Are you starting a home renovation project? It is important to plan your project in advance and cover all the bases to avoid any costly mistakes as you complete the home renovation. In planning your project, you can define your goals, scope of work, and desired outcome and use these to manage your budget effectively. Knowing your goals, scope of work, and desired outcome will allow you to establish a realistic budget, identifying relevant costs and allocating funds properly. Furthermore, having a clear scope of work will help you prioritize expenses and make informed decisions on materials and labor requirements. With a well-developed project plan, you can clearly and effectively communicate your ideas and requirements to professionals and schedule different services that your home renovation project will require.
With that said, if you plan to install new flooring, you might be wondering at which stage of your project to get this done. While each home renovation project is different, in general, it is recommended that flooring be installed after all structural, electrical, and plumbing work are completed and before beginning painting, trim installation, and other finishing touches.
Install new flooring after completing plumbing and electrical work
By completing plumbing and electrical work at an earlier stage of your home renovation project, you can ensure easier access to the subfloor and walls. As plumbing and electrical work typically involve drilling, cutting, or making openings in walls and floors, your contractors can work without obstructions or the need to cut into newly installed flooring. Furthermore, installing flooring after plumbing and electrical work can minimize the risk of potential damage, such as scratches, punctures, or particle accumulation, on the new flooring.
By installing flooring after completing plumbing and electrical work, you can achieve a seamless and neat finish for your floors and attain your desired outcome for your home renovation project.
Prepare the subfloor and walls prior to installing new flooring
Before installing new flooring, it is important to inspect and prepare the subfloor first. Check the subfloor for any damage, unevenness, or moisture issues, so that these can be repaired or replaced prior to flooring installation. If the subfloor has uneven or rough areas, it may need to be smoothed and leveled as well. By preparing the subfloor prior to new flooring installation, you can create a suitable environment and set the stage for a smooth and successful flooring installation.
Depending on the new flooring to be installed, you might also need to remove and replace the trims and baseboards. Removing the trims and baseboards should be done before installing the new flooring. It is also important to make any repairs to walls prior to flooring installation. If the walls have cracks, holes, or dents, be sure to repair the walls first. Some parts of the wall may need to be sanded or smoothed before painting, and the walls may need to be cleaned to remove any dirt, dust, or debris prior to painting. Complete any tasks to prepare walls for painting, such as priming the walls, before installing new flooring to avoid damaging the new floors. Preparing the walls for painting before installing new floors will help prevent damages, such as scratches, scuffs, dust, and debris, to the new floors.
Install new flooring prior to painting and making finishing touches
Installing new flooring before painting will allow you to have a smooth surface to walk on. Completing the new floor installation first will ensure that the flooring is properly aligned and can help avoid potential damage or disruption caused by painting work. A common concern about painting after installing new flooring is potentially damaging the new floors with paint. With that in mind, prior to painting any surface, be sure to mask the new flooring with the appropriate material to protect it from any spills or stains. Working with experienced professionals will help you ensure that your new flooring will be protected during the painting process.
Moreover, if painting is done prior to floor installation, there is a risk that the bottom edges might not be painted to perfectly align to the height of the new flooring. By painting after flooring installation, you can efficiently paint the walls to align precisely with the flooring edges, creating a seamless and visually appealing finish. Furthermore, you can ensure that your paint job will not be damaged if painting is done after the installation of new flooring. Completing finishing touches such as adding new trims and baseboards will help give your home renovation project a cohesive and polished look.
It is important to note that the specific sequence to complete renovation tasks may vary depending on the scope of work and the materials used for the home renovation project and the recommendations of the professionals involved. Working with professionals with experience and expertise will help you ensure that the proper precautions and protections are in place, so that prior work is not damaged as you complete various stages of your home renovation project. When it comes to new flooring installation, be sure to consult with professionals to understand any installation requirements specific to your desired type of flooring and to get their recommendations to help you achieve your desired home renovation outcome.