- Most main-floor installs take a few days. Stairs, levelling and removal add time.
- Clear small items, electronics and fragile things. Confirm who moves furniture and appliances.
- Plan for noise and dust during removal and levelling.
- Do a walk-through at the end, and keep spare boxes.
A typical job, step by step
- Before: measure, moisture test (on concrete), product delivered and acclimated if the maker requires.
- Removal: old floor up, baseboards off. Noisy and dusty.
- Prep: screw down squeaks, level dips, grind humps. The most important step, and the one cheap jobs skip.
- Install: underlay and floor, cuts at doors, around vents and cabinets.
- Finish: baseboards, transitions, stair nosings, vent covers, cleanup.
- Walk-through: look at it together.
How to prepare
- Empty closets on the floor being done.
- Take down anything fragile on walls and shelves (vibration).
- Ask who moves furniture and appliances, and who reconnects them.
- Pets and kids away from the work area.
- Parking and a clear path for materials. Condos: book the elevator.
- Make sure the heat is on at normal living temperature.
After the install
- Felt pads on everything before furniture goes back.
- Glue-down floors: follow the cure time before heavy furniture.
- Keep the spare boxes, receipt and lot number.
- Small seasonal movement in wood floors is normal. Ongoing gaps or peaking aren't. What to watch for.
Common questions
How long does it take to install flooring?
A typical main floor takes a few days, depending on removal, subfloor levelling, stairs and the type of floor. Herringbone, stairs and lots of prep add time.
Can you stay home during flooring installation?
Usually yes, but expect noise and dust during removal and prep, and parts of the home being off-limits. Pets and kids should be kept away from the work area.
Do I need to move furniture before flooring installation?
Clear small items and fragile things yourself. Ask your installer whether they move furniture and appliances, and whether there's a charge.
Who's writing this: Rose and Thorn Flooring is a flooring company in Surrey, BC. We install floors for a living, so yes, we'd love to do yours. But nobody pays us to say nice things about a product, and we don't earn commission from any brand. If something here is wrong or out of date, text us at 604-716-4160 and we'll fix it.