Monthly Archives: August 2010

Introduction
In all past ages, there have been traders of flooring: whether it was marble, stone, wood, or rug. Take a moment and consider all the great kingdoms of the past: Egypt, Persia, Rome, Asia, and England. Think of their great halls, palaces, castles, and homes of the wealthy and affluent, and the many types of flooring placed in those great edifices for the kings and magistrates to walk on. In those days, skilled artisans were needed to lay those floors in place. Some were paid for their services, and others did so as slaves or servants.
Today, fine flooring is made available not only to the wealthy like in ages past, but to all classes of people. Skilled professionals and artisans are being used in the floor business of today to satisfy the public’s need for flooring. But how do you know you will receive the professional services you deserve from them? What if there was someone who could teach you all about flooring, what to look for in a great flooring store, and how to know you have a seasoned installer? That is where I come in.
Today we live in a fast-paced, busy kind of world. We want the best price and expect top quality all at the same time. We have become used to many choices, especially in the flooring industry. Carpeting, for instance, comes in hundreds of different styles, colors, weaves, textures, and thicknesses. Wood, laminate, ceramic, porcelain, vinyl tile, sheet vinyl, and linoleum also have hundreds of different variations. So how do you know what to buy when you are shopping for flooring? What type of flooring is best in what area? I can help you with these types of questions.
The flooring market is ever changing. New products are developed every year, which adds to the confusion. Some of the flooring you bought just ten years ago may now be obsolete or they have added something new to make the old product better. Or maybe you have never purchased flooring before.
So where do you go to get the real truth about flooring and installation methods? Some say you can get all the answers in the Internet. Many salespeople and store owners say they have the answers. Are they giving you all the facts, or do they just want to sell you the one item that will give them the most commission or make the flooring store the most money? I have been there, and I can give you the unbiased facts.
I started writing this book several years ago when I was a flooring retailer because so many of my customers were unprepared when they came in to shop. Of course I let them take samples of flooring and made an appointment with them to measure their rooms. But I knew that if they were already prepared with measurements and an item from the room or a paint swatch, it would save them from making another trip. I also knew that if they had a basic knowledge about flooring types and where each is best suited in their home, they would feel more comfortable about their purchase.
As a flooring installer since 1982, a flooring service business owner since 1986, and a retail flooring store owner between 2001 and 2006, I have the experience and understanding of how the flooring business works. I know what materials belong where and how it should be installed. I know a good installer when I see one, and I can help you save time and money the next time you purchase any amount of flooring. I can also guarantee the installation will be done right . . . if you follow my directions!
This book was written to help the public save time, get the floor of their dreams at a reasonable price, and know that their installer will be a competent professional every time!
The key is, you must read this book, follow its direction, and carry it with you when you shop for flooring; then you will save time, money, and get a professional installer every time . . . guaranteed!

Gettingto Know FlooringInstallers
The first thing you need to realize as a consumer buying flooring is that the materials are not a finished floor until they are installed. You can have the best materials money can buy, but if you get a lousy installer, you have wasted your money. Getting a second rate flooring installation is like buying a car that has problems as soon as you drive it off the lot. It may look good at first, but then the carpet starts to bubble or the grout in your ceramic tile job starts to crumble. I hope you see what I mean.
I want to help you avoid these types of problems in the future by helping you recognize a good installer, or one that should not be installing your floor in the first place!

How can I know if I have a good installer?

I have been a flooring installer for over twenty-five years, and I have seen them come and I have seen them go. There is no real way to know if you have a professional installer every time, but I can point out several attributes of real artisans I have met in the past.

The following is a list of a few of those tendencies.

1. They have a list of references with them at all times and are not afraid to have you call some of them, even before they start on your job.

2. They will call you if they are running late and will give an approximate time when they will be to your job.

3. They will clean up after themselves and will never leave the trash from that cleanup on your property.

4. They stand behind their work for two years, going beyond the usual one-year installation guarantee of the retail store.

5. They never smoke in your house or on your property.

6. They are always courteous and many times will explain what they are going to do before they do it, so you will know what to expect.

Use this list as a guide and give your installer the benefit of the doubt. If they have all the right tools, references, and will give you a guarantee in writing, that will probably be good enough.
Your best option is to use proven installers from a retail store. But if you are buying materials online, let the wholesaler suggest an installer and then interview them before they install for you.
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