Top Ten Flooring Mistakes

One unique part of working in the flooring industry is how often we’re inside people’s homes. Over the years, we’ve seen countless installations, and certain red flags consistently reveal when a professional wasn’t involved. Below are ten of the most common mistakes we come across.

1. Ignoring the Importance of Transitions

Transitions are the small strips installed where different flooring types meet. They smooth out height changes and allow the floor to move properly, especially with floating floors! If you’ve ever stubbed your toe where vinyl meets wood, or noticed the raw edge of laminate tight against a cabinet, chances are the transitions were skipped.

2. Forgetting Tile Bullnose or Trim

Bullnose is the rounded-edge tile used to finish off exposed edges, most often in wall tile applications. DIY installations frequently leave out bullnose, exposing the raw, discolored edges of the field tile. Always use bullnose or a metal profile such as Schluter to create a clean, finished look.

3. Skipping Proper Subfloor Preparation

A floor is only as good as the surface beneath it. Cracks, bumps, or high spots in concrete will show through vinyl. Tile installed without the correct underlayment can loosen. Soft or uneven plywood can cause floating floor joints to separate. The finished product may look nice initially, but without solid subfloor prep, it won’t perform well long-term.

4. Forgetting Expansion Joints for Floating Floors

All floating floors need expansion gaps around the perimeter so the floor can expand and contract with seasonal changes. Without these gaps under baseboards, transitions, and other boundaries, the floor can buckle or fail.

5. Not Considering Flooring Thickness Changes

Replacing a thin floor with a thicker one is usually simple: remove the baseboards and reinstall them slightly higher. But replacing a thick floor with a thinner one can leave an exposed paint line when the baseboard is lowered. Adding base shoe or quarter round will hide the gap; otherwise, you’ll need paint touch‑ups. Also remember that switching from a thin carpet to a thicker one may require trimming doors so they can close properly.

6. Compromising Quality for Price

A cheap floor that needs to be replaced is often more expensive in the long run than purchasing a quality product once. Working with a reputable company that offers durable materials and stands behind their work is well worth the investment.

7. Not Matching the Floor to the Application

Your flooring needs to match your lifestyle. If you can’t stand cold floors in winter, tile may not be the best fit in your primary bathroom. If you frequently host toddlers or own large dogs, wood might not hold up the way you’d hope. Your floors need to suit your taste, but also your everyday reality.

8. Underestimating the Scope of the Job

Some flooring replacements, like carpet-for-carpet, are relatively straightforward. Others require much more planning. Before beginning, consider:

• Will furniture need to be moved?
• Do appliances require disconnecting and reconnecting?
• Will baseboards need to be removed and reinstalled?
• Can you live without access to the space for a day?
• Are you familiar with Colorado’s asbestos regulations?

This is exactly why we offer free estimates. We want to ensure you know what’s involved before the work begins.

9. Not Undercutting Doorways

This small detail is a clear indicator of amateur installation. Doorjambs should be undercut so the flooring can slide underneath, creating a clean, professional finish. Cutting the flooring square and caulking up to the jamb is both noticeable and avoidable.

10. Choosing Based Only on a Small Sample

Many products have significant variation from piece to piece. This variation mimics real wood or stone, but it can surprise homeowners who only viewed a tiny sample. If you want a more uniform look or have a specific aesthetic in mind, check the full room scenes on the manufacturer’s website to get a better sense of the overall pattern. Some sample boards have these photos on the back. Even better, ask a representative to order a new sample of the material that you can take home, without worrying about lugging the board back and forth!

Proper planning and attention to detail make all the difference in a successful flooring project. Avoiding these common mistakes helps ensure your floors look beautiful, perform well, and stand the test of time!