5 Important Questions to Ask
Updating your home with new flooring is one of the best ways to transform your space. Whether you’ve chosen hardwood, cork, laminate, or vinyl plank flooring, asking the right questions before installation day can save you time, money, and stress. Here are five important questions every homeowner should ask when preparing for flooring installation:
1. What type of subfloor preparation is required?
The foundation of a great installation starts with the subfloor. Ask whether your subfloor needs leveling, moisture testing, or repairs before installation begins.
Your top floor is only as good as your subfloor—if the base isn’t stable, no amount of quality flooring can prevent squeaks, gaps, or premature wear.
Subfloor thickness is also a vital consideration. A thin or unstable subfloor may flex under pressure, while the correct thickness provides the strength and stability needed for a long-lasting installation. For example, most hardwood flooring requires at least 5/8″ plywood (16″ on center joists), with ¾″ plywood often recommended for nail-down installations.
If the subfloor isn’t thick enough, an additional layer can be added to create the solid foundation your flooring needs.
2. Do I need to remove my old flooring?
Depending on the product and installation method, some floors can go over existing surfaces while others require complete removal.
Laminate and vinyl plank flooring often float above the subfloor, while cork glue-down or hardwood nail-down installations may require tearing out old materials.
Clarifying these steps early in the planning stages helps you budget for these costs.
3. What is the best installation method for my chosen flooring?
From floating and click systems to glue-down or nail-down methods, each flooring type has its own recommended approach.
Hardwood floor installation is commonly nailed, glued, or floated, depending on the subfloor.
Laminate typically clicks together as a floating floor, and vinyl plank can be either glued or floated depending on the product.
Cork flooring can be installed either as a floating floor or glued down, offering natural warmth, comfort, and sound-reducing qualities.
Always ask your installer which method is best for your home, lifestyle, and the Opus Floors Canada 🍁 product you’ve selected.
4. Does the flooring need to acclimatize before installation—and what about delivery costs?
Many flooring products, especially hardwood, cork, and laminate, may need to acclimate in your home before installation. This allows the planks to adjust to the room’s temperature and humidity and subfloor, preventing issues like warping, gapping, or buckling. Check the product installation guidelines.
Vinyl plank flooring is often more stable, but it’s still best to follow manufacturer guidelines for acclimatization.
It’s also wise to confirm delivery details and costs in advance. Knowing whether flooring will be shipped directly to your home, to a dealer’s dock, or requires additional handling helps you budget more accurately. Asking these questions upfront avoids delays and keeps your project on track from the moment the product arrives.
5. How should I prepare my home before installation day?
Furniture should be removed. Check whether baseboards or doors are to be removed and/or trimmed? Knowing these details ahead of time allows you to budget these costs and ensures the installers can plan extra time if needed to complete the job.
Some homeowners also schedule painting or other renovations before their new hardwood, laminate, cork, or vinyl plank floors go in.
✅ Pro Tip: We encourage homeowners to work closely with their dealer and installer to plan every detail. While unforeseen issues can sometimes add extra costs once old flooring is removed, installers should be able to give clear answers to the questions above, when asked ahead of time during the time of the quote.
By being prepared and discussing subfloors, removal, installation methods, deliveries, and home preparation in advance, your quotes will be more accurate, and your project will move forward with fewer surprises.
The result? Stunning new floors you’ll enjoy for years to come.
Written by Corinne Erickson Freelance Writer | Opus Floors Canada 🍁