Commercial Flooring Installation: What to Expect from Start to Finish

Are you wondering how commercial flooring installation works from start to finish? If so, this post can help. At Absolute Floors, we’re experts at delivering businesses the flooring installations they need in Nashua, NH, and beyond. 

How Commercial Floor Installation Works From Start To Finish

Commercial floor installation follows a step-by-step process based on your business’s requirements. It is usually more bespoke than residential flooring, designed around your company’s specifications. 

Step 1: Planning Phase

The first step is the planning phase, where you and the contractor decide the best approach to your commercial flooring project. This process begins with a “needs assessment,” where contractors evaluate your space and then develop ideas. 

Of course, your business could be in any industry, from medical to warehousing. As such, you must manage flooring around varying traffic levels, aesthetic requirements, and durability. 

Materials businesses can use for commercial flooring include: 

• Vinyl
• Tile
• Hardwood
• Epoxy 
• Concrete

You have to balance which of these is best for your application, something Absolute Floors can assist with if you choose to use us. 

Lastly, you’ll need to create a budget and timeline for the planning phase. These tell your contractor the limits they must work within for your project. 

Step 2: Site Inspection

The next step is to inspect your site. Contractors will arrive on your premises and check items like the subfloor stability and moisture level. 

This survey is critical to ensure the long-term viability of your new commercial flooring installation in NH. Getting it wrong can lead to serious maintenance issues in the future, or the scrapping of the floor just months after fitting. 

The survey also measures the floor area (reducing reliance on over-the-phone estimates) to finalize the quote. Sometimes, issues are only apparent when an inspector searches for them on the ground. 

Step 3: Design

The next step is to create detailed plans for how the floor will appear (sometimes using CAD software). These provide a more realistic image of the aesthetics of the completed project. 

During this phase, contractors will work on material procurement. Getting the ball rolling early with suppliers is critical for many projects. 

They will also speak to planning officials and the authorities to gain any permissions or permits required for the project. Sometimes, these are necessary for work done in regulated buildings (but not always). 

Step 4: Site Preparation

Following the design phase comes site preparation. Here, contractors prepare your premises for the work they plan to do. 

This phase begins by clearing the space. Contractors remove desks, tables, computers, wiring, ladders, fittings, and old flooring so it doesn’t get in the new installation’s way. 

Then, they start working on the subfloor – the material that will sit directly under the floor. This infrastructure often requires repair or replacement, depending on the depreciation and the new floor type being laid. 

Cleaning is also critical at this point. Dirt underneath floors can wear them prematurely and also affect adhesion. 

Step 5: Installation

Installation is the phase where the most happens. Contractors begin by laying adhesives (depending on the flooring type), adding them to the underlayment. Then they add the flooring material itself. 

• Carpets – Contractors roll the material over the floor and stretch it into place over the tack strips or gripper rods
• Tile – Contractors lay each tile in a pattern, fitting and securing them with grout
• Epoxy – Contractors pour this material (or concrete), using machinery to spread it evenly 
• Hardwood – Rare in commercial settings, contractors nail or glue this, ensuring each piece attaches securely to the material beneath
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At Absolute Floors, we work precisely, ensuring flooring materials align with the room and each other (if applicable). We also conduct rigorous quality checks to ensure everything is in the right position. 

Step 6: Cleanup

The final step is to clean up the workspace. Depending on the material laid, this can include: 

• Sealing and polishing the floor to make it look its best (less harsh)
• Inspecting all the elements of the flooring, including ensuring it is flush with the surrounding walls
• Applying protective coatings to enhance the floor’s durability
• Using industrial vacuums to remove dust created during the installation process
• Removing any remaining debris to allow the workplace to return to normality
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Absolute Floors provides handover guidance to help you make the most of your new floors, discussing matters relating to curing (if applicable) and maintenance. Then, we provide warranty documentation so you can call us back if you have a problem in the first five years.