How to Hire a Flooring Contractor

Everything you need to know to get the right person for the job

If you're not a do-it-yourselfer, have no carpentry skills, or just plain don't want to lay your own floors, then you've come to the right place. Follow these few easy steps to choose the flooring contractor that's right for your job.

• Educate yourself. Before you set your heart on a certain product, make sure it will be suitable for the space in which you are laying the floor. This step will also help you assess the costs you're likely to incur.
• Begin your flooring contractor search by asking friends, family and neighbors whose floors you like for recommendations. Never hire a flooring contractor who has called at your door. Contractors of any type with good reputations and strong skills don't need to solicit for work.

• Set up appointments with three to five contractors for whom you've received decent recommendations and have them come to your home to give estimates. Each contractor should measure your space, bring samples of the flooring material you wish to have installed, bring a list of references and accompanying photos of the work completed and should provide a quote or estimate within 24 hours of assessing your job.
• Check the references. Call and visit references if you can to see the completed work first hand. Be sure to ask the references the following questions: How long did your job take to complete and was that in line with the original time estimate? Were the contractor and his / her laborers professional? Did they keep the space clean? Were you satisfied with the completed project? Would they hire the contractor again? Did they have any complaints at all?
• Hire the contractor based on the one that gave the best prices and had the best references.

A few loose ends

When hiring a flooring contractor it is important to remember that contractors will have different areas of expertise. This means that a professional hardwood flooring contractor may not be as skilled at installing carpet or ceramic tiles. So be sure to find out what area they excel in and check references thoroughly.

And please note that it is possible to hire professionals to clean or refinish your floors by following the steps above.