Questions to ask a flooring contractor before you hire

Updated · KeystoneProGuide editorial team

What should you ask every flooring contractor?

Ask for answers you can check, and get the important ones in writing. The questions below are grouped by subject. They are drawn from what Pennsylvania law requires, what federal agencies advise and what the flooring trade bodies tell homeowners to look for. Bring the same list to every contractor you interview so the answers can be compared.

What should you ask about the business?

  1. What is your Pennsylvania registration number? It should begin with PA and appear on the estimate and contract. You can check it yourself as described in how to choose a flooring contractor.
  2. What insurance do you carry? To register, the Attorney General requires proof of at least $50,000 of personal injury cover and $50,000 of property damage cover. Ask for the certificate.
  3. Who will actually install the floor? If the store or company you are dealing with uses subcontractors, the Attorney General says they must be registered too, even though you never sign with them. Ask for their names.
  4. What training do the installers have for this material? The tile, wood and carpet trades each run credential programs. The Ceramic Tile Education Foundation (CTEF), for example, suggests asking about an installer's qualifications, experience and employees, and whether the work complies with insurance, workers' compensation and local codes.
  5. May I speak to recent customers? The CTEF suggests asking references whether the job finished on schedule, how surprises were handled and how much the final price differed from the quote.

What should you ask about the floor underneath?

  1. What condition is the subfloor in, and what happens if it is worse than expected? Ask how repairs would be priced before work starts, not after the old floor is up.
  2. Is the structure adequate for this floor? The CTEF lists this as a question for tile in particular, giving the example of replacing vinyl with tile, and says natural stone needs a base twice as rigid as ceramic or porcelain.
  3. How will you check for moisture? After any water problem, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) says flooring should not be replaced until the foundation is dry, and describes a plastic-sheet test for slabs. Ask what test the contractor uses and what reading would stop the job.
  4. What is the old floor made of, and who handles it if it contains asbestos? The EPA says you cannot tell by looking unless the material is labeled, and recommends inspection by an accredited professional before remodeling that will disturb it. It also says the person who assesses asbestos should not work for the firm that removes it.
  5. Will painted surfaces be disturbed in a home built before 1978? If trim, stairs or a painted floor will be sanded or removed, ask whether the firm is lead-safe certified. The EPA notes that young children who crawl and play on floors are the main concern.

What should you ask about the product?

  1. Exactly which product will be installed? Pennsylvania's home improvement law requires the contract to describe the materials and specifications, which cannot change without a written change order signed by both of you.
  2. For laminate or engineered wood, is it labeled TSCA Title VI compliant? That is the label the EPA recommends looking for on composite wood products.
  3. For vinyl and other resilient floors, is it FloorScore certified? The Resilient Floor Covering Institute (RFCI), that industry's trade association, says the FloorScore seal means a product has been independently certified to meet a California standard for emissions of volatile organic compounds.
  4. For carpet, which installation standard will you follow? The Carpet and Rug Institute (CRI) recommends contractors who follow its CRI 105 residential standard, which it says requires power-stretching and sealed seams.
  5. For site-finished wood, which finish, how many coats and what sheen? The National Wood Flooring Association (NWFA) describes water-based finishes as normally clear and quick to dry, oil-based as amber, and says the less sheen a finish has, the less small scratches show.
  6. What does the warranty cover, and may I read it now? The Federal Trade Commission says a written warranty must be available before you buy. Ask whether it is the manufacturer's, the installer's or both, and what cleaning or maintenance it requires.

What should you ask about the schedule?

  1. How many days will the job take, and will some days have no work? The CTEF lists drying and curing time as a reason for idle days on a tile job, and the NWFA says a site-applied wood finish needs drying time during which the floor cannot be walked on.
  2. Who moves the furniture, and who removes and disposes of the old floor? The CRI tells homeowners to settle both questions, and any fee, before installation day.
  3. How will dust be contained, and which rooms should we stay out of?
  4. What ventilation will be needed afterward? The CRI says it is the homeowner's responsibility to provide fresh air during a carpet installation. What to expect on the day covers this for each material.

What should you ask about the money?

  1. What is the total price, and is it a fixed price or time and materials? Under time and materials, the law requires a written initial estimate before work starts.
  2. How much is the deposit, and which items are special order? On a contract over $5,000, the deposit may not exceed one-third of the price, or one-third plus special order materials designated in the contract. The rules are in what Pennsylvania requires of flooring contractors.
  3. How will the balance be paid? The Attorney General suggests payments tied to progress, with the last one on completion.
  4. How will changes be priced? The law bars departing from the plans in any material respect without a written, dated change order signed by both of you that states the price change.

Price ranges to compare answers against are in the cost guide.

Sources

  1. Frequently Asked Questions: Home Improvement Contractor Registration, Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General
  2. 2008 Act 132 (Home Improvement Consumer Protection Act), Pennsylvania General Assembly
  3. The Homeowner's Guide to Hiring a Qualified Tile Installer, Ceramic Tile Education Foundation (CTEF)
  4. Installation Tips, The Carpet and Rug Institute (CRI)
  5. Questions and Answers Regarding Laminate Flooring, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
  6. FloorScore | RFCI Certifications, Resilient Floor Covering Institute (RFCI)
  7. Flood Cleanup to Protect Indoor Air and Your Health, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
  8. Protect Your Family from Exposures to Asbestos, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
  9. Reduce the Risk of Lead Exposure at Home, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
  10. Warranties, Federal Trade Commission
  11. Finishes, National Wood Flooring Association (NWFA)

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