Owen ThorntonBy Owen Thornton

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Hiring hardwood flooring installation contractors is a decision that shapes how your floors look and perform for decades. This guide walks you through finding qualified installers, comparing written bids, checking credentials, and setting up the job so the work goes smoothly. By the end, you will know what to ask, what to put in writing, and how to tell a solid installer from one who will cause headaches.

We have renovated our own floors in three rooms of our house, and we learned most of these lessons the slow way. Some of what follows comes from our trial and error, and some comes from what installers told us once we started asking better questions.

Shopping for one? See our guide: Drywall Ceiling Repair Contractors: 6 Best Options Compared (2026).

Decide What Kind of Installation You Need

Before you call anyone, get clear on the scope. Hardwood installs are not all the same, and a contractor quoting a nail-down job on a plywood subfloor is not quoting the same work as one floating an engineered plank over an existing slab.

  • Nail-down solid hardwood: Boards are fastened to a wood subfloor with a flooring nailer. This is the traditional method and requires a solid, flat, dry wood base.
  • Glue-down: Boards or planks are adhered to the subfloor with mastic or adhesive. Often used with engineered wood over concrete.
  • Floating engineered: Planks click or glue together and rest on an underlayment without being attached to the subfloor. Common over concrete or radiant heat.
  • Refinishing only: Not an installation, but many contractors bundle sanding and finishing with new work. Confirm whether this is included.

Write down the square footage, the rooms involved, the species and width of the boards you have chosen, and whether you are removing old flooring. Measure carefully. If you need help, our guide on How to Measure a Room for Flooring Accurately shows the method we use.

Find and Shortlist Qualified Contractors

Good installers rarely advertise cheaply. They tend to be booked out, so start your search at least several weeks before you want the work done. Useful sources include referrals from people whose floors you have seen in person, flooring supplier recommendations, and local trade listings. Be cautious with online reviews alone, since they are easy to manipulate and rarely describe the specific work in detail.

Aim for three to five contractors on your shortlist. Fewer than three makes comparison difficult. More than five usually wastes everyone’s time.

Questions to Ask Before You Request a Bid

  1. How long have you been installing hardwood specifically, not just general flooring?
  2. Do you carry general liability insurance and workers’ compensation? Can you send certificates?
  3. Are you licensed for flooring work in my city or state, and is any permit required for this job?
  4. Will you be doing the work yourselves, or do you subcontract it?
  5. Can you share photos or addresses of recent hardwood installations similar to mine?
  6. What is your typical schedule from signed contract to completion?

Read and Compare Written Bids

A bid should be specific enough that you could compare two of them line by line. If one bid is a single sentence and another runs two pages, you are not comparing equal scopes. Ask every contractor to bid the same set of tasks, using the same flooring product and the same room measurements.

Item to Check What a Clear Bid Includes
Scope of work Rooms covered, square footage, and whether closets and stairs are included
Material Brand, species, grade, width, finish, and an allowance for waste (commonly 5 to 10 percent)
Removal and disposal Whether old flooring is removed, who hauls it away, and whether it is included
Subfloor preparation Leveling, repairs, moisture testing, and whether underlayment is supplied
Trim and transitions Baseboard removal and reinstallation, quarter-round, thresholds, and transition strips
Finish work Sanding, staining, and coats of finish, if applicable
Warranty Length and coverage of workmanship warranty, separate from manufacturer warranty
Payment schedule Deposit, milestones, and final payment tied to completion

Pay attention to exclusions. A bid that leaves out subfloor repair or trim work can look attractive until the change orders start arriving. If a bid seems unusually low, ask what has been left out before assuming it is a bargain.

Prepare the Site Before the Crew Arrives

Once you have hired someone, your preparation affects the schedule and the quality of the result. Clear the rooms of furniture and small items. Confirm that the moisture levels in the space are within the range your flooring manufacturer specifies, and let the boards acclimate in the room for the time they require, often several days.

Subfloor Checks

Most installation problems trace back to the subfloor. Ask your contractor to check for flatness, typically within about 3/16 inch over 10 feet, and to address squeaks, soft spots, and loose boards before any flooring goes down. Our article on Subfloor Preparation and Flooring Underlayment Explained covers what to look for and why it matters.

Protecting Your Home

  • Cover HVAC returns and vents to keep dust out of the ductwork.
  • Tape plastic sheeting over doorways that lead to rooms you are not renovating.
  • Move pets and children out of the work area on sanding and nailing days.
  • Photograph the rooms before work begins, including any existing damage.

Monitor the Work and Handle Changes

Stay in touch during the job. Visit the site at key points, such as after subfloor prep and before the finish coats go on. Check that the boards are laid with the expansion gap your manufacturer specifies around the perimeter, typically around 3/8 inch, and that transitions meet cleanly at doorways.

Agree on how changes will be handled before the work starts. If the crew finds rot or an uneven slab, you want a written change order with a revised cost and timeline, not a verbal agreement made in the middle of the day. Once the floor is installed, you will also want to know how to care for it, so our guide on How to Clean, Maintain, and Protect Hardwood Floors is a good next read.

Common Mistakes

  • Hiring on the lowest bid alone. Compare scope and exclusions, not just the total.
  • Skipping insurance verification. Ask for a certificate and confirm it is current.
  • Ignoring acclimation. Boards installed before they adjust to the room’s humidity can gap or cup later.
  • Forgetting transitions. Doorways and room changes need thresholds or transition pieces. Our guide on How to Install Flooring Transition Strips and Moldings explains the options.
  • Accepting verbal promises. Anything important, from warranty terms to cleanup, belongs in the written contract.
  • Paying in full up front. Keep payments tied to milestones and completion.

Tips for a Smoother Project

  • Order your flooring early, since backorders can delay the start date.
  • Ask whether the contractor will supply the underlayment and whether it is the type your flooring requires.
  • Confirm who is responsible for moving furniture back in and disposing of construction debris.
  • Keep a folder with the contract, bids, warranty documents, and the flooring product information for future repairs.

If you are weighing whether to take on part of the job yourself, our overview of DIY vs Hiring a Contractor can help you decide where your time is best spent.

If you plan to handle some of the prep or finishing work alongside your installer, a few tools help. Knee protection is especially useful during long installation days.

  • Gel knee pads for flooring work: Padding that cushions your knees on hard subfloors during measuring and trim work. View on Amazon
  • Multi-purpose flooring spacers: Spacers hold the expansion gap at the walls as boards are laid, keeping the perimeter consistent. View on Amazon
  • Moisture meter for wood and concrete: A pin or pinless meter lets you check subfloor and board moisture before work begins. View on Amazon

FAQ

How much notice should I give a hardwood flooring installation contractor?

Many reputable installers book several weeks ahead, and busy seasons can stretch that longer. Contact them as soon as you know your timeline and your flooring selection.

Do I need a permit for hardwood flooring installation?

Often no, since flooring is generally considered cosmetic. However, requirements vary by city and by whether the job involves structural subfloor repair or changes to thresholds and heights. Ask your contractor and check with your local building department.

What is a reasonable warranty for hardwood installation work?

Workmanship warranties vary widely. Ask for the length and terms in writing, and keep it separate from the manufacturer’s warranty on the boards themselves, which covers different issues.

Should I be home during installation?

You do not have to be present every hour, but being available for questions and periodic checks is helpful. Nail-down and sanding days are loud and dusty, so you may prefer to be elsewhere.

How long does a typical hardwood installation take?

Timing depends on the room count, the method, and whether old flooring must be removed. Ask each contractor for an estimated schedule and what could extend it, such as subfloor repairs or finish drying time.

Can I stay in the house while the floors are being installed?

Often yes, though you may need to keep rooms off-limits during sanding, staining, and curing. Plan to move to another room or leave the house on the heaviest days, and keep pets away from wet finish.

What should I do if my floor squeaks or gaps after installation?

Contact your contractor first, since most workmanship warranties cover these issues within a set period. Gaps can also reflect seasonal humidity changes, so note when they appear and what the room’s humidity was like.

Is it worth getting more than three bids?

Usually three to five bids is enough. Beyond that, the extra effort rarely changes your decision, and you may be better served by checking references and insurance on your top choices.

Conclusion

Choosing hardwood flooring installation contractors comes down to clear scope, comparable bids, verified credentials, and a written plan for changes. Prepare the subfloor and the site, stay involved during the work, and keep every promise on paper. Done carefully, the process produces floors that look good and hold up for years.

Owen Thornton

About Owen Thornton

Owen focuses on practical advice for diy home renovation: what matters before you buy, what to skip, and how to get more out of what you already own.