Getting new floors is one of the most satisfying home upgrades you can make. But if you’ve never been through a professional flooring installation in Edmonton before, it can feel like a bit of a mystery. What happens first? How long does it take? What do you need to do to prepare?
This guide walks you through the entire process — from your first conversation with a flooring specialist to the moment you’re walking on your finished floor.
Step 1: Consultation and Product Selection
Every good flooring installation starts with a conversation. A flooring specialist will talk through your goals, your lifestyle, and your budget — and help you narrow down the right product for your space.
Key things you’ll discuss at this stage:
- Which rooms are being done and how they’re used (high traffic, moisture exposure, kids or pets)
- Your existing subfloor type (wood, concrete, or existing flooring to be removed)
- Whether the space is above grade, on grade, or below grade (basement)
- Your preferred style, colour, and budget range
At LCF Flooring, we carry hardwood, luxury vinyl plank, laminate, carpet, tile, and more — so there’s no pressure to fit your needs into a limited product range. Visit our residential flooring page to see the full scope of what we offer.
Step 2: Measurement and Quote
Once you’ve identified a direction, a flooring professional will measure your space accurately. This isn’t just about square footage — it includes accounting for waste (cuts, angles, and transitions), doorways, closets, and any unusual room shapes.
You’ll receive a detailed quote covering materials and installation labour. A good quote should be itemized so you understand exactly what you’re paying for. This is also the right time to ask about our flooring financing options if you’re working within a budget.
Step 3: Subfloor Inspection and Preparation
This is the step most homeowners don’t think about — but it’s one of the most important. Before any flooring goes down, the subfloor needs to be inspected and prepared.
Your installer will check for:
- Level and flatness — high spots or dips need to be addressed before installation
- Moisture levels — especially important for concrete subfloors and below-grade spaces
- Structural integrity — squeaky or soft spots in wood subfloors may need repairs
- Existing flooring removal — old carpet, tile, or laminate may need to come up first
Proper subfloor preparation is what separates a floor that lasts decades from one that develops problems within a few years. Edmonton homes — particularly older homes and those with developed basements — often have subfloor conditions that need addressing before installation begins.
Step 4: Material Acclimation
For hardwood and some engineered products, the flooring material needs to acclimate to your home’s temperature and humidity before it’s installed. This typically means leaving the boxes of flooring in the room for 3–5 days before work begins.
In Edmonton, where indoor humidity can vary dramatically between summer and winter, this step is especially important. Skipping acclimation is one of the most common causes of gapping, buckling, and squeaking after installation.
Step 5: Installation Day
Installation timelines vary by flooring type and room size, but here’s a general guide:
- Luxury vinyl plank: 1–2 days for a typical main floor
- Hardwood (nail-down): 1–3 days depending on size and complexity
- Carpet: Usually completed in a single day
- Tile: 2–5 days including setting time and grouting
- Laminate: 1–2 days for most projects
On installation day, plan for noise and disruption in the area being worked on. Clear furniture from the space ahead of time (ask your installer whether furniture moving is included in the quote). Pets and small children are best kept away from the work area.
Step 6: Finishing Touches
Once the main floor is down, your installer will complete the finishing details — trimming and installing baseboards or quarter-round, adding transition strips between rooms and at doorways, and doing a final walkthrough to make sure everything is level, tight, and clean.
These finishing details matter more than most people realize. Well-fitted transitions and trim are what give a professional installation its polished, finished look.
Step 7: Aftercare and Settling
Some flooring types need a short settling period before they’re back to full use. Tile grout needs 24–48 hours to cure before getting wet. Site-finished hardwood needs 24 hours of light use and up to 7 days for full cure. Most LVP and laminate floating floors are ready for furniture and normal traffic the same day.
Your installer will walk you through the specific care instructions for your product — including cleaning recommendations and how to handle any warranty requirements.
Ready to Get Started?
The team at LCF Flooring handles every step of the process — from product selection to professional installation — so you don’t have to coordinate multiple trades or figure it out on your own. We’ve been installing floors in Edmonton homes for over 17 years.
Explore our hardwood, luxury vinyl plank, and full range of flooring options, or contact us today for a free quote. We’ll take it from there.