25 Flooring Questions to Ask Your Flooring Supplier

Step 1. Outlining the scope

1. What style are you trying to achieve? [classic; contemporary; current; traditional; functional; stylish; minimalist; timeless etc].

2. Where do live? [Is it mostly hot, wet, humid, dry etc]

3. Is the floor subject to heavy traffic? [children, pets, toys, bicycles, disability/mobility appliances etc? Is special protection needed?]

4. Is the floor likely to be exposed to direct sunlight for prolonged periods? [Sunlight can cause wear and bleaching on particular floors].

5. How big is the area [What room[s] are being considered?]

6. Do you have stairs?

 Contemporary design with Oak timber flooring

Step 2 – Selecting your floor

7. What flooring look do you prefer? [The classic warm look of wood can be achieved pre-polished stabilised timber].

8. Does it come in different colours? [Pre-finished timber or bamboo can be stained to almost any shade].

9. Does it suit your home décor and furnishings? [Take samples home with you and see it complements your decor]

10. How hard-wearing is the floor? [Some floors show signs of wear and tear more easily than others]

11. What is the quality? [Is it the highest grade? Cheaper usually indicates the product has been compromised during the manufacturing process with low quality/grade material, cheaper glues, cheaper finishes, and no insect treatments]

12. Does the floor have Forest Stewardship Council certification [sustainably sourced].

13. Does it clean easily? [Pre-finished timber and bamboo floors are easy to clean]

14. Does it require maintenance/care? [All floors should be swept with a soft bristle broom daily and vacuumed weekly].

15. Is it termite proof? [Some wooden floorboards are naturally termite resistant. Others may be chemically treated to resist termites].

Simplify your buying experience with our printable buyer’s guide.

Step 3 – Selecting your store/supplier

16. Have you visited their a showroom? [A flooring showroom will provide context how your floor will look].

17. Are samples available? [Flooring often looks different in colour in the showroom compared to the lighting in your home. Compare the sample with your furniture, wall colours and other features].

18. Do they assist with the whole process? [Have all your questions been answered satisfactorily?]

19. What is their reputation? [How do you know if the store/supplier is reliable and trustworthy? Ask to see customer testimonials or search online for recent reviews].

20. Can you trust them in your home? [Do they include a pre-installation on-site inspection? Are they police-cleared?

21. Are they ISO 9001 accredited? [ISO 9001 certification is worldwide Quality Management System].

22. Does the company have a quality assurance department?

23. Do they have a dedicated customer service department to mange schedules, delivery times, and aftercare.

24. Do they offer a warranty or guarantee? [The warranty should be with the store/supplier and not a third party manufacturer you are unable to contact].

25. Are the installers experienced, professionally trained and accredited?