When people picture a flooring project, they picture the finished floor. But a lot of what decides whether that floor stays flat, quiet, and tight for years happens before a single plank or tile goes down. Here's a look at the prep stage our crew handles on most jobs - and why we don't skip it.
Step One: Tear-Out
Before anything new goes in, the old floor has to come out - along with the adhesive, staples, or mortar left behind. Old tile removal is the most labor-intensive, since thinset has to be scraped or ground away. We work to keep dust and disruption contained to the work area as much as possible.
Step Two: Grinding High Spots
Concrete slabs and older subfloors are rarely perfectly flat. Ridges, old adhesive, and high spots can telegraph through a new floor or create gaps underneath it. On concrete, we grind those areas down so the surface is flat and clean enough for the next step.
Step Three: Self-Leveling Low Spots
Where the floor dips, a self-leveling compound is poured and spread to create a flat surface. It's one of the most important steps for luxury vinyl plank and laminate, which can flex and separate at the seams over dips, and for tile, where an uneven base leads to lippage and cracked grout.
Why It Matters for Each Floor Type
| Floor Type | What Poor Prep Can Cause |
|---|---|
| Luxury vinyl plank | Seams that separate, hollow spots, clicking underfoot |
| Laminate | Bounce, joint damage, and gaps |
| Engineered hardwood | Squeaks, hollow areas, and uneven boards |
| Tile | Cracked tile or grout and uneven edges |
No Surprise Line Items
During your free in-home estimate, we check the subfloor as much as we can and build the expected prep into your written quote. Occasionally something only shows up once the old floor is up - and if it does, we'll show you exactly what we found and talk it through before doing any extra work. Learn more on our demolition and prep page.
Want a floor that's built right from the ground up?
Schedule your free estimateOne Crew, Start to Finish
The same crew that preps your floor installs it, so nobody is cutting corners to hand the job off to the next team. It's a big part of why homeowners across the Treasure Valley trust us - see what they say on our reviews page.
