Benefits of professional flooring installation

'Reaping the benefits of a professional flooring installation'. Article by leading national flooring contractor, Peter Evans Flooring

The selection of floorcoverings, whether for an office environment, a hospital, a warehouse or a conference venue is one of the most important parts of a building specification, and of course, it is obviously the largest single plane in any interior.

Yet, all too often, not enough importance and consideration is given to ensuring that the most suitable floorcoverings are specified in order to meet the demands of the particular location.

Aswell as ensuring the correct materials are specified which can include sub-floor preparation, floorcoverings and floorcoverings adhesives, it is vital to choose a professional, competently trained installer as a poorly managed installation process will be costly in terms of money, and be of detriment to your business in terms of downtime when it has to be replaced all too soon due to excessive wear and tear because it was incorrectly specified.

In today's world, we work on a 'fast track' basis where we feel a need to complete our tasks quicker than ever in order for the wheels of industry to keep rolling.

This type of inherent thought process can sometimes lead to us cutting corners and also costs, by selecting the 'cheapest' rather than 'the best' business partners to work with.

The flooring industry has, like most industry sectors at some point, suffered from the cheaper solution providers, but in most cases, paying that little bit extra for a professional flooring contractor to specify and install your floorcoverings will be a worthwhile investment.

The key to a long lasting installation of quality is good sub floor preparation.

Many years ago this element of work was seen by many architects/builders as a means for flooring contractors to unnecessarily increase tender values and margins.

Now those same people widely accept and even specify what preparation is required.

Prior to actually estimating a project, it is vital to carry out a comprehensive site survey to determine and advise as to sub floor preparation required.

Many times over, the type and amount of floor preparation required determines the final floorcoverings and finishes required.

The trend towards reducing installation programmes can be fraught with many dangers.

Firstly, many Sub Floors are still damp/wet when the floor coverings are expected to be installed.

This can only be determined by carrying out sub floor investigations with the use of Hygrometers and Protimeters.

Sub floor moisture dramatically effects floor coverings and determines whether or not the floor covering remains adequately bonded to the sub floor.

When the correct floor preparation has been agreed the next step is to specify and recommend the most suitable floorcovering for the area and usage.

Correct specifications can save the client/end user a great deal of money and ensure that the Project is kept on budget, conforms to Health and Safety regulations and is easy to maintain.

There are a wide variety of floorcoverings available ranging from carpet and carpet tiles, linoleum, vinyl, wood, safety flooring, sports flooring, acoustic flooring, plus a selection of stone, ceramic and mosaic tiles.

When considering the type of floorcovering which will be most suitable for the environment, factors such as performance characteristics, good resistance to dirt, and ease of maintenance go hand in hand with the expected key factors such as cost and installation timescales.

Next time you require new flooring, make sure you consider the long term benefits of working with a professional flooring contractor who can provide a single source solution for all your floorcovering needs.

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