623-583-2682
602-424-9808
480-946-6647
480-892-3780
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Before Your Vinyl Arrives
The answers to: installation day is coming, what should I do?
At Baker Bros., the place “Where Fashion Meets Flooring,” our standing with the Better Business Bureau and the Arizona Registrar of Contractors is unparalleled for a business of our size.
We also have a reputation for helping customers through all the steps involved in shopping for and purchasing vinyl flooring -- a history of being there for our clients. Today and tomorrow.
With us you never go it alone. And we have over 60 years of customer relationships and thousands of satisfied customers to underscore that fact.
Plus, we believe our support, and presence, doesn’t end at our showroom doors. It continues all the way through installation, and well after.
But the topic here is installation. And it’s another flooring area where we shine like few others. We handle hundreds of flooring installations every week. Week in and week out. The fact is, nobody knows or does installations better.
That’s why, when it comes to installing your vinyl flooring, Baker Bros. offers you…
More answers per square foot.
All the answers you need to be knowledgeable and prepared for the big day when new vinyl flooring will transform your home.
Being ready for the installation of your vinyl will make the entire process go faster and more efficiently.
Knowing what to expect and being prepared will also be a lot less stressful on you, your family and your home.
So check out the information below, be flexible and anticipate, then look forward with confidence to the day your new vinyl flooring comes home.
Tip #1: there’s a name for worry-free installation -- Baker Bros.
Installing a vinyl floor is a difficult, labor intensive, very exacting process that requires full knowledge of substrates.
Doing it yourself is not recommended.
We strongly suggest you call upon the reliable and seasoned professionals of Baker Bros. to install your vinyl flooring.
That way you can be assured of a beautiful, efficient and correct installation.
Which is precisely what our goal is for you.
However, while installing vinyl flooring is a skill that is developed through years of experience, your understanding of the basics of installation will increase your knowledge of the process, and enhance your confidence in the professionals working in your home.
So please allow us to cover some of the basic steps our professional installers will perform.
Subfloor preparation is step one.
As with most flooring products, the first step is to prepare the substrate, the surface on which the vinyl flooring will be laid.
If installing over a wood substrate, an underlayment will generally be necessary.
Installing over a concrete substrate will not require an underlayment but will require some floor preparation.
You will need to give attention to the height of your appliances to counters and cabinets if an underlayment is required.
Can you install new vinyl flooring over existing vinyl flooring?
In some cases, yes. However, it is stongly recommended that existing flooring be removed, to ensure a proper high quality installation This is where employing experienced Baker Bros. flooring professionals really pays off.
We can determine if your existing vinyl flooring is acceptable or if it will need to be removed.
There are three methods used to install vinyl flooring depending on manufacturer and style: Full Spread, Perimeter Adhered or Floating.
Full Spread means the adhesive is trowled over the entire substrate.
Perimeter Adhered is an installation method in which adhesive is only applied to the perimeter of the flooring and also at the seams.
Floating is a type of installation in which the vinyl flooring is not bonded to the substrate by any adhesive.
Your beautiful new vinyl floor will be professionally installed using one of those three methods.
What to know and do before installation day
Work with your furniture first.
Remove all your furniture and other objects and materials from the areas where the
installation will take place.
Before moving, you’ll also need to empty the contents of china cabinets, closets
and the like.
Be aware that the area of installation must be climate controlled (heated or air conditioned). Vinyl flooring manufacturers recommend indoor humidity to be maintained between 40% to 50%, and the temperature not to fall below 65 or rise above 100 degrees.
Your present floor covering needs to be dealt with.
Please consider how your old floor covering will be taken up and disposed of. This can be a time consuming task. We would be happy to discuss removal options with you.
If you prefer to remove your present floor covering yourself, do it at least one day prior to arrival of your vinyl product to allow for cleanup and floor preparation. If removing old carpet, please remove all materials, the tack strips and the pad, including staples.
Have a plan regarding the trim.
You should know that, in many cases, moldings and baseboards need to be removed for vinyl flooring installation. Our installers will do this for an additional charge but will not be responsible for damage or breakage due to dry or brittle wood.
Painted baseboards, woodwork and paint may need retouching after the installation is complete. If necessary, this is your responsibility.
Get professional advice about your subflooring.
Your existing subfloor may need to be prepared to receive the vinyl flooring, or a new subfloor may be required. This is a job best left to the professionals and, again, we can help you with these decisions.
It is important that the subfloor be clean and level. That helps insure your new vinyl flooring will be as beautiful and well supported as possible and ultimately covered by the manufacturer’s warranty.
The best policy is an open door policy.
When vinyl flooring is installed, there’s always the possibility that the doors, especially closet doors, basement and bedroom doors, may not clear the new floor and swing free.
Our installers will remove doors in order to install the vinyl flooring and re-hang them. If there is a clearance issue you may want to arrange for a qualified carpenter to shave or cut down your door(s) after the installation of your new floor.
Know this about clean-up.
Installing new vinyl flooring will produce waste. These materials will be collected and disposed of by our installers.
What to know and do during installation day
Be home and available on installation day.
Be prepared to be at home the day of installation and be available in case our installation crew has questions. Your presence will insure that the correct vinyl flooring is installed in the right areas. Because it is difficult to estimate the length and circumstances of each job, we may not be able to give you an exact time of arrival but we will provide a time frame.
Safety is our priority.
Our installers will use a variety of tools and techniques that can make the work
area hazardous. Please make sure that your children and pets are kept out of the
work area on installation day.
Your safety and your family’s is priority for our installation crew.
Follow through with a walk-thru.
We recommend that, prior to the completion of the installation, you walk thru the job with our installation team. This will give you the opportunity to ask questions and be clear on any final details. Baker Bros. wants you to be completely satisfied with your new vinyl flooring.
What to do after installation
Time and temp are important.
For a minimum of 24 hours after your new vinyl floor is installed, protect all the seamed areas, don't walk on them or the seam sealer.
Keep the room at a temperature not less than 68° F or greater than 100° F for at least 2 days after installation to allow the adhesives to setup properly.
If you are sensitive to dust and odors, good ventilation should be established for 48 to 72 hours after installation.
If your vinyl floor was installed using the Full Spread method, once replaced by our installation teams, no appliances should be moved for a minimum of 24-72 hours after installation. Light foot traffic is allowed after 24 hours.
If the Perimeter Adhered installation method was utilized, once replaced
by our installers, no appliances should be moved for a minimum of 24-72 hours after
installation. Light foot traffic is allowed after 24 hours.
If our installers used the Floating method, appliances can be moved in
immediately and foot traffic is OK immediately following installation.
When you are ready to move appliances back into the room, an underlayment type of product such as plywood or particleboard with a minimum thickness of 3/8,” placed on the new flooring prior to moving the appliances, will greatly reduce any mishaps.
Do not rely on the wheels that may be attached to the refrigerator to move the appliance back in -- they can cause damage to the new floor.
Allow 5 days before thoroughly washing your floor. This will give time for the adhesive to cure.
Being prepared is the result of being informed.
We want you to be as well prepared as possible for the installation of your new vinyl flooring. To that end we’ve assembled the most knowledgeable sales people and the most experienced installers to provide you with solid information, reliable resources and proven solutions.
Since 1945, Baker Bros. has helped thousands of customers prepare for installation day by offering them…
More answers per square foot.