Questions to Ask Before Hiring a Flooring Company

Few home upgrades change a space as immediately as new floors. The wrong team can turn that upgrade into a headache that lingers for years. The right flooring company, on the other hand, delivers a quiet kind of satisfaction: clean lines, tight seams, a solid feel underfoot, and a schedule that stays intact. Choosing well comes down to the conversations you have before you sign a contract. The details you clarify now prevent callbacks later, and they set expectations that match your budget, your timeline, and the reality of your home.

I have walked dozens of clients through these decisions, from modest vinyl updates on rental units to full-house hardwood installations with intricate border work. No two projects are identical, and the questions you ask should reflect that. What follows is the practical set I rely on when I vet a flooring installation service. Use them as a structure for your conversations, not a rigid checklist. If you are in a specific market like Charlotte, the same questions apply, with a few local twists I will flag along the way for anyone screening a flooring contractor Charlotte homeowners might hire.

What certifications, licenses, and insurance do you carry?

Paperwork is dull until something goes wrong. Anyone with tools can call themselves a flooring company. You want a flooring contractor who shows proof of a relevant business license for your municipality, a certificate of insurance for general liability and workers’ compensation, and, where applicable, a trade license. Insist on current documentation, not promises. If they hedge, move on.

The certification landscape varies by material. Installers who handle hardwood often reference National Wood Flooring Association training. Tile setters may hold Ceramic Tile Education Foundation credentials. For resilient flooring like LVP and sheet vinyl, manufacturer certifications matter because many warranties hinge on trained installer status. This is not about collecting badges. It is about competence that matches the job you are hiring for.

Insurance details matter in ways most people do not consider. General liability should be sufficient to cover water damage from a burst line during a demo, or smoke damage from a tool mishap. Workers’ compensation protects you if an installer is injured on your property. Ask for policy limits, not just “Yes, we are insured.” A reputable flooring installation service will send the certificates directly from the insurer upon request.

How do you evaluate the subfloor, and what prep do you include?

Flooring is only as good as what sits beneath it. A smooth top layer can hide a wavy, damp, or deflecting subfloor for a little while, then seams open, boards cup, grout cracks, or click-together planks separate. The company you hire should start by describing their subfloor assessment, not by pushing a product.

There are a few basics you want to hear. Moisture testing for concrete slabs, using calcium chloride or in-situ probes, not just a handheld meter wave. Humidity and moisture content checks for wood subfloors, with numbers that make sense. For engineered and solid hardwood, installers should reference the DIY vs professional floor repair target moisture content for your region and season. In the Carolinas, many hardwood pros aim for interior humidity between 35 and 55 percent, with wood flooring moisture content around 6 to 9 percent, and subfloor wood within two percentage points. If a team skips this step, you inherit risk that shows up as cupping or gaps when the seasons change.

Ask what leveling standard they follow. A common benchmark is no more than 3/16 inch variation over 10 feet for many floating floors, tighter for glue-down hardwood or large-format tile. If they find deviations, what is the remedy and at what cost? Grinding high eco-friendly flooring spots, patching low areas with a quality feather finish, or pouring self-leveling underlayment are standard options. That work may add a day or two to the schedule, and a few hundred to a few thousand dollars depending on square footage and severity. Better to price it and plan for it than discover it mid-install.

What materials do you recommend for my use case, and why?

A good flooring company does not push the same answer for every home. They match materials to realities: pets, kids, rental turnover, ground-level slabs, radiant heat, exterior doors that drag in grit, or a stair you want to highlight with hardwood treads. Ask them to compare options in real terms, not just brand slogans.

For busy households that mop weekly and drag chairs across the kitchen, a rigid core luxury vinyl plank with a decent wear layer, say 20 mil or more, often outlasts engineered hardwood. For a foyer that takes direct sun, consider how that product handles UV exposure. For a second-floor bedroom where you want warmth and can control humidity, engineered hardwood provides a nice compromise between stability and feel underfoot.

Tile remains unmatched in wet areas, but grout selection affects maintenance. Sanded grout for wider joints, epoxy grout for stain resistance at a higher price point, and high-performance cementitious grouts that split the difference. If someone insists that laminate can go in a full bath without qualification, be careful. Some modern laminates are more water resistant, but standing water remains the enemy.

Responsiveness to your local climate is a sign of experience. A flooring company Charlotte residents trust will talk about humidity swings and expansion gaps, not just finishes and species. They will tell you how oak behaves differently from maple, why a wire-brushed finish hides micro-scratches better, or why a waterproof LVP helps in a crawlspace home where moisture swings are real.

How do you handle moisture barriers, underlayment, and sound control?

These layers do the quiet work. Underlayment for floating floors can add sound deadening, thermal comfort, and minor smoothing. Over concrete slabs, a true vapor barrier is not optional for many products. Some planks include an attached pad, which changes your underlayment plan. Others require a separate acoustic pad if you live in a condo with IIC or STC rating requirements.

Make sure the flooring installation service explains what they use and why. A 6 mil poly sheet under a floating floor can serve as a vapor barrier over a slab, but some manufacturers specify their branded system. For glue-down installs on concrete, a two-part moisture mitigation system may be required if slab tests exceed certain moisture thresholds. Those products cost more upfront but save you from adhesive failure and buckling that cost much more to fix.

In multifamily settings, the building might require underlayment that hits specific sound ratings. Ask the installer to provide the product data sheet for the chosen underlayment and confirm it meets the building requirements. Approvals must happen before material arrives, not after complaints from the downstairs neighbor.

What is included in your estimate, and what are the likely add-ons?

Read estimates carefully. The fairest quotes spell out square footage, material costs, subfloor prep allowances, transition and trim details, stair treatments, baseboards or shoe molding, and disposal. Vague terms like “standard prep” or “typical transitions” hide variability that becomes change orders.

Clarify the following. Are transitions metal, wood, or color-matched vinyl? How many doorways need reducers or t-molds, and are those included? Will they remove and reinstall baseboards, cut and repaint, or add new shoe molding to cover expansion gaps? For stairs, are the treads and risers prefinished, stained on site, or wrapped with coordinating material? Each choice changes labor hours and finish consistency.

Delivery, storage, and acclimation also matter. Solid and engineered hardwood generally need time to acclimate, often three to seven days, depending on conditions. That means protected space onsite. If you cannot provide it, ask how they handle acclimation at their facility. For LVP and tile, acclimation is usually shorter or not critical, but check manufacturer guidance.

Expect a deposit that covers materials and locks your spot on the schedule. A reasonable payment structure splits the remaining amount into a progress payment during installation and a final payment upon completion and walkthrough. If someone asks for the entire amount upfront, proceed with caution.

Who will be on site, and who manages the project?

Quality depends on the crew. Some flooring companies use in-house installers, others rely on subcontractors they work with regularly. Both can be excellent if managed well. Ask who your point of contact will be each day. A foreman who walks your space with you every morning and at the end of the day keeps misunderstandings small.

Ask how many people will be on the crew and whether the same team stays from start to finish. Skilled installers move at a steady pace and communicate about constraints. If a contractor juggles several jobs and rotates workers in and out, you may see inconsistent techniques between rooms. That shows up as pattern misalignment on herringbone, plank direction changes where they should not happen, or slight differences in grout joint width.

A reliable flooring installation service will tell you when they arrive and depart each day, how they protect adjacent areas, and how they stage materials. In occupied homes, plan for dust control and cleanup routines. Proper saw use outdoors or on a balcony, plastic barriers at doorways, and a HEPA vac paired with the sander or grinder reduce dust dramatically.

How do you handle furniture, appliances, and doors?

Logistics details can make or break a schedule. Moving a sectional, a piano, or a built-in fridge requires planning. Verify who moves what, and whether appliances get disconnected and reconnected by a licensed professional. Water lines on fridges and gas ranges introduce liability. If the installer will not handle them, line up a plumber or appliance tech.

Ask about door clearance. New floors, especially when layering over existing surfaces, can create friction points. Interior doors might need to be trimmed. Exterior doors often require a carpenter so weatherstripping and thresholds remain effective. A straightforward plan avoids last-minute scrambling.

If you are phasing a project, clarify sequencing. For example, install kitchen floors after cabinets but before the island gets anchored so you avoid future patches when you relocate fixtures. Stair systems and railings often require coordination with a finish carpenter or ironwork installer.

What is your approach to layout, transitions, and details?

This is where craftsmanship shows. For plank floors, ask how they plan to balance the layout so you do not end up with a narrow 1 inch sliver along a focal wall. A seasoned installer snaps layout lines, measures room squareness, and may shift the starting point to center the pattern visually. In long hallways, plank direction matters: floor patching Charlotte running lengthwise elongates the space and reduces the number of end joints.

Doorways and transitions demand attention. The right reducer profile avoids a toe-stub and looks deliberate. In older homes, floor heights often vary between rooms. A good flooring company will propose one of several strategies: gentle ramps under the floor, saddle transitions, or a feathered leveling compound. Each option has a different profile and cost.

With tile, talk about grout joint size and pattern. Larger tiles usually mean tighter joints, but substrate flatness dictates how tight you can go. Patterned tile or herringbone layouts increase waste and labor time. Get agreement on layout with mockups or dry-lay sections before thinset hits the trowel. For hardwood borders or stair nosings, ask to see sample pieces so color and sheen match the field planks.

How do you handle dust, debris, and daily cleanup?

Clean work is not vanity. It protects finishes, keeps your HVAC system from clogging, and keeps people safe. If your project includes removing old tile or sanding wood, dust control becomes critical. Plastic containment with zip-door systems, a negative air machine if heavy demo is involved, and high-quality vacs attached to sanders and saws should be standard.

Debris hauling can be a hidden fee. Tile demo generates a surprising amount of waste. Clarify whether dump fees are included. In the city core, plan for parking and condo elevator protection rules. Some buildings in Charlotte require specific floor protection on common areas during move-in and construction. A prepared flooring company Charlotte building managers know will arrive with mats, corner guards, and insurance certificates ready to go.

What is the timeline from deposit to completion, and what could change it?

Schedules slip for predictable reasons. Back-ordered materials, subfloor surprises, moisture mitigation, and change orders. A professional installer will outline a realistic schedule, not an optimistic one. For a typical 800 to 1,200 square foot space with straightforward LVP over a reasonably flat subfloor, expect two to four days. Add a day if baseboards come off and new ones go on. For engineered hardwood glue-down, plan on three to six days depending on prep and stair work. For tile in a large bathroom with a shower, expect a week or more because waterproofing layers need cure time.

Ask how they communicate delays. A short text each afternoon with a status update goes a long way. If a slab moisture test fails and requires a two-part moisture barrier, that adds cost and at least a day, sometimes two, with cure time. Better to hear that on day one than on the last day when the new floor buckles during a humid week.

What is your warranty on labor, and how do manufacturer warranties apply?

Warranties vary, and the language matters. A one-year labor warranty is common, two years is better. Materials often advertise long warranties, but they are packed with conditions. Manufacturer coverage generally excludes improper installation, moisture intrusion, and neglect. That brings you back to the installer’s process. If the flooring installation service follows the manufacturer’s prep and installation guidelines, you have a warranty that means something.

Ask how warranty calls are handled. The best contractors schedule a site visit, document the issue with moisture readings and photos, and give you a timeline for remedy. If an installer blames the manufacturer for everything, or the manufacturer blames the installer, you are stuck in the middle. The companies you want take ownership and resolve first, then sort out reimbursement with the supplier later.

Can I see past work and talk to recent clients?

Photos help, but finished floors in person tell a fuller story. If you can, visit a completed job of the same material and pattern. Look for straight lines, tight seams, consistent sheen, and transitions that feel natural underfoot. For hardwood, check that vents and stair noses match closely in color and grain. For tile, inspect corners, niche edges, and how the pattern handles out-of-square walls.

References matter most when they are recent and local. Ask to speak with clients from the last six months, ideally with a project similar to yours. Two phone calls can teach you more than a glossy brochure. Listen for how the team handled small problems, whether the schedule held, and how clean the jobsite stayed.

How do you price flooring repair versus full replacement?

Floors fail for reasons that range from small mistakes to building-wide issues. A reputable flooring repair service will diagnose before proposing a fix. If your hardwood has cupped in one room near a bathroom, they will look for leaks and check crawlspace humidity. If your LVP is separating at the click joints, they will check for excessive subfloor deflection or missing expansion gaps at the perimeter.

Repair pricing can look high relative to the square footage because mobilization and matching take time. For a handful of damaged hardwood boards, expect a minimum service charge plus board replacement and refinishing to blend. Matching stain and sheen is as much art as science, and it takes skill. Sometimes full replacement is the honest recommendation because the defect is systemic. You want a flooring repair Charlotte homeowner can rely on for straight talk, not a patch that buys two months of peace.

What happens on day one, and how do we wrap up?

The first day sets the tone. A quick huddle to confirm layout, scope, and access points prevents small misunderstandings. The crew should protect pathways, label door keys if needed, and stage tools in a designated area. Demo should start where noise makes the least impact on neighbors or kids’ naps, when possible. If surprises arise, like a gypsum underlayment beneath old tile or a sunken area at a doorway, the crew should stop and consult before plowing ahead.

At the end of the job, insist on a walkthrough. Run your hand over transitions. Sight down the seams under natural light. Open and close doors. If something catches your eye, say it then, not after you pay. Good teams appreciate a focused punch list. They would rather fix it while they are set up than return a week later to redo a baseboard joint.

A brief word for Charlotte homeowners

Every market has its quirks. Charlotte’s mix of crawlspace homes, slab-on-grade townhomes, and high-rise condos means a flooring company Charlotte residents hire should be comfortable with all three. Crawlspaces introduce humidity swings that test hardwood and even LVP if the subfloor is damp. Townhomes often have HOA rules about sound transmission, which affect underlayment choices. Condos require scheduling elevators, protecting common areas, and meeting strict noise ratings. A flooring installation service Charlotte building managers welcome back tends to be the one that answers emails quickly, arrives with certificates in hand, and keeps crews tidy.

For older neighborhoods like Dilworth and Plaza Midwood, expect out-of-square rooms and patchwork subfloors after decades of renovations. That means more time on layout and leveling. In flooring installation Charlotte newer developments around Ballantyne or Steele Creek, slab moisture can still surprise you, so insist on slab testing before glue-down installs. In both cases, a local flooring contractor Charlotte homeowners trust will know the patterns and plan accordingly.

Red flags that deserve a pause

Even when a bid looks attractive, a few warning signs justify slowing down. A quote that undercuts others by a wide margin often leaves out prep or trims that you will pay for later. Vague answers about moisture or subfloor standards suggest a crew that installs what arrives, not what the space needs. Pressure to pay in full before materials are onsite is another concern. One more subtle sign: dismissing your questions as unnecessary. An experienced pro will welcome them and answer plainly because they have navigated the same issues many times.

A compact pre-hire checklist

• Show me your current license, liability insurance, and workers’ compensation certificates.
• Explain your subfloor and moisture testing plan for my home.
• Itemize what the estimate includes, especially prep, transitions, and baseboards.
• Describe who will be onsite, how many days the job will take, and how dust and debris are handled.
• Provide two recent local references with similar scope and materials.

What you should prepare before the crew arrives

Homeowners have a role too. Clear the room as much as possible, label fragile items, and designate a path for the crew to carry debris. If pets live in the home, plan for containment. Ask about climate targets and start conditioning the space a few days before install, especially for wood floors. If you are replacing floors in a kitchen, line up the appliance plan. The smoother the start, the less time is spent on logistics, and the more attention goes to fit and finish.

Why these questions pay off

Floors are daily-use surfaces. They take heel strikes, pet claws, sliding chairs, and spilled juice. When the prep is right, the material fits the use case, and the details are deliberate, the floor shrugs those things off. When an installer rushes moisture checks or glosses over a wavy subfloor, small annoyances show up quickly, then grow. A tiny click at a joint becomes a gap. A slight hollow spot telegraphs under tile. Fixing those issues after furniture returns costs more than doing it right the first time.

A solid flooring company is not just a vendor. They are a partner in a piece of your home that should last a decade or two, sometimes longer. The best teams talk you out of bad ideas without condescension. They price clearly. They do not hide change orders in fine print. Whether you hire a neighborhood flooring company, a larger flooring installation service with multiple crews, or a boutique hardwood shop that handles only sand-and-finish, the path is the same. Ask focused questions, listen for the details, and choose the people who explain their craft with specifics.

If you are vetting a flooring company Charlotte neighbors recommend, bring this list to the meeting and adapt it to your space. The answers you hear will either build trust or tell you to keep looking. That clarity is worth as much as any showroom sample.

PEDRETTY'S CERAMIC TILE AND FLOORING LLC
Address: 7819 Rolling Stone Ave, Charlotte, NC 28216
Phone: (601) 594-8616