When it’s time for your co-op or condo to start discussing replacing the floor coverings for your lobby, staircase or hallways, it’s important to look at all the options available – wood, tile, granite, slate, terrazzo, marble and leather cuts into tiles for flooring.
Not only do you want the flooring to be safe and efficient, you also want to it match the style of your building and its residents. If your property is sleek and modern, carpet might not be the best fit.
When considering replacement of new flooring in common areas, the condo association board should consider these questions: How much traffic does the area get, and what kind of foot traffic? Are these floors mostly walked upon by residents, maintenance staff, or both? Does it need to help absorb sound in high traffic areas? Do any safety or special precautions need to be made (consider elderly residents, children/strollers, animals)? What budget is the association working with and how has been budgeted for upkeep and cleaning?
The flooring in the common areas is also a reflection of the building to visitors and potential buyers. A prospective owner looking to buy in your building may be influenced more by how much he/she dislikes the worn carpet in the corridors or the linoleum in public spaces or how much he/she loves the bold, graphic carpet in the lobby.
No matter which materials you choose, make sure you have a professional condominium flooring contractor do the job, or the real expense will be when you have to redo it because you didn’t hire the right installer. Hiring a professional condominium flooring contractor — like any contractor brought in for a major project — can be difficult if you don’t know what to look for. Both the office management and the board need to do their homework before making any decision. Here are some tips to consider:
- Ask for referrals. Have any neighboring buildings had new flooring installation recently? Who did the job, and were the board and residents happy with the result?
- Gather estimates. Almost all contractors will perform a free estimate. Be sure the right people are there for the scheduled time; if the contractor fails to show for the scheduled appointment without at least calling, reconsider your wanting to work with him.
- Communicate. Explain to the contractor your concerns and what you are trying to achieve. Give the contractor as much information as possible about the current maintenance of the existing flooring.
- Ask questions. Once your team and the contractor determine what materials would work best for your property, ask questions about upkeep, durability, maintenance, etc. A competent contractor should be more than happy to answer any question you may have.
- See previous work. Ask to see photos or better yet, go to other condo projects and see the installation work yourself.
- Get references. Ask for references, and check them. Many contractors in all fields have references, but you’d be surprised how rarely they are actually checked. Call at least three and ask if the contractor did a good job. Were there any problems and did he correct them? Were his employees professional?
- Verify insurance. Ask for proof of coverage. Have your prospective contractor show you a certificate of insurance, or, if the job is large enough, have his insurance company send you one. Be sure he carries liability and workers’ compensation insurance — any reputable company will carry both.
- Be patient. Once you choose a contractor, schedule the job — but don’t be surprised if the contractor is booked for several weeks. Be patient; a good contractor will be busy, and you will have to wait your turn. At the same time, be sure that both parties agree on a work schedule for the project, and that it’s in writing. That way, the contractor has a set schedule to go by, and your residents and board don’t have to live with an open-ended project.
