installing ceramic tile or ceramic grout because it tends to get wet and dirty quite easily. Linoleum also holds moisture quite well and can become damaged under certain conditions. Many commercial vinyl flooring contractors discourage the use of linoleum in high traffic areas because of this concern. Vinyl flooring is the easiest type of material to install and can be finished in-house if you choose. Some installers specialize in only vinyl and others have linoleum as well.
Tile flooring can be an elegant, unique addition to any room in your home. There are many different types of tile available such as ceramic, wood, cork and stone. You can choose a tile flooring option that fits in with the overall style of the room you are installing it in. The installation of a tile floor will add value to your home and make it stand out from others in your neighborhood.