|
Does It
Really
Matter Who
Installs My
Floors?
Why Do Some
Installers
Cost More
Than Others?
How to
Avoid a Bad
Floor
Installation
5 Things to
Look For
Saving a few dollars on an installer may end up costing you much
more
Insurance -
General
liability
insurance is
a
contractual
relationship
between a
flooring
installer
and an
insurance
carrier to
reimburse a
homeowner
for property
damage or
personal
injury loss
caused by
the
contractor.
For
instance, a
falling roll
of carpet
may break a
window in
your home,
or much more
serious
damage could
occur. If
your
installer
does not
have
insurance,
YOUR HOME
IS AT RISK.
You could be
responsible
for any
damage done
to your
property or
any personal
injury
caused by
your
installer.
General
liability
insurance
does not
provide
reimbursement
for poor
work or
construction
defects.
Overturf
Flooring
carries $1
million in
liability
coverage for
your
protection.
Worker’s
Compensation
– A
consumer
should make
sure workers
have
workers’
compensation
insurance or
is exempt
from
workers’
compensation.
If the
contractor
has no
employees
they may be
exempt,
meaning they
are
responsible
for
themselves
should they
be injured.
They should
have
paperwork
stating so.
In some
cases the
business
owner may
have it but
may send
workers that
do not. It
is important
that workers
are covered.
This
prevents a
workers’
compensation
claim
against the
owner of the
property. If
your
flooring
installer
doesn’t have
it and they
get injured
on your
property,
guess who
they can
sue? YOU.
Overturf
Flooring’s
workers all
have the
proper
workers comp
coverage.
Guarantee –
Does your
installer
guarantee
their
installation?
Overturf
Flooring
offers a one
year
guarantee
for
installation
defects.
Neither
insurance
nor your
floor’s
warranty
covers
installation
defects or
an
improperly
installed
floor. If
they do not
have a
guarantee,
or if they
do not stand
by it, you
could be out
thousands if
your floor
has problems
due to the
installation.
Fly by night
companies
have closed
up after a
bad
installation,
leaving
homeowners
without the
protection
they thought
they had.
This can be
prevented
with a
little
research.
Get
references.
Look at
pictures of
their work.
Most
warranty
claims
submitted by
consumers
are largely
a result of
installation
failure,
which are
not covered
by the
floor's warranty.
Floor
Warranty –
Did you
know many
floor
warranties
are only
valid if you
have the
floors
installed by
a
professional?
Do it
yourself
installations
are not
covered
under
manufacturer
installation
warranties.
All
floor
warranties
are valid
only if the
installer
follows the
floor
manufacturer’s
specifications.
For
instance,
some things
not covered
by a wood
floor
warranty:
*Cupping
floors from
improper
moisture
levels
during
installation,
*buckling
from not
leaving
enough
expansion
space or not
enough
acclimation
time,
*damaged and
chipped
edges, *gaps
from failure
to install
the boards
tightly,
*glue
failure due
to improper
floor
preparation…all
problems
not
covered by
your floor
warranty.
The same
types of
issues can
happen
whether
carpet or
tile. They
are
installation
issues, and
if you
choose the
wrong
installer,
you’ll
either be
stuck with
the bill or
with a
damaged
floor.
Attention to
Detail –
Boards
tightly fit
together,
proper
spacing from
the wall,
board
patterns not
too close
together,
neatly
undercut
door jambs,
well cut
trim
pieces…these
are all
details that
require a
craftsman that cares
about their
work, not
items that
will
necessarily
be covered
by a
guarantee.
Each of the
above
scenarios
could cost
you
thousands of
dollars,
tens of
hours, and
nightmares
in trying to
get repairs
done. If you
are
responsible
for the
costs of
replacing
your floor
because you
hired an
installer
that failed
to meet one
of the above
criteria,
you will
have to pay
tear out
costs, pay
for a new
installation,
and pay for
new floors.
Tearing out
some
flooring is
very
difficult
and
therefore is
expensive.
Watch out
for bait and
switch
tactics. It
has happened
in this
industry
where a
qualified
installer
comes out
for the
measure and
then hires
unqualified
labor to
complete the
job at a low
cost. Ask
yourself,
“If an
installer
quotes you a
price so low
that he
barely
covers his
costs, where
will he have
to cut
corners so
that he
comes out
ahead?”
Overturf
Flooring
uses only
installation
specialists
that meet
all of the
above
criteria.
Should I
use the
installers
from the
flooring
store / home
improvement
store?
A. Use
them at your
own risk.
Most of
Florida's
flooring
stores use
only
subcontracted
labor.
Unfortunately
many of the
stores don't
seem to
grasp the
importance
of quality
over money
and although
they are
charging you
the customer
regular
prices for
an install,
they pay the
installers
much less.
This means
many of the
better
installers
are going
out on their
own.
Even though
you've paid
full price
for the
installation,
to make more
money most
stores then
hire the
cheapest
labor
available at
a cost per
square foot,
which means
these
workers have
to get your
floors
finished as
fast as
possible to
make a
decent wage.
Throwing in
floors as
fast as
possible can
sometimes
mean
shortcuts
are taken,
mistakes can
be made.
Some stores
have great
installers,
but you may
not get one
of their
better
installers
for your
floors, or
you might
get one that
just won't
show up. Do
you want to
take the
risk, hoping
you'll get a
good
installer?
Just because
you bought
your floor
at a store
doesn't mean
you have to
use their
installers.
At Overturf
Flooring you
are working
with the
installers
directly,
you're not
paying a
middleman
who makes
money off
the
installation
charge and
then hires
cheap labor
to do the
install. We
will install
most floors
even if you
don't buy
them through
us.
Common
Misconceptions
What if a
store is
offering
free
installation?
Compare
the bottom
line. Few
things in
life are
free. Often
a "free
installation"
is available
because
they've
inflated the
price of
your
flooring.
And again,
the quality
of the
installer
comes into
question.
Am I more
protected if
there's a
problem and
I used the
store's
installers?
No.
Since the
store
subcontracts
installers,
they require
the
installer to
honor the
installation
guarantee.
You're
working
directly
with the
installer at
Overturf
Flooring, so
you're
getting the
same (if not
better)
protection
with a
reliable,
family owned
local
company and
our 1 year
guarantee
against
installation
defects in
addition to
each floor's
individual
warranty.
(941)
209-9625
About
Overturf
Flooring
Recent Job
Pictures
What Our
Clients Say
5 Steps to
Avoid a Bad
Installation
Hardwood in
Florida?
Glue Down my
Floors?
Carpet Types
Home Page
|