DIY Flooring Installation: What You Need to Know

You’ve decided it’s time to update your floors. Getting new floors is exciting, and it adds style and value to your home. If you’re a consummate DIY’er, you may decide to install your flooring yourself. Before tackling such an undertaking, there are several things you should know and prepare for.

Start by really examining your décor and think about what style you want to achieve. Take into consideration the size of your space, color scheme, and level of traffic your floors will endure. Once you have an idea about which flooring you want, it's time to measure your floor plan and create your budget. Be sure to get correct measurements and include installation materials and tools in your budget. With your budget in mind and measurements in hand, you’re now ready to purchase your flooring.

The next step is preparing your home and family for the project. Any space in which you plan on installing new flooring must be thoroughly cleaned and the furniture removed. If you have no place out of the way to store your furniture, you may need to take your installation room by room, moving furniture out of the space as you go. Some people elect to rent a storage building if they’re anticipating installation to last more than a few days, but this can be costly.

When resurfacing the kitchen, you may want to have other meal arrangements for a few days, allowing time for removal of the old floors, installation of the new, and curation if needed. If you’re resurfacing the bathroom, make a schedule with the members of your household, informing them when temporary removal of bathroom fixtures will take place.

When installing your own floors, installation waste can be an issue, so be sure to make arrangements for cleanup. You may want to rent a dumpster and check with your local municipality to determine the proper way to dispose of the old flooring.

If you’re facing a deadline, be sure to get your flooring in early so it can acclimate for the appropriate amount of time before installation. Plan your installation project carefully, giving your project a large window of time in case of any problems or setbacks. If you’re having to rent tools this can be costly if the installation runs longer then you were expecting, so be sure to include wiggle room in your budget.
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When installing your flooring yourself, preparation and patience is key. Have your budget and flooring choices in mind and be ready to be flexible in your home as daily living activities will be altered possibly longer than you expected. If your flooring is properly installed, you can enjoy your home’s new look for years to come.