When you think of installing new flooring, you may think it is as simple as taking up one flooring type and replacing it with 
another. In ways, this is true. However, if you are tearing up tile, it could be more complex than if you were ripping up old carpet, and if there is any type of damage to the subfloor, you will also need to take care of it. Therefore, even if you are going to hire a professional to install your new flooring, you may want to at least do some of the work to cut your costs. It is also important to know what you are getting into if you want to handle the installation on your own completely. Are you ready to learn how to prepare your floor for new flooring installation?
One of the most important things, especially if you are going to install wood or laminate flooring, is the existing floor must be flat. This means eliminating high spots and raising up low spots. If you currently have a concrete floor, you will need to grind off the high spots if they are present. Low spots can be filled in with a leveling compound. Carpets and padding should be removed, unless it is less than 6mm thick, in which case you may be able to leave it. When clearing the floor, make sure you remove all debris and adhesive as well. This takes a while, but it is well worth it in the end. You do not want to leave anything on the floor that will cause laminate, wood, or even carpet to bubble up or wear thin over time.
You will also want to take the time to remove doorways and trim. If you happen to see gaps between the baseboards and floor, you will also want to remove them so that when the new flooring is installed you can lower the baseboards to fit flush against the floor. This will improve the way that it looks when finished.
When measuring out the room to see how much flooring you will need, you should base it on what type of flooring you plan to install. Planks are more complicated than square tiles and tiles are more difficult than carpet. In all cases, leave room for the flooring to expand and shift along walls, cabinets, or other areas.
