Floor & Flooring Projects

So you want to redo the flooring. There are many options available to you depending on your wishes and budget. Popular trends range from finishing the concrete with clear, tinted or solid colors to elaborate hardwood floors. Laminate flooring and marble tile are also trendy options.

If you are repairing or remodeling an older home with sagging and/or squeaking floors you would want to first see if the current floor structure meets code. Many older homes were built with undersized joists with too wide of a span. If so, they must be reinforced to make them structurally sound before worrying about looks or floor covering. Check this issue out first. Additional supports, jousts, leveler jacks and/or support bridging may be required to make the floor safe, solid and quiet again. Once completed you can refinish the existing flooring or cover it with new flooring materials.

All flooring projects must begin with a clean smooth base floor. If adhesives are used be sure to eliminate all dust before beginning the application process.

Laminate Flooring

Laminate flooring is a composite flooring consisting of layers. The layers include fiberboard and decorative laminate materials designed to look like wood or other materials. It is installed as planks with tongue and groove edges over a padding layer of polyethylene. Carefully measure the room(s) and create a floor plan. Let the flooring materials dealer assist you in determining the amount of flooring materials you will need. Then carefully follow the manufacturers installation instructions.

Hardwood Floors

Wood flooring create a beautiful warm look and feel to any room in the home. Choose the right wood flooring to fit your lifestyle and budget. Sand and gravel in the soles of shoes can scratch and mar the hardwood floor surface. Oak is the post common wood flooring material as it is durable and hides wear better than most hardwood floors. Laminates described above often offer an alternative to woods if you expect a lot of traffic, especially children.

Installed as strip flooring in narrow widths, some hardwood floors use tongue and groove for joining and others use flat edge butted joints. Carefully measure the room(s) and create a floor plan. Let the flooring materials dealer assist you in determining the amount of flooring materials you will need. Then carefully follow the manufacturers installation instructions.

When applying a wood strip floor over an existing strip floor, always run the new strips at right angles to the existing strips.

Parquet flooring is selected and installed similar to planks except that it is done in squares aligned from a middle point in the room. Use chalk lines to lay out the grid before beginning and tack temporary 1x2 guides to the floor to help maintain that alignment throughout the process.

Tile Floors

Tile must be installed over solid base flooring. Any flexibility in the base floor can result in cracked tiles over time. Select the design, style, color and finish tile to achieve the desired look and feel. Allow the tile dealer assist you in determining the amount of flooring materials you will need. Then carefully follow the manufacturers installation instructions. See the tile section for tips on installation.

Carpet Flooring

Carpet can be installed over virtually any existing floor or sub-flooring material. It also hides many imperfections in the floor beneath it. The process involves outlining the room with tack strips, covering the floor with padding and applying the carpet over these materials. Stretching the carpet tightly into place makes for a nice durable fit. Let the carpet dealer assist you in determining the amount of flooring materials you will need. Then carefully follow the manufacturers installation instructions.

Sheet Flooring

Sheet vinyl's as well as vinyl tiles offer an inexpensive alternative to many other flooring options. Sheet flooring is the most difficult and leaves no margin for error when cutting the materials to fit. One mistake and you may have to purchase new pieces. Determine if you want to take that risk or have a professional install it for you. Either way you need a clean smooth under floor or all imperfections will show. Allow the flooring material dealer assist you in determining the amount of vinyl sheeting or tiles you will need. Then carefully follow the manufacturers installation instructions.

MANUFACTURERS

Alloc
Anderson Floors
Armstrong Flooring
Homer Wood Flooring
Mannington
Pergo Floors
Tarkett Flooring

Other Flooring Resources

Shaw Flooring
Empire Flooring
Wilsonart Flooring
Shaw Laminate Flooring
Flooring America

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