No matter the job in your home, hiring a contractor should be done carefully and thoughtfully. You need to interview prospective contractors and ask many questions, and of course one should be about the price of the job! Bigger jobs of course mean more expense but there are other things to consider about a job as well. No matter the work to be done, you need to shop around and compare prices and other information you get from professionals. Questions should revolve around what they can do, how they do it, and when they can get it done.
When it comes to floors, you have some options including:
- Hardwood of different materials, stone, marble, tile of all sorts, and granite.
- Brick and stamped concrete are options in some areas.
- Laminates are still an option as are rolled vinyl.
- Simulated materials that look like wood or stone.
- Environmentally friendly options like bamboo or cork.
Once you have a choice or a few choices in mind, it's time to think about the contractor that will install the floors. You no doubt have many choices in Illinois and in some cases you may even have a waiting period for the right professional! Remember this if you get tempted to just work with the one that promises the quickest job; faster doesn't always mean better when it comes to flooring installation.
Here are some considerations for how your floor will be installed:
- You need to make a decision about the flooring material and the professional you'll use, and then you can schedule the project.
- Remember that environmentally friendly means not just the materials but the processes used to install them.
And when hiring your flooring professional, consider a few tips:
- He or she should have a license for Illinois.
- Check the Better Business Bureau for complaints about this company or individual.
- Ask for photos from previous jobs if they have any.
- Be sure to get a written estimate for price and for your timeframe.
- Get a warranty for their work as well!
Be sure to compare professionals and estimates. Remember that your floor in your home will need to last a lifetime. It may be costly but it's an investment so you need to think about what you can do to protect that investment as well.
