General Contractor vs. Flooring Contractor
General contractors are professionals who are sort of like a 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 contractors 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 you 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.
Credentials
Like any service you outsource, you want to make sure you’re hiring a professional. For flooring, your contractor can be licensed (or certified). According to Georgia.Gov, general contractors in the State of Georgia are required to be licensed through the State Licensing Board.
Sub-contractors, however, like plumbers, electricians, and flooring contractors, are regulated by the Georgia Construction Industry Licensing Board. While every state differs, you can verify that a contractor has a valid license by going to the License Verification section of your local Secretary of State’s website. Generally, certified contractors can be hired as long as their license is valid.
The 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 ones 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 it 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.
If you’re looking to save money, you can do some research, have your old floors removed, and then purchase the new flooring yourself. Then, all you’d have to do is hire flooring contractors who specialize in installation. The contractors would come out to your home, assess your square footage, and quote you a price to install the new flooring that you bought.
