Is there a best time of year to upgrade your flooring? Like most home improvement projects, the answer is: yes.
The great thing about flooring is it isn’t something you have to rush to make a decision about. You can weigh your options, compare your choices, and make an informed decision.
Flooring is all about lifestyle. What works for one homeowner isn’t necessarily the best choice for another. Whether you’re thinking of installing carpet, hardwood, or tile, your ultimate goal is to get the best deal possible. That stretches far beyond monetary; it also includes ensuring you get a product that will last, and deliver the results you are looking for.
If you’re ready to renovate your home, and want to know the best time of year to upgrade the flooring, we have a few things to consider:
- When you can get the best deals on flooring
- How the time of year impacts installation
- How installation affects your health
When you can get the best deals on flooring
For most homeowners, there’s a fine line before need and desire. If you have champagne taste on a beer budget, you know what I mean. You have a strong desire to install the best, most luxurious flooring on the market, but your budget tells a different story.
The key to getting the best deal is to focus on what’s most important. Chances are if you’re reading this, you have a strong desire for a particular material. Maybe you want to rip up old carpet and lay hardwood throughout your living space. Or perhaps you want a fresh new color in the bedrooms, carpet that’s plush and soft to the touch.
When you start shopping, don’t walk into the first store and fall in love. Take your time to look around.
Also, don’t shop the big box stores and assume they buy in big quantities and get the best deals. It’s simply not true. They have less selection because they demand certain profit levels on every product they sell. They select products they know they can sell, and charge the most they can get for each selection.
As a flooring expert, we have a wide selection. That means we can help you get the best product for your money, as well as make suggestions based on your needs and desires. We can also steer you to comparable products that provide the same wearability, yet might be easier on your budget.
How the time of year impacts installation
Now that you’re comfortable with the deal you got on your flooring product, what about installation? Is there a best time of year to install your flooring?
In general, spring and fall are the best seasons for adding new flooring to your home for three reasons.
First, installing new floors takes a lot of work on the part of the installation crew. They have to rip out the old flooring before installing the new. They have tools to bring in and out to get the job done. They have to bring the new product into your home.
That means the doors will be open a lot. If you do this on a cold day, your furnace will be running excessively to compensate for the temperature difference. In the summer, your air conditioner will work overtime to keep up with demand.
Next, you’ll want the option of leaving your windows open for ventilation. No matter what flooring choice you select, there will be fumes and odors that come along with the process. Depending on the flooring you choose, you may have offgassing from the materials, floor adhesive odors, fumes from adhesive removal materials, stains, and sealers. Being able to leave your windows open and create cross-breezes for ventilation means you’ll eliminate the smells faster.
Finally, it’s also important to pay attention to temperatures and humidity levels, depending on what flooring you’re installing. While temperature and humidity can impact all flooring installations, it’s especially crucial for hardwood and laminate. Both need to acclimate to the environment before they are installed. This is easier to do when the temperatures stay between 50 and 75 degrees, and you don’t need to turn on the furnace or the air conditioner.
If you install flooring without the acclimation process, it can dry out your flooring. In winter, running your furnace regularly can suck moisture out of the air. In summer, your air conditioner acts as a dehumidifier. When your wood floors dry out, they can crack, shrink, warp, or even pull apart.
A good rule of thumb is to have materials acclimate for 7 to 14 days before the installation process. Rely on your flooring consultant for what’s best for the flooring product you select.
This can impact when you make your purchase, as well. If you’re planning a holiday party, or want your home to look good for a summer event, be sure to give yourself plenty of time.
How installation impacts your health
If you focus on bringing a sustainable, low VOC product into your home, you might think you’re at lower risk for having chemicals released into the air supply. While it is a good idea to make conscious choices for how they impact your health, the truth is all new products produce some offgassing when they are introduced into your home. You can’t avoid that new product smell, no matter what choices you make.
Some of it can dissipate quickly, especially when you can leave doors and windows open. By letting the fumes and odors release out of your home, that means they aren’t accumulating in every room in your home, impacting your health.
For this reason alone, we often suggest the best time of year for installing new flooring is fall and spring. Of course, here in Denver, we can have spring and fall-like weather almost twelve months of the year. It’s always a good idea to let fresh air into your home whenever possible.
So when is the best time to upgrade the flooring in your home? It depends on a variety of things, including the material you select your lifestyle.
If you have any questions about how to select the best flooring for your situation, or just want to compare your options, stop by today. We’ll provide you with honest feedback and help you make the right decision for you.