Tips for Selecting a Tile Installer or Flooring Contractor
When putting together plans for a remodeling or a renovation, one of the most impactful decisions you will make is your decision of which tile installer or flooring contractor to go with. After all, the floor is a part of the property that is guaranteed to be used every day – it just makes sense to invest where it matters!
With so many choices of tile installers and flooring contractors, we have put together some tips for you to choose a flooring contractor that’s right for your needs. Let’s get to them:
Looking for flooring materials? Check out our latest tiles for inspiration!
1. Ensure that your tile installer or flooring contractor is well-established
The credentials required for construction and construction-related work may vary from country to country, so our first advice would be to ensure the tile installer or flooring contractor you choose operates completely within the right side of the law in terms of licenses and documentation. While independent installer and contractors may charge a lower fee, you would find that the premium for doing things above board is well worth it.
2. Ensure that your tile installer or flooring contractor has a good track record
When it comes to handiwork, you want someone who not only has the credentials but also have the experience. Tiling involves crucial steps in the procedures that only experienced contractors would know, and can help avoid future lippage problems. When scouting for tile installers or flooring contractors, drop a line and ask them for photos of their past work, or better yet, see if you can ask one of their previous customers about their experience. This would give you a more accurate perception of their track record.
3. Find a tile installer or flooring contractor you can communicate well with
Communication is key to success, and the client-contractor relationship is no different! Between a prestigious tile installer or flooring contractor who doesn’t have the time to pick up your calls and an average but solid one who is there to understand your need and requirements, you might find that you will have a better experience with the latter. More than speaking the same language, you will also need to be on the same page.
4. Make sure the tile installer’s or flooring contractor’s rates are suitable for you
As much variance as there is between the cost of tiles or other flooring materials, installers’ and contractors’ workmanship rates can also vary by quite a bit, leading to large differences from one to the other. While some may quote on a lump sum basis and others based on your property’s square footage and how complex your home design is, so it might be helpful to be prepared with the numbers to get a quick quote. For example, if your design involves tile cutting or different tile laying patterns, your tile installer may charge for the extra hours involved.
5. Ask if the tile installer or flooring contractor has a good relationship with the manufacturer
Good relationships tend to go a long way in business-to-business transactions, and often, a flooring contractor who has a good relationship with the flooring material manufacturer can obtain materials at a preferential rate that is not available to the public.
If you are selecting your own tiles, do visit our page here for some tiles and tiling ideas and get in touch with our interior designers for your 3D design and quotes.
6. Find out if there are extra charges for tile or floor covering removal
If you are replacing the floor on your property instead of building from scratch, which is most common these days, it doesn’t hurt to find out if the installer or contractor would charge extra for the removal of the existing flooring material, as this can be anywhere between 1 day to a full week’s worth of work. By finding out in advance, you can factor this into the pricing as well when making the decision.
7. Make sure all agreements are in writing
You can discuss as much as you want verbally, but when it comes down to the important details such as the flooring type, the estimated completion date, and most importantly, the final price, make sure you get these down in writing – and better yet, have an agreement signed. This will help in the long run, as should anything go unexpectedly, you will have a common document to refer back to.
That wraps it up for our tips – all the best in finding a suitable tile installer or flooring contractor, or check out our 7 simple steps to avoid lippage if you’re keen to DIY.
