flooring for stairs Archives - Inspired Remodels

Are you thinking about installing new flooring in your home? It’s tempting to take the DIY route to save a few bucks. But before you dive in, consider this: DIY flooring projects often end up costing more in the long run. Why? Because without the proper know-how, you’re bound to make easily avoidable mistakes. Ask any seasoned Orange County flooring contractor about common DIY mistakes. You will hear about these common mistakes.

Not Understanding the Importance of Preparation

DIYers often underestimate the importance of preparation. Skipping crucial steps like proper subfloor preparation or moisture testing leads to flooring disasters. Without a level surface or proper moisture protection, failure waits in the wings. The flooring fails sooner rather than later.

For example, that fabulous wood flooring that’s all the rage now requires acclimation. Whether installed by a DIY’er or a pro, wood flooring material needs time to acclimate to the environment before installation. Pros know how to open and stack flooring planks and understand how long the acclimation process takes.

Many DIY enthusiasts overlook this critical step. Their floors warp or buckle over time and only then do they call in a pro.

Orange County flooring contractor uses wood-look tile to create spa feeling with white marble walls and white soaking tub

Wood-look tile offers a waterproof alternative to wood in the bathroom

Picking the Wrong Flooring

Selecting the right flooring material for your space is crucial for both aesthetics and functionality. However, many DIYers make the mistake of choosing based solely on appearance, without considering factors like durability, maintenance requirements, or suitability for the room’s purpose. They end up with great flooring in the wrong room or the wrong house. Environment and lifestyle matter.

When you work with an Orange County flooring contractor, they serve as advisors as well as installers. These pros won’t put wood floors in the bathroom, they’ll advise you to pick wood-look porcelain or ceramic.

Pros know what flooring stands up to high foot traffic from people and pets. DIYers lack this expertise.

Flooring contractor after picture: Hardwood flooring on stairs and landing

Stair flooring is not a DIY project

Poor Measuring and Installing Tools

Every flooring pro knows the maxim “Measure twice, cut once”. Unfortunately, many DIYers fail to heed this advice. This equals wasted materials, material shortages, and a patchy appearance to the final product.

Even a small measurement error can result in gaps, uneven seams, or misaligned tiles or planks. Even if they measure correctly, DIYers often lack the skills, precision, and attention to detail required for proper installation. Complex techniques like pattern matching, seam sealing, or proper adhesive application require practice.

Poorly measured and installed flooring looks amateurish and fails to stand up to wear and tear.

after bathroom remodel flooring contractor shows grey and white pattern tile flooring and blue vanity

This tile pattern is no problem for an Orange County flooring contractor

Go With a Seasoned Orange County Flooring Contractor

Sure, the allure of DIY seems appealing. But, tackling a flooring project without the necessary expertise leads to costly and unattractive mistakes. From improper preparation and measurement errors to poor installation techniques and material selection, the risks far outweigh the potential savings.

Avoid these risks. Work with a professional Orange County flooring contractor like Inspired Remodeling. These pros bring the knowledge, skills, and tools to get the job done right the first time.

Whether you plan to renovate an entire room or just update the flooring this year, you’ll want to select something trending. Inspired Remodels, an Orange County flooring contractor, shares the top 3 trends for Orange County flooring

Hardwood Still Hot

Nothing can be finer than to be with Carolina hardwood in the morning. Well, that’s not exactly how the song goes, but the sentiment remains strong.

Nothing is finer than hardwood flooring in the morning, as well as mid-day and night. And the wider the plank, the better.

Ask any Orange County flooring contractor and they will tell you hardwood flooring tops the list for durability and beauty.

These days, hardwood flooring adorns kitchen floors too! Advances in floor finishing create hardwood floors that stand up to the rigors of kitchen life.

In almost any room except the bathroom or laundry room, hardwood reigns supreme, and wood-look porcelain tile serves as its queen.

Warm Tones Heating Up

Using warm tones heats up in 2024. Cool tones still make an appearance, but now they are used in cabinets and countertops.

Look no further than the floor to find a little warmth.

Warm tones found in tile, stone, and wood make their mark on 2024 designs. They set a table where even little pops of color stand out.

Whether it’s the floor of the bathroom shower or the kitchen or entryway floor, you’ll find warm tones abound.

Neutral Tones for the Bathroom

Move over greige, taupe takes the lead. While grey and warm tones continue as the base of popular palettes, taupe takes the market head-on.

Any flooring contractor in the know understands taupe brings a super-power few other colors possess. Its chameleon-like characteristics allow it to transform color based on the colors around it.

Put taupe tiles near off-white or gray cabinets and they appear gray. However, take the same taupe tile and place it near oak or other light wood cabinets (Shaker of course), and voila, you have a brown or beige-looking tile.

Ask the Orange County Flooring Contractor

Got questions about Orange County flooring trends? Ask the experts at Inspired Remodels. Whether it’s one room or the entire house, Inspired Remodels stays on top of Orange County flooring trends as well as design trends in general.

flooring for stairs

Orange County Flooring Contactor Sheds Light On Common DIY Flooring Mistakes