The decision to install a new floor is a noble and great challenge and demands more skill and experience than the general public may realize. Changing a floor involves an enormous amount of work and includes digging up the existing floor before laying the new one perfectly. It also involves a laborious clean up operation afterwards. With this in mind, most consumers in Wisconsin would be wise to hire a professional flooring contractor who can do the job properly.
There are many Wisconsin flooring contractors available for work by both commercial and residential customers. If you need to find a flooring contractor in Wisconsin use this map to get their address, phone number, and driving directions. Call to find out what their operating hours are and whether or not they deal with hardwood, vinyl, laminate, carpet, tile, concrete, or epoxy. These contractors may provide a variety of flooring services such as installation, refinishing, sanding, cleaning, and repairing.
To look for a contractor located specifically in Milwaukee, you can use the map below.
Under previous Wisconsin law, flooring contractors were accredited under the state's Building Contractor Program. In order to perform alterations to a person's house, the builder needed to have passed a training course. In the past, the Wisconsin Department of Commerce posted the names of authorized companies. Currently, however, flooring contractors are not required to hold a license in the state of Wisconsin. Most residential builders must have state credentials. Further work on your home may require a contractor with a Dwelling Contractor license and additional licenses.
The state of Wisconsin recommends consumers ask potential contractors for the names of recent customers. Contact these individuals to see if they were satisfied with the service they received. The state of Wisconsin also suggests calling Consumer Protection at 1-800-422-7128 or the Better Business Bureau at 800-273-1002 to find out if any complaints have been filed against the contractor.
Find out if the contractor is licensed by using the Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services Credential/License search tool. Work should not commence without a legally binding, easy to understand contract. Without this contract, the contractor cannot ask for money up front.
Complaints about a Wisconsin flooring contractor can be filed with the Division of Legal Services and Compliance and the Department of Consumer Protection.
Moisture is always an issue when it comes to floors, especially wooden ones and the cold winters of Wisconsin can cause problems. A good local contractor will be familiar with the intricacies of Wisconsin's weather. Floors sometimes crack or warp and while the material used may be causing the problem, there is always the possibility that poor installation is at fault. Consumers are urged to beware of unethical floor installers with knockdown prices. Other unprofessional tactics include a sudden increase in the price of a job halfway through construction, or a demand for more money before the project is finished. Such problems can be avoided by following the steps below.
Wisconsin law allows customers three business days to cancel a contract worth more than $25 as long as the customer was initially approached by the contractor and the contract was signed away from the contractor's office. This rule does not apply if the consumer makes the initial move of entering the contractor's office asking for assistance. When a contract is signed, the contractor must supply the consumer with two copies containing notice of their right to cancel.
If a customer has paid for but has not received the service, he or she can provide the contractor with a written notice canceling the contract. Once the consumer has demanded that all money paid be returned, the contractor has 15 days to comply. If a contractor has caused damage to the property, the consumer has the right to sue for twice the damages plus court costs and attorney's fees.
The Pioneer Village at Reedsburg is home to a large number of restored log cabins. Kruse cabin is one of these and contains one of the most unusual floors in the state. It was originally built around 1850 and has been restored which enables visitors to view how Reedsburg's earliest settlers lived. It has a puncheon floor which means it is made from pieces of broad roughly dressed timber. The floor consists of stakes made from black locust wood that have been pounded into the ground.