General Contractor vs. Flooring Contractor:
General contractors are professionals who are sort of like jack-of-all-trades. They have a handful of knowledge about general things regarding home improvement like plumbing, electrical, walls, and flooring. If you’ve ever purchased a home, you probably had to get an inspection done after your offer was accepted. General contracts typically perform these preliminary inspections because they can identify potential problem areas all over your home.
Flooring contractors are who you would consider a “flooring specialist”—and who would typically hire to install your flooring. A certified flooring contractor can be trusted to remove, install and repair any kind of flooring you may need.
Many times, flooring is not a job for the hobby handyman or woman, but something best left to an experienced professional. Occasionally, harder flooring surfaces like laminate or tile can be laid by a DIY enthusiast, but not everyone is comfortable with this type of work. And there are ways to cut down on the cost of a contractor, once you have the right know-how and direction.
Services a Flooring Contractor Offers
Removal
There are two steps to getting new flooring in your home: removal and installation. Luckily, flooring contractors typically offer both services. While it is possible to install new floors over your existing ones, some experts don’t recommend it. Whether you have carpet, tile, laminate, or vinyl, a contractor should be able to remove the floors you have before installing the floors you want.
Repair
Sometimes, you don’t even need to buy brand new floors to get that fresh look you’ve been wanting. If you’re lucky, a few professional repairs can make your flooring look as good as new. Flooring contracts offer repair and replacement services to fix or replace missing panels or tiles on your floors. If you love the style of your current flooring, and just wish they looked a little better, repairs may be your best bet.
Installation
One of the most highly-requested services from flooring contractors is installation. Whether you recently bought a home or decided to give your old floors a new look, you may want to consult a professional. Depending on which contractor you hire, this service can include removal and installation. In this case, the contractor would come into your home, remove all of the existing floors (tiles, vinyl, carpet, or wood panels) and install brand new floors.
Inexperienced contractors might not take the time to schedule before the product starts and manage logistics until it’s done — which can cause your installation to go over budget and over schedule. And the longer a project lasts, the more it will cost.
Moisture-related failure of your flooring adhesive can happen when an inexperienced contractor doesn’t test the subfloor prior to installation. This can also void your product’s manufacturer warranty.
Selecting a product purely based on price and ignoring the needs of your application can result in premature failure of your flooring system.
Recommendations are always a good place to start. If you’ve already had professional renovations completed in your home then you probably have contact information for a contractor. Typically, contracts have their own personal Rolodex of other contractors with different disciplines.
What is the flooring contractor’s Job Description?
The Importance of Hiring Experienced Epoxy Flooring Contractors
