There are a number of reasons you may be considering replacing carpet with hardwood: hardwood floors are easier to clean, bring a natural look to your home, and can feel more mature. At the same time, these two flooring styles couldn’t be more different, and that means it will be a process to remove your carpeting and then install hardwood flooring. As always, flooring professionals are the best folks to call in for a specific process like this, but to simplify what can be expected, here are five tips all homeowners should keep in mind when replacing carpet with hardwood.
Understand Moisture Levels
Unlike carpeting, the moisture levels of your home will affect what kind of hardwood flooring you can install. If you live in a low elevation area with high rainfall or are prone to strong humidity, flooring professionals will want to weigh in on what kind of product you choose before replacing carpet with hardwood as moisture can quickly damage and buckle new wood. Your home’s foundation will help inform its moisture tolerance, and moisture level tests can be conducted so that your chosen wood will last you many decades to get you your money’s worth.
Budget Accordingly
Like many installed household materials, hardwood flooring is often priced by square foot. You can get a sense of this project’s cost in a few simple steps. First, measure your room. Take a tape measurer and multiply the length by the width to find your area in square feet. Second, look at flooring options. Different kinds of wood will have different prices, so you’ll want to get a sense of what kind you want and what its price per square foot will be. Multiply that by your area for an estimated cost. And third, factor in installation fees. If hiring professionals to install your flooring, you’ll want to shop around for quotes and add that price plus delivery and tax into your budget.
Clear Your Room
As you get ready for the big day, you’ll need a blank canvas to work with, and that means removing all belongings and furniture from the workstation. Carefully move all tables, dressers, and couches to another room, and for extra measure, you may want to remove paintings and other hung items from your walls. In short, for safety and for the sake of your belongings it’s best to fully clear a room so you don’t damage any valuable items and you have a clear space to work with.
Anticipate Deliveries
Materials normally are delivered a day or two before the installation, and the slabs of wood can take up a good amount of space, so be sure to plan for that. Have the wood delivered, if possible, right into or beside the room you’ll be working in for ease of access. You want to set yourself up for success and create as seamless a process as possible.
Proactively Communicate with Installers
You know your home best, so it can be inefficient to assume that the installers know everything there is to know about this specific room’s needs. Have a call with the flooring team to discuss arrival dates, estimated installation time, and what you can do to best ready installers and your home for an in-and-out job. Consider a few obstacles that your home may present: Is your floor even? Are there any curves in the room? Might any floor vents or outlets get in the way? These are all questions that can streamline the process come installation day so that you are more than satisfied with your completed floors.
ACS is often called upon to replace carpet with hardwood floors.