One of the key tenets of value engineering is finding the solution with the highest value and the lowest cost, and eliminating any low-cost/low-value and high-cost/low-value elements.

Simply put, you want to minimize cost — but you don’t want to avoid common issues or cut any corners that might cause high-cost problems down the road. To that end, here are three corners you don’t want to cut when evaluating money-saving measures:

1. Planning prior to the installation

Planning now saves time and money later. Before any construction or renovation project begins, you should have a clear picture of your timeline. This will give your subcontractors (i.e., flooring, plumbing, electric, etc.) an idea of who else will be in the building when they are working, and goals for when they should have certain action items done.

Clear planning and the correct contractor can reduce the risk of construction issues

A clear plan helps your flooring contractor know when to procure, stage and install flooring materials — and sets clear expectations of what you expect to be done and when. With new construction, your general contractor will likely take care of this, and subcontractors will proactively schedule around each other. With a floor replacement, though, the heavy lifting should be done by your flooring contractor.

2. Hiring an experienced flooring contractor

Don’t choose the flooring contractor with the cheapest bid. Choose the flooring contractor that’s dedicated to engineering value into every dollar you spend. In addition to informed product selection, seasoned contractors will take simple measures (i.e., surface preparation, proactive scheduling with other subcontractors, etc.) that will glean huge cost savings for your project.

Surface preparation is key to a long-lasting flooring solution

3. Selecting a product proven for your building’s application

Choosing a flooring material which isn’t suited for your application spells disaster. For example, using the wrong quarry tile grout in a commercial kitchen installation will result in having to replace your flooring in a few short years. Spending a little more money on the right product from the outset will save you in the long run.