Important Questions to Ask a Flooring Contractor Before Starting a Project

Choosing a flooring contractor is one of the most consequential decisions in any home renovation. The right installer protects your investment, keeps your warranty valid, and delivers a result that looks great for years. Here are the seven essential questions to ask before you sign anything.

1. What Flooring Do You Recommend for My Space — and Why?

Not all flooring performs equally in every room. A contractor worth hiring will ask about your lifestyle — pets, kids, high traffic — and the specific conditions of your space before recommending a material. For living rooms and bedrooms, hardwood and carpet are popular. For kitchens, basements, and bathrooms, waterproof options like luxury vinyl plank or porcelain tile are the smarter choice. A recommendation tailored to your actual situation signals expertise; a generic pitch for one product is a red flag.

2. What Does Your Installation Process Look Like?

Ask the contractor to walk you through the project from start to finish: subfloor preparation, material acclimation time (critical for hardwood), furniture moving, installation method, seaming approach, and cleanup. Vague or reluctant answers suggest a lack of transparency — or experience. A professional should be able to tell you exactly what will happen in your home and why.

3. Do You Use Your Own Installers or Do You Subcontract?

This matters more than most homeowners realize. Companies that use their own trained, in-house installation teams deliver more consistent quality and carry clearer accountability. When work is subcontracted, the people installing your floor may have never worked for that company before. At Kelly's Flooring, we use our own crews on every job — the team that quotes your project backs their work with our warranty.

4. What's Included in the Written Quote?

Get a detailed written quote that itemizes exactly what's included. Does the price cover materials and labor only, or does it also include old flooring removal and disposal, subfloor repair, furniture moving, and transition and trim installation? Common surprises on installation day: removal fees, disposal charges, subfloor leveling costs, and stair nosings that weren't included in the original estimate. Ask specifically — then get it in writing.

5. How Long Will the Project Take?

An experienced contractor provides realistic timelines based on your specific scope. Carpet in a single bedroom takes a few hours. A whole-home LVP installation typically runs two to four days. Tile projects, which require mortar and grout curing, often take four to six days. Ask what could extend the timeline — subfloor issues discovered during demo are the most common cause of delays, and a good contractor mentions this upfront rather than as a midproject surprise.

6. What Do Your Warranties Cover?

Two warranties matter: the manufacturer's product warranty and the installer's workmanship warranty. Most major carpet and flooring manufacturers cover stain resistance, wear, and texture retention — but typically require professional, power-stretched installation to stay valid. A company that uses knee-kickers instead of power stretchers is voiding your carpet warranty before the first roll is down. Ask what's covered, for how long, and what could void coverage. Get it in writing.

7. Can You Provide References or Show Recent Work?

Ask for references from recent local customers and actually call them. Check Google, Yelp, and BBB reviews. For St. Louis flooring contractors, a community track record built over years is the strongest indicator of reliability. Kelly's Flooring has served the Greater St. Louis area since 1978 and carries a 4.8-star rating from 280+ Google reviews. We're happy to share references and walk you through recent projects. Request an estimate or call (636) 677-5555.