Understanding Floor Prep: Why It Matters and What to Expect

With all the change orders that floor preparation generates, it’s no surprise that it’s often viewed with frustration. Even flooring contractors aren’t particularly fond of it—or of discussing it! However, floor prep is a necessary part of the installation process. The challenge lies in defining what it entails, what’s included in a quote, and why, sometimes, the job site may require more prep than initially budgeted. While this post may not resolve all the complexities of floor prep, we hope it sheds some light on the subject, making it easier to understand and discuss.

What Is “Minor Prep” in a Flooring Quote?

Even the term “minor prep” can be difficult to define, as it depends largely on the type of flooring being installed.

For example, carpet over padding requires minimal preparation since the pad and carpet can hide many surface imperfections. Glue-down carpet, on the other hand, requires additional prep due to the lack of a padding layer. Wood plank and stone-look luxury vinyl tiles (LVT), if not gloss-finished, can hide some small imperfections. However, high-gloss vinyl composition tile (VCT) requires an almost flawless substrate, as even tiny imperfections will show through.

Defining Minor Prep

Over the years, we’ve explored various ways to define “minor prep.” At one point, we specified it as the repair of cracks and voids smaller than 1/8” x 1/8”, but we found that this standard was difficult to apply consistently. Another attempt involved setting “minor prep” as one hour of labor per 1,000 square feet, including time for sweeping, though this approach failed to address potential material needs.

It’s also important to remember that contractors are often asked to provide project estimates without having seen the actual space, meaning they don’t always know the exact conditions they’ll be facing. What we do know is what type of flooring is being installed and that at least some floor prep will be required.

FloorMax’s Approach to Minor Floor Prep

At FloorMax, we define minor floor prep as a single skim coat of floor patch. The quantity of floor patch required depends on both the size of the project and the finished flooring material. If additional preparation is necessary, we’ll address it as a change order once we can assess the slab in person.

If you have questions about the floor prep requirements for your project, please don’t hesitate to contact us. We’re here to help!