For some flooring materials, professional installation is an absolute must, especially if you want to stay within budget and be covered in the event that something goes wrong. Materials that fall into this category include solid hardwood, carpet, and porcelain tile to name a few. All of these materials require special tools and they can be damaged without them. Carpet installation can look fine, but after a few weeks of regular wear, novice installations can show in seam separation, bunching of carpet, and bald spots in high traffic areas.
Both hardwood and tile can be cut wrong, which can ruin an entire piece of flooring if cut too short. That means more flooring has to be purchased and before you know it, you can be much further over budget than you intended to be.
Some flooring manufacturers are no longer honoring their warranties unless their products are installed by professionals. If nothing else, you should make sure to do whatever it takes to keep your warranty intact. That way, if something happens after a few weeks or months that has nothing to do with the installation; you won’t be out the cost of replacing all that flooring.
For more information on specific products and their installation needs, be sure to ask your flooring professional. We’ll be happy to address every aspect for you.