Flooring projects are expensive. Time-consuming. Stressful. I've learned this the hard way, handling commercial flooring specs and procurement for the past 8 years. In that time, I've personally made—and documented—12 significant mistakes on Shaw flooring orders alone. Total wasted budget? Roughly $14,000. That's a lot of LVP that ended up in a dumpster.
The biggest lesson: the cheapest quote almost always costs more in the long run. But that's a topic for later. Right now, I want to share the checklist I built to prevent my own errors. If you're a contractor, designer, or facility manager specifying Shaw flooring (carpet, LVP, tile, hardwood), use this. It'll save you money, time, and your reputation.
Here are the 8 steps I now follow on every order. Miss one, and you risk a costly redo.
Step 1: Stop Guessing the Subfloor (Spec It)
It's tempting to write 'subfloor must be suitable for installation' in the spec. Don't. That's a trap.
When I first started, I assumed all concrete slabs were basically the same. Then I ordered 1,200 sq. ft. of Shaw LVP for a renovation. The slab had moisture issues—way above the manufacturer's MVER (moisture vapor emission rate) limit. Result: adhesive failure. The flooring buckled after 3 months. Total cost to redo: $4,600, plus a 2-week delay.
Checklist item: Specify subfloor moisture testing (ASTM F2170 for concrete). Require a written report before ordering. For Shaw flooring, check their specific subfloor requirements in the technical data sheet—don't assume it's the same for hardwood and LVP.
My mistake cost me, but I've seen it happen to others. The worst was a school gym floor that had to be torn up because the slab wasn't flat enough for Shaw's SportCourt system. That was a $12,000 mistake.
Step 2: Door Trim First, Then Flooring. Always.
This sounds obvious, right? You'd be surprised.
On a $3,200 order for a luxury apartment lobby, I specified the Shaw hardwood installation before the door trim was in. The contractor installed the flooring flush to the subfloor. Then the trim crew arrived and couldn't get their base shoe under the door jambs. They cut the flooring back—badly. I ended up paying for a patch and a 10-day project delay.
Checklist item: Verify the sequence: framing → drywall → MEP rough-in → trim (door frames, base) → flooring → final trim. If the trim is going in after the flooring, you need expansion gaps and proper transition strips. Document this in the schedule.
Here's something vendors won't tell you: they'll sell you the product regardless of your schedule. It's on you to coordinate the trades.
Step 3: Protect Stained Glass Windows Before Installation
This one feels niche, but I've seen it three times now.
A designer I worked with specified Shaw carpet for a historic church renovation. Beautiful stained glass windows everywhere. The installer didn't protect the glass from adhesive fumes or dust. The solvents in the adhesive reacted with the lead came on one window. The discoloration was permanent. The cost to restore that one window? $2,800. The church wasn't happy.
Checklist item: If the project has stained glass windows—or any decorative glass—specify in writing that the installer must seal off the area with plastic sheeting and use low-VOC, non-solvent adhesives. Get sign-off from an art conservator if needed. Don't assume the installer will do this.
Step 4: Get the 'Shaw Floors Work Injury Attorney' Ready Early
I know, this sounds extreme. But hear me out.
On a large commercial project, someone will get hurt. An installer cuts their hand on a tile. A worker trips over a roll of carpet. The liability falls on you, the specifier or project manager, if the safety protocols weren't in place.
Checklist item: Before the first box of flooring is delivered, make sure the general contractor or facility owner has a clearly defined process for reporting injuries. If a work injury attorney gets involved (and they will if someone gets seriously hurt), you want to show that you followed all OSHA and manufacturer safety guidelines. Document the training, the PPE requirements, and the material safety data sheets (SDS) for adhesives and underlayments. Shaw provides these—use them.
I had a project where an installer got a chemical burn from an adhesive. The attorney asked for our pre-installation safety checklist. We had it. The claim was dismissed quickly. If we hadn't, it could have been a $50,000 headache.
Step 5: Don't Forget the Shaw Fireclay Sink Specs
Wait, what? You're ordering flooring, not a sink, right? Yes, but think about the project holistically. If the kitchen or bathroom is getting a Shaw fireclay sink (or any other brand, for that matter), the flooring needs to be coordinated with it.
The mistake: I ordered luxury vinyl plank for a kitchen, and the fireclay sink was specified later. The sink was deep and heavy. The installer didn't adjust the subfloor or add extra blocking under the sink area. The floor sagged. The sink cracked. The client blamed me for not flagging the weight issue.
Checklist item: If the project includes a heavy fireclay sink (or any heavy appliance), specify that the subfloor under that area must be reinforced. Get the sink's exact weight from the manufacturer's spec sheet (Shaw or otherwise) and share it with the structural engineer or contractor. The flooring spec should reference this requirement.
Step 6: Beware of the 'Cheapest in Town' Quote (The Value Trap)
Look, I get it. Budgets are tight. But in my experience managing over 40 flooring projects, the lowest quote has cost us more in 60% of cases.
Take a recent example: A client wanted the cheapest Shaw carpet for an office. I warned them the wear layer was thin. They went with it anyway. Nine months later, the carpet was matted and stained. Replacement cost: $11,000. If they'd spent $2,000 more upfront on a mid-grade carpet, it would have lasted 7-8 years.
Checklist item: When comparing quotes, don't just look at the price per square foot. Ask for the total installed cost, including:
- Removal and disposal of old flooring
- Subfloor prep (leveling, moisture mitigation)
- Transition strips and moldings
- Delivery and logistics
- Warranty (length and what it covers)
- Rush fees (if any)
Then do a total cost of ownership (TCO) calculation. That's the real number. Prices as of early 2025; verify current rates.
Step 7: Add a 10-15% Buffer for 'Surprises'
No matter how good your checklist, things go wrong. Always order extra material.
I once ordered exactly 1,500 square feet of Shaw tile for a lobby. No overage. Then the installer broke three tiles during cutting. Then one tile had a visible defect. Then the client wanted a pattern change. I had to place a rush order for 50 more tiles, paying a premium for expedited shipping. Cost me $450 more than if I'd ordered 10% extra upfront.
Checklist item: Include a 10-15% overage in the material order, especially for tile and hardwood. Document this in the spec. If your client complains about the extra cost, explain it's cheaper than a rush order mid-project. They'll understand.
Step 8: Plan for Pest Control: How to Get Rid of Gnats in House After Installation
This one feels strange, but I've seen it more than once.
After a large Shaw carpet installation in a basement office, the client called me frantically. 'Gnats everywhere!' The issue: moisture in the concrete subfloor hadn't been fully mitigated. The damp carpet backing became a breeding ground for fungus gnats. The client blamed the carpet itself, but it was the subfloor.
Checklist item: After installation, include a 48-hour moisture check in the project plan. Use a hygrometer to measure relative humidity under the carpet. If it's above 60%, you have a potential problem. Advise the client to run a dehumidifier for a week. If gnats do appear, the fix is straightforward: eliminate the moisture source and vacuum thoroughly. But it's better to prevent it during the subfloor prep phase.
Note: This isn't a failure of the Shaw product. It's a failure of the installation environment. Don't skip subfloor drying time. Waiting an extra day now saves weeks of pest control later.
Final Thoughts: The $14,000 Lesson
I have mixed feelings about this checklist. On one hand, I'm proud of it—it's saved me from repeating my own mistakes. On the other hand, I wish I'd had it from day one. That $14,000 in waste? It was all avoidable.
Here's the thing: the best flooring in the world is worthless if it's installed on a bad subfloor, without proper coordination, or without safety protocols. Shaw makes great products, but they're only as good as the spec and installation.
Use this checklist. Share it with your team. And if you have a project that includes door trim, stained glass windows, or even a fireclay sink, you won't get caught off guard.
One last thing: always verify current pricing and regulations with your local Shaw distributor. Rules change. Products change. This checklist is based on my experience through early 2025.
