subject: How to find the best flooring contractor [print this page] How to find the best flooring contractor How to find the best flooring contractor
You can find the best flooring contractor for your home remodeling project with only a little time, effort and research. Having a contractor can help you eliminate the costly and unsightly mistakes of a botched do it yourself job. You do have to know how to locate potential contractors and narrow the search by asking the right questions, though. Start by following these steps.
1. Get as many names of potential contractors for your job as possible.
Ask friends and family. Look in phone and other online directories. Contact the local trade organizations. You might have luck simply asking home improvement stores about who they usually use to do their installations. Make a list of these names and phone numbers for future reference.
2. Determine what your job will entail.
Decide what kind of flooring you will want first of all. Then, look at special features you might want, such as wood inlays or specially cut tiles. Try to know as much about your proposed project as you can, going in when you are looking for a flooring contractor.
3. Look at portfolios.
Ask the different contractors to show you portfolios of their work. Notice whether they did a good job first and foremost. Then, look at the kind of work it was. Look closely for those special features like wood inlays or medallions. Look for special patterns cut into tiles or vinyl flooring. Even if you do not want special features, they are an indication of exceptional skill. Think about what makes each flooring contractor's work both excellent and exciting. Weed out the ones that show a lack of expertise.
4. Ask for references.
Ask for references from this smaller group of flooring contractors. Contact the people they tell you about and ask them about their experiences with the contractor. Find out if the work was done correctly, on time, and at or under the estimate. If you get a chance to comfortably ask them, find out if they will allow you to go to their house and look at the work the contractors have done. If you find that any contractors have been unscrupulous or incompetent, you can narrow the field even farther.
5. Ask for estimates of your job.
Choose the 3 or 4 contractors that seem to be the best up to this point. Get estimates from each flooring contractor that is still on the list. Go over with each of them the job you had in mind. Ask for their recommendations and request an estimate.
6. Choose the best.
Look over the estimate forms you are given and see which are the most thorough and accurate. Think about which contractor is easiest to communicate with. Remember which one can best do the work that you require in your installation. Choose the flooring contractor who meets all your needs.
