When you hire a new Chicago contractor it’s important to conduct the proper research and ask the right questions so that you can feel confident about your choice. While receiving a professional recommendation from a trusted friend or family member always makes the process easier, it’s still important to properly vet your contractor so that there are fewer surprises once the project is underway.
Before signing a hardwood flooring contact, you’ll want to make sure that you understand how the installation process will take place, how and when payments will be made, and who will act as your main point of contact during the project. As you work with potential contractors to learn some of this information, you should hopefully begin to establish a trusting relationship that will benefit the overall success of your hardwood flooring installation project.
Here are some of our other top questions to ask a potential hardwood flooring specialist:
What type of hardwood and stain do you suggest for my project?
After asking a few questions about the space, anticipated traffic and likes/dislikes about your existing flooring, a professional hardwood flooring specialist should have some different wood flooring options to suggest to you based on their experience. Although any wood flooring contractor would be happy to simply listen and complete the project according to the homeowners’ desire, it is important to ask about the wood types and stains your wood flooring professional recommends so that you can get a better sense for their expertise, which may include some considerations that you had not thought of to date.
What unique wood flooring considerations are you taking into account for my home?
Depending on the area you live, including the unique layout of your home, your wood flooring installer may mention that specific types of hardwood flooring are not suitable, or recommended, for your home. For example, if you’re looking to add hardwood flooring to a basement area that could be impacted by future flooding or changes in humidity, your hardwood flooring installer may suggest an alternate flooring material, such as laminate. It is important to have this conversation with your wood flooring specialist so that you can minimize flooring issues down the road.
Can I contact any of your previous customers?
If you did not already get the name of your wood flooring installation team from a trusted source, obtaining contact details for a set of previous customers will help to confirm the reputation of a prospective contractor. If a wood flooring professional is hesitant to provide names or contact information for previous customers, it should be a warning sign that their quality of work or service is not up to par and you should consider researching other contractors to partner with.
Can you provide proper insurance?
Before you sign a contract with a wood flooring installer you’ll want to ask them to provide you with proof of insurance. By proving that they have such a policy, you can rest assured that if any damage is caused to your home or possessions during the wood flooring installation process, that insurance is available to cover any unforeseen costs. In addition, such an insurance policy also helps to confirm that you are working with an established professional vs. a fly-by-night installation team.
What services are included in the contract? Which services are not?
Before signing any wood flooring installation contract you should have a solid understanding of the specific products and services that are included, along with those that are not. After you have reviewed the contract, it is important to ask questions and seek contract clarification by having an honest conversation with any prospective wood flooring contractor. By conducting a thorough discussion of the contract, you should be able to identify if additional fees are likely to occur during the project and help to mitigate misunderstandings once the project is in progress.
Who will be in my home during installation? Does this include contractors?
It is important to ask for a list of the installers and any other contractors that may be in your Naperville home throughout the course of the project. By asking for a list of these team members you will make your contractor aware of the importance you place on the safety and security of your home and family. In addition, by having this conversation you should have a better idea of what to expect as the project progresses and hopefully feel more comfortable with the coming and goings of the various team members that will be working to complete your project.
Does the wood flooring contract include a warranty for materials or installation?
If warranty coverage is not specifically outlined in the contract for your wood flooring project you should ask about what coverage is available for materials and/or the final product. Asking this question demonstrates your knowledge about contracts to the contractor, including your interest in the quality of the product and enjoyment of your new wood floor. It’s possible that warranty information may not be covered in the contract for service. If it is not, it’s wise to ask a prospective flooring installer to amend their contract with these details before you sign on the dotted line.
What other maintenance services can you provide me in the future?
Even before your wood flooring project is complete it’s a good idea to get a sense for what other services a contractor can assist you with in the future, especially relating to maintenance of your new flooring. If you find out that a specific contractor only provides installation, but not refinishing or staining, it might be in your best interest to look for a more comprehensive service provider. Simply by asking this question you can gauge the type of future relationship that you may have with a specific contractor or get an indication that you should look for someone that is capable of meeting more than one of your flooring-related service needs.
