Flooring Pre-Installation Services

Lion's Pride Flooring, LLC - Trusted Local Flooring Experts

If you're considering renovating your home, you might feel overwhelmed, especially if you don't have much experience working with contractors. You may have heard horror stories about unpleasant contractors- but rest assured, we do everything humanly possible to make sure that this will not be the case with us. At our company, we take the utmost pride in our work AND our customer service. We believe that good communication, punctuality, and integrity are just as important as craftsmanship. That's why we treat each client with the same care and attention that we would want for ourselves.

We'll keep you informed throughout the project, do our best work every day, and leave the job site clean and safe at the end of every workday. We want to be the first call you make when you or anyone you know needs to replace the floors in their home or business. Give us a call at 414-491-3263 to receive a free quote.

Comprehensive Flooring Services From Milwaukee To Franklin and Beyond

Job Assessment And Prep Work

The scope of work varies from job to job, which is why an on-site quote is necessary. For instance, if you plan to install LVP throughout your house and currently have carpet in the living room, sheet vinyl in the kitchen, and ceramic tile in the foyer, there is a lot of work to be done before laying any planks.

Once we assess the job, we will have a clearer understanding of what we need to do to achieve a flat and stable subfloor. Sometimes, subfloor needs to be added to match the heights, while other times, floor patch can do the trick. Floor patch is a latex-based concrete that can be used to fix height differences or low spots in the subfloor, which we use almost daily.

There are several factors that determine whether material will be added or removed on one side or the other, which we evaluate during the quoting process. We believe that the prep work is the foundation of every project, and we never cut corners, making sure that our work remains perfect for years to come.

The Importance of Prep Work

As a flooring contractor, one of the most important skills we have mastered is the ability to properly prepare the subfloor. The subfloor must be completely cleaned, flattened, and free of any nails or staples to ensure a perfect install. Neglecting prep work will most likely result in the premature end of your new flooring's lifespan. Certain scenarios require specific tools for the job. For example, whenever we encounter sheet vinyl, we know we'll need to use floor patch to feather the height difference, so we'll bring all the necessary tools and materials.

The secret to a great installation is attention to small details that make a significant difference in the long run. Therefore, it's crucial to hire someone who takes their time and gets it right the first time, limiting the possibility of issues down the road, thus prolonging the lifespan of your flooring.

SubFloor Installation Services Milwaukee, WI

Subfloor Installation

When we need to raise the height of an area to install new flooring continuously over a larger area, we install subfloor. Although new subfloor can get pricey, it is often the best solution for correcting height differences. We choose the correct thickness of subfloor, depending on the degree of height difference. Our initial quote will provide an estimate of how much subfloor will be required, but we determine the final thickness only after starting work. This is to avoid mistakes based on incorrect assumptions about existing floorings.

Once we have obtained the final measurements, we source the subfloor and bring it to the job site. Before installing any new subfloor, we assess the current subfloor for staples, nails/screws, and subfloor seams that require attention. We begin laying the new subfloor only after all staples are removed, nails are hit down, seams are sanded flat, and the area is swept and vacuumed clean. The fresh subfloor is then sanded and vacuumed clean again.

SubFloor Installation Services Milwaukee, WI

Floor Patch

Floor patch is a type of concrete-like compound that is used to fix subfloor issues and height differences. It’s a latex based material that’s not only highly durable, but also has a fast cure time, making it perfect for what we need it for. Using patch correctly can mean the difference between a good flooring installation and an outstanding one.

There are different terms used when referring to the uses of floor patch. "Floating" or "skimming" generally refers to pouring the patch over ceramic tile, or old glue to make the subfloor flat. "Ramping" or "feathering" refers to filling in height differences over an acceptable distance. To achieve a perfect finish, we use various tools, including a 6 ft or 10 ft level and an assortment of trowels. This ensures a long and healthy life for your flooring.

SubFloor Installation Services Milwaukee, WI

Undercutting Jambs, Casings, Banisters and More

Professional flooring installers use a technique called undercutting to ensure a seamless installation and maintain an appropriate expansion gap along the perimeter. It involves cutting trim pieces such as door casings, stair banisters, and thresholds after completing all other floor preparation work and dealing with any height differences. This step is crucial to prevent any mis-cuts on the casings.

The casings are cut using a multi-tool and a scrap piece of flooring, always with a fresh blade. While we won't reveal all of our trade secrets, a well-executed undercut is easily recognizable by a trained eye. Cutting jambs incorrectly can lead to an unattractive finished floor and, more importantly, cause it to fail. A perfect undercut, on the other hand, is the ideal way to handle door jambs, thresholds, and even some fireplaces because it allows the floor to move freely while concealing the cut at the same time.

Floor Leveling & Installation Services Milwaukee, WI

Floor Leveling

When it comes to leveling an area, there's more to it than just troweling out some patch. It requires a specialized process that involves a change in product and labor, which affects the cost. We occasionally offer floor leveling service, but it's not always the best option. Instead, we recommend more cost-effective methods such as subflooring or product removal. Floor patching is also a viable option compared to self-leveling.

Self-leveler is commonly used for tile-setting, where the subfloor must be almost entirely level. It's important to fill any cracks in the area before pouring, to avoid a mess and achieve the best results.

In the flooring industry, the subfloor needs to be flat, not necessarily level, for the materials we install on a daily basis. If you are fixing indifferences with patch, make sure that your run is long enough so it's not noticeable. The general rule is to slope your patch to about 6 ft for every ⅛” of height difference to avoid problems.

Flooring Removal & Installation Services Milwaukee, WI

Old Floor Removal

Removing existing floors is a crucial step in any construction project, and it must be done efficiently and in an organized manner to ensure the success of the entire project. It is often messy and requires a lot of prep work. To contain the dust and debris, we use tarps, moving blankets and plastic wrap. Only once we have completed a significant amount of take-up work, can we start preparing the floor for new installation.

During the take-up process can we determine any unforeseen work needed such as subflooring, patching, or the removal of additional layers of old flooring. For instance, when we provide a quote for a project, we may not know the thickness of the carpet or ceramic tile or whether there is a Durock subfloor underneath. When we come across such unforeseen work, we discuss the options with the homeowner and adjust the quote accordingly.

Need A Quality Floor Installer in the Greater Milwaukee?

 Local Flooring Experts

Need A Local Floor Installation Expert?

Contact Us Today For Quality Flooring Services

Contact us today for your floor installation estimate. We proudly serve the Greater Milwaukee area, including Greendale, Franklin, Greenfield, South Milwaukee, Muskego, Oak Creek, Hales Corners, New Berlin, Brookfield, Waukesha, Bayview, Cudahy, Shorewood, Mequon, Fox Point, and many more local communities in southern Wisconsin.

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Lion's Pride Flooring®

  Franklin, WI 53132

 414-491-3263

Service Hours

Mon: 7AM - 5PM

Tue: 7AM - 5PM

Wed: 7AM - 5PM

Thu: 7AM - 5PM

Fri: 7AM - 5PM

Sat: 7AM - 5PM

Sun: 7AM - 5PM

Lion's Pride Flooring In Local Reviews

Lion's Pride Flooring in Milwaukee, WI is rated 5.0 stars based on 3 local customer reviews. Leave Your Review 

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