Every October and November the same call comes in: “Can we get new floors before the family arrives?” Usually, yes - but the honest answer depends on the material, the room count, and how your home’s subfloor behaves. Here’s the realistic Indianapolis timeline, floor by floor.
The Fastest Options: Carpet and LVP
If guests arrive in a few weeks, carpet and luxury vinyl plank are your friends. Once materials are selected and on hand, most main-floor projects install in one to two days. Neither needs acclimation, so the only real scheduling variable is product availability and our install calendar.
Hardwood: Beautiful, but Plan Ahead
Hardwood needs to sit in your home and acclimate to your indoor humidity for several days before it goes down - skipping this step is the top cause of winter gapping we see in central Indiana. Add install time plus any subfloor repair, and a hardwood project realistically wants a month of runway.
Don't Forget the Prep Work
The part homeowners rarely budget time for is what’s under the old floor. Our demolition and prep crew handles removal and disposal, but surprises like a soft subfloor or old adhesive can add a day or two. In older Broad Ripple and Irvington homes, assume some prep is likely.
A Simple Countdown
- 4+ weeks out: any flooring type is on the table, including hardwood and stairs.
- 2 - 3 weeks out: carpet, LVP, and laminate are safe bets; hardwood is tight but sometimes possible.
- Under 2 weeks: in-stock carpet or LVP in one or two rooms - call us and we’ll tell you honestly what fits.
If the Budget Is the Holdup
Financing through Hearth, including 0% interest options on qualifying plans, can turn “maybe next year” into “before the guests arrive.” Request your free in-home estimate and we’ll give you a straight answer on timing.
