Who installed your flooring? Believe it or not, it’s fairly easy to tell whether it was a professional or a DIY job.

Ultimately, it comes down to the details.

With carpeting, for example, seams are not that easy to do, especially if you don’t have the experience and don’t do it on a regular basis. A loose, wavy installation that has not been power stretched can be seen by anyone walking into the room.

Likewise, with hard surface installations like wood, laminate, vinyl or tile, proper installation includes things like moldings, baseboard work, transitions and more.

Phase One

Phase one includes floor prepping. This is critical to any installation process to ensure your starting surface is clean, flat, and dry. For soft surfaces, it means ensuring correcting or replacing any loose tack strips or old metals to ensure your carpet job runs smooth and stress free. For hard surfaces, flattening, sealing, and prepping ensures your floor has a good base before the flooring is floated or adhered into place.

Phase Two

Phase two is the actual installation process of the floor. This is where the carpet is unrolled and moved into place. This is where the tiles are laid out to reveal their final pattern. This is where wood planks are worked together and locked into place.

Phase Three

Finishing is often just as important as the installation. Properly installed baseboards, quarter round, T moldings, thresholds, and other trim makes the difference between a DIY look and a professional one. This is what creates ambiance from the floor up. Yes, you can tell if transitions aren’t appropriate from room to room. Proper moldings create a half finished look.

While phase two can be accomplished by just about anyone, it’s phases one and three that set people apart. They are what ensure your job will keep your floor looking its best for years to come.