What to Expect
Our Flooring Installation Process
No surprises. Here is exactly how a Renaissance Floors project runs — from the first measurement to the final walkthrough — and why each step protects the floor you're paying for.
A flooring installation is only as good as the steps you can’t see once it’s done — the subfloor prep, the moisture testing, the acclimation, the expansion gaps. We run every job in seven stages so nothing important gets skipped, and so you always know what’s happening and why. It starts with a free in-home estimate and ends with a floor we stand behind.
Step by Step
Seven Stages, Start to Finish
- 01
Free In-Home Consultation & Estimate
We come to you, measure every room, and look at what's under and around the existing floor — subfloor type, transitions, doorways, and any trouble spots. Then we talk through materials, budget, and timeline and leave you with an honest written estimate.
Why it matters
A number quoted sight-unseen almost never holds up. Measuring in person and seeing the subfloor is the only way to price the real project instead of a guess.
Your part
Tell us how the rooms are used, your timeline, and your budget range. There's no pressure and no charge — the estimate is yours to keep.
- 02
Material Selection & Samples
We help you choose the right product for each room based on traffic, moisture, subfloor, and budget — not just looks. For a slab-on-grade room that means weighing engineered or LVP; for a formal space it might mean solid hardwood you can refinish for decades.
Why it matters
The most common regret in flooring is picking a material that fights its room — solid wood over a wet slab, or a thin wear layer in a mudroom. Matching material to conditions is where a floor's lifespan is decided.
Your part
Live with the samples in your own light for a few days. Colors and sheens read completely differently at home than under showroom lighting.
- 03
Scheduling & Acclimation
Once materials arrive, wood and many resilient products acclimate in your home before installation so they reach the moisture content and temperature they'll live at. NWFA guidance is to hold the home in its normal service range — roughly 30–50% relative humidity and 60–80°F — during and after the job.
Why it matters
Wood moves with moisture. Installing before it has equilibrated is the single biggest cause of later cupping, gapping, and buckling. Acclimation is not a delay — it's insurance.
Your part
Keep the HVAC running at normal living conditions. If the house is between tenants or newly built, let us know — an empty, unconditioned home changes the plan.
- 04
Subfloor Preparation & Moisture Testing
We flatten the subfloor to tolerance, repair soft or squeaky areas, and — on concrete — test slab moisture with an in-situ relative-humidity probe (ASTM F2170) before anything goes down. If the slab reads high, we address it with the right membrane or adhesive system.
Why it matters
Most flooring failures are subfloor failures wearing a floor's clothes. A flat, dry, sound base is what lets the finished floor stay flat, quiet, and bonded for its full life.
Your part
Nothing — but this is the step worth asking any contractor about. If they skip moisture testing on a slab, that's a red flag.
- 05
Installation
We install to the material's method — nail-down, glue-down, or floating — with the correct fasteners, adhesive, and trowel, a proper layout, and the expansion space the product needs at every wall and fixed object. Careful racking and cutting is what makes the finished floor read as one clean plane.
Why it matters
Expansion gaps and correct fastening are invisible when done right and impossible to hide when skipped — they're the difference between a floor that stays put and one that peaks or separates.
Your part
Plan for the rooms to be out of use during install. We'll give you a realistic day count up front so you can arrange around it.
- 06
Finishing & Detailing
We handle the details that make a floor feel finished: transitions and thresholds, reducers and stair nosings, quarter-round or shoe molding, and — on site-finished hardwood — sanding, staining, and sealing. Then we clean up and haul away the debris.
Why it matters
The trim and transitions are where a rushed job shows. Tight, level detailing is what separates a professional installation from a DIY look.
Your part
Let the finish cure before heavy traffic and rugs if your floor was site-finished — we'll tell you exactly how long for your product.
- 07
Final Walkthrough & Warranty
We walk the whole job with you, room by room, and don't call it done until you're satisfied. You get straightforward care instructions for your specific floor, and the installation is backed by our workmanship warranty.
Why it matters
A floor is a decades-long purchase. Reviewing it together — and standing behind the work in writing — is how a good installation becomes a lasting relationship.
Your part
Point out anything that catches your eye. This is the moment to raise it, and we want to make it right.
Every project is led by Alexand a small, dedicated crew, and backed by our workmanship warranty. We’re a licensed and insured C-15 Flooring & Floor Covering contractor (CSLB #1060673). See who we are or how flooring is priced.
Common Questions
Installation Questions
How long does a flooring installation take?
It depends on the material, the square footage, and the condition of the subfloor. A straightforward floating floor in a couple of rooms can go in quickly, while a site-finished hardwood job with sanding, staining, and multiple coats runs longer because each coat has to cure. Rather than quote a number that won't hold, we give you a realistic day count with your written estimate, once we've seen the space.
Do I need to acclimate my flooring before installation?
For solid and many engineered wood products, and for a lot of resilient flooring, yes — the material should adjust to your home's conditions first. Wood expands and contracts with moisture, so installing before it has equilibrated is a leading cause of later cupping and gapping. We handle acclimation as part of the job and keep the home in the NWFA service range of about 30–50% relative humidity while we do.
Why do you test the slab for moisture before installing?
Because concrete releases moisture for a long time, and excess slab moisture is one of the top causes of adhesive failure, cupping, and cupped or buckled floors. We use an in-situ relative-humidity test (ASTM F2170) before installing over concrete, and if the slab reads high we address it with the correct membrane or adhesive. On Sacramento-area slab-on-grade homes this step is not optional — it's what protects your investment.
Do you remove and dispose of my old floor?
Yes. Tear-out and haul-away are part of a full-service installation, and they're quoted as a separate line so you can see exactly what removal costs for your flooring type. A floated laminate or vinyl floor comes up quickly; glued-down vinyl and mortar-set tile take more labor, which is reflected in the estimate.
Is the installation guaranteed?
Our installation work is backed by a workmanship warranty, and we're a licensed and insured C-15 flooring contractor. We walk the finished job with you before we consider it complete, and if something about the installation isn't right, we make it right. Product warranties are separate and come from the flooring manufacturer.
Related
Keep Reading
Related pages: Finish Wear, Hollow Spots, Flooring Problems, and Hardwood Flooring.
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