By Shane Webb, Owner — Gator Carpet & Tile • 30+ years Jacksonville flooring experience
Proper preparation makes your flooring install faster, safer, and cleaner. Here is exactly what to do before your Gator Carpet & Tile crew arrives.
Clear small furniture and decor completely. Lamps, side tables, nightstands, plants, books, area rugs — anything that isn't large and heavy should be out of the room the night before. This alone saves 30–60 minutes on most jobs.
Empty closets from the floor up. Shoes, boxes, and bins stored on closet floors need to come out. Installers need to run carpet or flooring under the closet threshold and inside the closet itself.
Disconnect and move electronics. TVs on stands, game consoles, and anything with cables running along the baseboard should be disconnected and moved before the crew arrives. Running new flooring around active electronics is messy and risky.
The crew will arrive with all materials. Your flooring has been measured, ordered, and pre-cut. The crew shows up with everything they need.
Old flooring comes out first. Removing carpet, pad, and staples or pulling up existing vinyl or tile is the first step. This creates dust. If you have allergies, consider leaving for the removal portion.
Subfloor gets inspected. After demo, the installer checks the subfloor for moisture, levelness, and damage. In Florida, we take this step seriously — a wet slab discovered mid-job changes the plan.
New flooring goes in room by room. Most crews work room by room rather than all rooms simultaneously. You can expect significant progress every hour.
Final walkthrough. At the end, your installer will walk through with you to check seams, transitions, and any concerns before leaving.
Small furniture should be moved by the homeowner before the crew arrives. Most installers will move large pieces like beds and sofas for a fee, but this should be arranged in advance.
It helps to be home at the start and end of the job. You don't need to watch the whole install, but being available to answer questions about layout and seam placement is valuable.
Most residential installations are completed in one day. You'll have access to the room the same evening.
Keep pets in a separate room, crate, or take them out for the day. Power stretchers, saws, and unfamiliar people can stress animals, and open doors are a safety risk.
Gator Carpet & Tile handles the hard parts. Schedule a free estimate and we'll walk you through exactly what to expect.
Get a Free Estimate Call 904-262-7304