Renovating your home can be exciting, especially when it comes to upgrading your flooring. However, it’s easy to make costly errors if you’re not careful. Understanding the most common flooring mistakes to avoid when renovating can save time, money, and frustration—while ensuring the final result is exactly what you envisioned. From ignoring moisture issues to poor subfloor preparation, this guide highlights what not to do when refreshing your floors.
Flooring Mistakes to Avoid when Renovating
Before diving into new flooring, it’s crucial to plan properly and avoid common renovation pitfalls. Below are essential mistakes to steer clear of when renovating your floors.
1. Ignoring Subfloor Preparation
Failing to prepare the subfloor properly can lead to long-term problems.
The subfloor is the foundation of your flooring. If it’s uneven, dirty, or damp, your flooring may not lay flat or last as long as it should. This is one of the most frequent flooring mistakes to avoid when renovating, as improper subfloor preparation can cause creaking, movement, or even structural damage. Always inspect, clean, level, and dry the subfloor before installation.
2. Choosing the Wrong Flooring for the Room
Each room has unique needs when it comes to flooring. One of the key flooring mistakes to avoid when renovating is selecting the wrong material for a space. For example, solid wood may not be ideal for bathrooms due to moisture exposure, while plush carpet may not suit high-traffic kitchens. Consider durability, moisture resistance, and cleaning requirements when choosing flooring for each room.
3. Overlooking Moisture Levels
Moisture can destroy flooring if not managed properly. This is especially critical when laying hardwood or laminate flooring. Moisture in the subfloor or environment can cause warping or buckling. Always test for moisture before laying floors and allow materials to acclimatise to the room’s temperature and humidity for at least 48 hours. Ignoring this step is one of the most damaging flooring mistakes to avoid when renovating.
4. Poor Measuring and Planning
Incorrect measurements can result in material shortages or excess waste. Take the time to measure rooms accurately and factor in extra material (usually 10%) to account for cuts and errors. Poor planning may cause delays and additional expenses. This easily preventable issue ranks high on the list of flooring mistakes to avoid when renovating.
5. DIY Without the Right Skills
Doing it yourself can save money—but only if done correctly. DIY flooring jobs often go wrong due to lack of experience, tools, or knowledge. Crooked tiles, uneven planks, and poor adhesion are just a few issues that arise. Unless you’re confident in your skills, it’s best to call in professionals. A botched DIY job can become more expensive to fix than hiring a fitter from the beginning.
6. Skipping Underlay or Soundproofing
Underlay is more than just a cushion—it’s essential for longevity and comfort. Skipping underlay to save time or money is a common flooring mistake to avoid when renovating. Underlay improves comfort, insulation, and soundproofing while helping the flooring wear better over time. Different floors require different types of underlay, so always choose the right one for your flooring material.
7. Ignoring Expansion Gaps
Neglecting expansion gaps can cause your flooring to buckle. Wood and laminate floors expand and contract with temperature and humidity changes. Not allowing expansion gaps around the perimeter of the room is a classic error that leads to buckling or lifting. This small detail is one of the most overlooked yet critical flooring mistakes to avoid when renovating.
8. Disregarding Floor Levels Between Rooms
Floor height mismatches can be a tripping hazard and disrupt visual flow. When renovating multiple rooms, people often forget to consider how the flooring levels connect between spaces. Inconsistent heights between tiles, vinyl, and carpet can look unprofessional and be unsafe. Always plan your transitions and use threshold strips to maintain a cohesive and safe flow.
Final Thoughts
Avoiding these flooring mistakes when renovating can help ensure your home improvement project runs smoothly and gives you long-lasting results. From planning and measuring to material choice and professional installation, every step matters.
Need help choosing or installing the perfect flooring? Count on TEKA Flooring!
Visit Our Store in Peterborough for expert advice, high-quality flooring options, and professional fitting services. Whether you’re upgrading one room or the whole home, TEKA Flooring has the expertise and range to help you avoid costly mistakes and achieve stunning results.
Read also:
