Engineered Hardwood Installation in College Park, GA

Many engineered hardwood projects begin with worn carpet. In a College Park home, pulling up carpet and pad opens a set of questions that did not exist before: what condition the subfloor is in, how the doors will clear, and how the new wood meets the tile in the bathroom or kitchen.

This page walks through engineered hardwood installation from that starting point, covering what we check, what you choose and how the work is put together.

Replacing carpet with engineered wood

Carpet hides a lot. Once it is up, we remove the tack strip and staples, scrape off pad residue and look at the subfloor closely. Stains on plywood can point to old pet accidents or past leaks, and those areas are probed for softness. On a slab, carpet glue or paint spots may need to be ground off so adhesive or underlayment can sit flat.

We also check flatness, because carpet tolerates dips that wood planks will not. Any low areas are filled and high spots are sanded or ground before installation begins.

Door clearance once carpet comes out

Carpet and pad are often thicker than an engineered plank, so doors that were trimmed for carpet may end up with a larger gap at the bottom. That is a cosmetic issue rather than a problem, though it can affect privacy and how a room holds heat or cooling. In other cases, especially where an underlayment is added, the new floor sits higher and doors need trimming.

We measure each door during the estimate visit. Door jambs and casings are undercut so planks slide beneath them, giving a clean edge without caulk.

Underlayment and adhesive choices

The layer under your planks depends on the method. A floating floor rests on a pad, and over concrete that pad must include a vapor retarder or sit on top of one. A glued floor uses flooring adhesive spread with the trowel the manufacturer names. A stapled floor over plywood typically gets a sheet of felt or underlayment paper.

For bedrooms on a second story, a pad with sound-reducing properties can make a noticeable difference for the rooms below. The flooring manufacturer usually limits which pads are acceptable, so we pick from that list.

Fastening and transition height

Over plywood, staple-down is a common method for engineered planks, provided the product allows it. Over a slab, glue-down or floating are the options. The choice affects the finished height, which in turn decides how the wood meets neighboring floors.

Where the new floor meets tile, a T-molding works if the heights are close, and a reducer steps down if the tile is lower. Where it meets remaining carpet, a carpet edge or reducer finishes the transition. Each piece is ordered to match the flooring color.

If you are also considering traditional thick boards, the College Park solid hardwood installation service uses nail-down solid flooring, which differs from engineered planks in thickness and in the subfloors it accepts.

Acclimation and protecting the finish

Planks should be delivered after the house is closed up and the heating or cooling is running. Some manufacturers require the cartons to sit in the rooms for a set time first, while others only ask for stable living conditions. We follow the instructions for your product.

Once rows are down, the factory finish needs protection. We cover completed rooms and keep the cutting station away from finished areas. Furniture returns with felt pads underneath.

What the estimate should cover

A useful proposal lists carpet and pad removal and disposal, subfloor repairs, the installation method and materials, transitions, trim and door work. It should also state what is excluded and explain how damage found after the carpet comes up will be priced and approved before anyone fixes it.

When the job grows beyond flooring

College Park spans parts of Fulton and Clayton counties. If the project grows beyond flooring into structural, plumbing or electrical work, the College Park Department of Building and Inspections can tell you if that work calls for a permit.

Carpet-to-wood questions

Is engineered hardwood a good replacement for bedroom carpet?

It can be. Engineered planks give bedrooms a wood look that is easier to keep free of dust than carpet, and many products can go over the same plywood or slab the carpet covered. The subfloor has to be cleaned of tack strip and residue and flattened where needed. On upper floors, a sound-reducing underlayment helps with footstep noise.

Will the new floor change the gap under my doors?

Probably. Carpet and pad are often thicker than an engineered plank, so the gap may get larger after carpet is replaced. If an underlayment raises the new floor higher than the carpet was, doors may need trimming instead. We measure each door before ordering so you know which ones will change.

Can engineered planks be glued directly to a concrete slab?

Yes, when the product is approved for glue-down and the slab passes the moisture test the manufacturer specifies. The slab must also be clean, sound and flat within the listed tolerance. Old carpet adhesive or paint is removed first. Some flooring adhesives include a moisture barrier, which adds protection over concrete.

Ready to retire the carpet?

Tell us which carpeted rooms you want to change by calling 404-409-4448. We will come out to measure, look at the subfloor and doors, and send a written estimate.