Every year the phone gets busier in the first two weeks of November. Somebody is hosting Thanksgiving for the first time, the in-laws are coming for Christmas, and the carpet in the dining room is not going to survive another year. The honest answer to whether you can get new floors in before the holidays is: often yes, if you start now and pick the right project. Here is how the calendar really works.
What Actually Sets the Date
Most single-room or main-level jobs take a few working days once the crew is on site. The time that people do not plan for comes before that. The product has to be in stock or ordered. Solid and engineered hardwood has to sit in your house long enough to adjust to the humidity, which matters a lot in a city that swings from muggy summers to dry, furnace-heated winters. And whatever is under the old floor has to be dealt with before the new one goes down.
- Pick the product first. A floor in stock moves faster than a special order.
- Book the measure early so the quote, the prep and the order all happen at once.
- Ask how long the material needs to acclimate, and build that into the date.
- Leave a few days between the last day of work and the first day of guests.
Which Projects Fit a Tight Window
Luxury vinyl plank and laminate are the most forgiving on a deadline because they float over a flat subfloor and you can walk on them as soon as the crew leaves. Carpet in bedrooms is similar. Hardwood refinishing is a great pre-holiday upgrade for houses with original oak, but the room has to be empty during sanding and finishing, and the finish needs time to cure before heavy furniture and rugs go back. Tile needs setting and grout time. None of that is a reason to avoid those projects, just a reason to start them sooner.
Prioritize the Rooms Guests Use
If the whole house will not fit before Thanksgiving, split it. Do the entry, the living and dining rooms, and the hallway to the guest bathroom first. Bedrooms, the basement and the stairs can follow in January with the same product, so nothing looks pieced together. We will price both phases at the same visit so you know where you stand.
Want to know if your project can be finished before the holidays? We will measure, look at the subfloor and give you a straight answer.
Get a free in-home estimateStart With a Visit or a Showroom Stop
You can book an in-home measure, or come by the showroom at 149 Weldon Pkwy in Maryland Heights, Monday through Friday from 8 to 5, to see samples first. Our own crews do the work, so the schedule we give you is the schedule we keep. If paying for a bigger project at the end of the year is the hang-up, look at the financing page before you decide to wait. And if you are still comparing companies, our guide on how to choose a flooring contractor in St. Louis covers what a real quote should include.
