Flooring

Archive for the ‘InstallinG Flooring’ Category

There is a large array of flooring material available for your home such as wood, carpet or vinyl flooring. One choice of material you may not have thought about is laminate flooring which can be a great looking and durable alternative to other flooring types. There is a vast range of floor laminates that have been made to look like authentic wood Flooring or other types of floor materials. This means you are sure to find a floor laminate that fit in with the style and feel of your house.

Whenever you buy laminate flooring for your home at book of installing instructions will accompany them. These instructions are important to read because while most floor laminates are similar there can be slight variations between the different types. By following the instruction set down by the manufacturer you should be able to install the floor laminates properly for long lasting benefits.

Despite the slight variations, there are a couple of dos and don’ts that are applicable to laminate flooring in general. Here is quick list of the most common ones:

- Do research the type of laminate flooring you are thinking of buying to ensure that you are fully aware of what is required by the manufacturer and any foreseeable problems that may happen in your style of home. You should also thinking about whether you are able to install the flooring yourself or will require some assistance.

- Do check your floors for dips or bumps because you need to lay the floor laminates on a level and flat surface. If there are any bumps these will need to be filled in or flatten before you begin work.

- Don’t lay the laminates on a floor that moves under foot. So check all those parts of your floor that creak to ensure that don’t move. These areas may need to be fixed.

- Do measure the room. You will need to have all the measurements of the room to ensure that you have the correct length and widths of the floor laminates. Otherwise you may find yourself wasting time trying to fix up any measurement problems. The flooring instructions will aid you when measuring and you may find that you’ll need to cut some laminates to the correct size to fit your room.

- Do check your measurements. Twice. While you may think you have done it correctly the first time often you can find small mistakes when you double check. Take a pencil and draw on the underside of the laminate to mark your progress. This way you won’t waste too many boards because of your mistakes.

- Do check the measurements one more time before you cut or install. While tedious, it is important to avoid frustration.

- Don’t cut the laminates in a room which has poor ventilation. In fact, it is best to do this work outside and to wear a mask. Large amounts of dust can be created by the cutting of floor laminates and this can cause breathing issues if you are not careful.

- Do place the laminate boards inside the room in which they are suppose to go. This will ensure that they acclimatize to that room and help avoid them expanding and contracting due to the temperature or humidity once they are placed down.

- Do leave a 1/2 inch gap between the laminates and the walls, stairs or door frames. This gap will be invisible when finished but it will allow the laminates to expand and contract as the temperature changes. This will avoid damage or warping that could occur.

These do and don’ts are only some tips to ensure that you know what installing laminate floor is like. To learn more read the manufacturer’s instructions and talk to your local dealer.

Linda Federer
http://www.articlesbase.com/home-improvement-articles/a-quick-guide-to-installing-laminate-flooring-682339.html

We currently have carpet on our stairs and second level. we would like to put in laminate in our upstairs. my husband says that our floor is slightly unlevel and that we would not be able to unless we have it leveled. any one know if that is the case? also what would anyone recommend for our stairs? can you put laminate on stairs? Under the carpet, the stairs are wood, but not a nice finished wood. keeping the current carpet on the stairs is not an option if we decide to go ahead with the laminate as it is old and worn. my husband is planning on installing the Flooring himself.

As everyone has said already, laminate on your second floor (level or not) is not a problem.

As for the stairs, sand and varnish/stain them.

Being a homeowner you know a lot of hard work goes into making the kitchen and bathroom the best they can be. Often when you are in search for a Flooring material for these areas which combines strength and durability with timeless good looks, it’s very hard to beat all the virtues of ceramic tile. Often when a single tile on your kitchen or bathroom wall breaks it makes the whole room look completely unsightly.

Large Variety:

Tile products are easily available in unbelievably large options of colors, patterns and textures. The fact alone can be overwhelming when trying to choose the perfect tile to suit your needs. But very often which seems to confuse consumers more than design choices is the difference between the types of tile.

Each and every type of tile is made from a different composition, and that is what determines the tile’s body color, texture and density. Generally there are three basic types of tile: Ceramic Tile, Porcelain Tile and Glass Tile. Among the three, ceramic and porcelain are the ones that confuse consumers most.

Ceramic Tile Installation Methods:

There is various different installation methods used to install ceramic tile. A successful installation of ceramic tiles depends on the proper use of quality installation materials or more commonly referred to as setting materials. Selection of the correct setting materials is as important as your tile selection.

Thin set is most commonly used while installing floor tile over a concrete or similar surface. It is a form of cement or bonding mortar. Thin set is usually sold in 50 pound bags and is relatively inexpensive.

Grout is another method which is a setting material that you will use with any ceramic tile installation. It is the cement that will fill the joints in between the tiles. There are generally two main types of grout, non-sanded and sanded.

Organic Adhesive which is also referred to as glue, organic adhesive is used to install ceramic tile on walls, counter tops, etc.

Latex bonding chemicals are just another way of installation which is primarily mixed in with the thin set to increase the bond strength.

Sealers can also be used for installation must which can be used with tiles that are not glazed such as Mexican and terra-cotta tiles. The installation process for these types of tiles can be quite complex.

Ceramic floor tiles maybe cold to stand on, but are durable, water-resistant and resistant to stains and spillages. They are available in numerous colors, patterns and shapes and are generally made of natural clay, decorated on one side with colored glaze. The surfaces of floor tiles are normally glazed (although floor tiles are not as highly polished as wall tiles), matt or have an unglazed finish.

Unglazed tiles once laid must be sealed with the proper proprietary sealant. The stronger floor tiles come in larger sizes and are thicker and darker on their underside. They are vitrified, that is, fired at a higher temperature so that the particles fuse together. This leads to the tiles being almost unbreakable when laid.

Cutting Ceramic Floor Tiles:

It is always wise decision to buy a few extra tiles, in case a tile cracks or breaks while cutting it to fit, or to keep as a convenient spare in case of accidental damage in the future. The method of laying tiles on a floor is similar to the method for laying them on a wall.

However to cut floor tiles, floor tile cutter with angled jaws or a floor tile cutting tool is required due to their thickness. Use a wooden stick to mark the length of tiles along its length and later it can be used as a tile gauge. It should be kept in mind to allow spacing for grouting.

Laying Ceramic Floor Tiles:

A waterproof, floor tile adhesive should be used which allows slight flexibility when set. Use a layer of adhesive on the back part of the tile and press into the desired position. It is very important to lay the first tile correctly, because its position will determine the position the other tiles.

A batten nailed to the floor can give a straight edge to guide the positioning of the tiles. Plastic spacers or thick card can also be used to regulate the distance between the tiles. These areas will be grouted when the floor tiling is complete and therefore must be equally spaced for neat, accurate results.

Cleaning Ceramic Floor Tiles:

Ceramic tiles do not require polish as they come with a natural glaze or matt finish. Sweep should be preferred rather than vacuum, as the end of some vacuums can scratch the surface.

Allan Wilson
http://www.articlesbase.com/home-and-family-articles/try-ceramic-tiles-for-your-new-floor-covering-95264.html