May 15th, 2009 in Flooring
Photo credit: Orin Optiglot
Sunken and uneven floors can mean big problems and big bucks to fix. To troubleshoot shoddy flooring in the home, look to the subfloor for answers. This is a likely source for those pesky and annoying problems. Wooden subfloors are built in three ways: Tongue and grove panels, plank subflooring, and OSB (Oriented Strand Board) glued and nailed to joists. With the correct design and proper installation, these modern designs are durable and trouble free. But if poorly installed, a faulty subfloor makes it impossible to maintain quality floors. Here are some common subfloor problems and solutions to help restore the floor.
Sinking Floor
This could mean that the subflooring was not installed correctly. If the floor feels soft or spongy, then the subfloor is not as strong as it used to be. Water or moisture may have started rotting the joist, causing certain areas of the floor to sag. You’ll have to take a look at it, either from the basement or by removing the flooring. The subfloor can be temporarily propped up with a floor jack and then pressure treated beams can be put in place to stabilize the floor.
Creaking or Popping
This is a familiar sound in many older homes. It’s usually far too easy to just overlook, but that wouldn’t be wise. A creaking noise can mean that the subfloor is not secured to the underlying joists. It could also indicate the wrong thickness of plywood or OSB was used. The recommended width is ¾ inch. In any event, you’ll have to remove the old plywood and replace it with thicker panels. If that’s not possible, install wider joist. This tactic serves the same purpose and should stop the noise.
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March 23rd, 2009 in Flooring
In a recent laminate flooring poll, voters were asked their opinions of laminate floors as viable option. Overall, the web survey proved to be a mixed bag. Some love the laminates, while others despise them for being cheap. If you’re thinking about using this product, let’s go through the results from Floor Talk’s MicroPoll. I don’t want to bore you with the numbers but here goes. 42% think laminate flooring is a great product that will give you the look of hardwood for less money and is more practical for your family and traffic patterns.
The next highest percentage of voters took a completely opposite reaction. 36% of them believe laminate floors are cheap. On the flip side, some would argue that laminate flooring has made great strides over the years with new technologies. I tend to agree but at the same time it’s very hard to beat the warmth of real hardwood floors.
The remaining 22% say it is loud and clicky or they think it scratches easily and will not hold up to your family and traffic patterns. What’s most important about this survey? We’ll, it shows that consumers are torn between traditional products and cheaper alternatives.
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March 16th, 2009 in Flooring
There are several ways to add a new shine to that dirty old garage floor. Here are some ways to convert the garage into a NASCAR showroom. To get started you have to clean the floor; it’s a dirty job but one that must be done. Oil and grease stains have to go, especially if you’re going to paint.
One way to eliminate these tough spots is to use a pressure sprayer. This high-powered cleaner should remove most grease and debris with ease. A steam cleaner can be just as effective. Another way to clean the floor is by giving your garage floor an acid wash. This surface preparation can be completed with a push broom and solvent. It removes contaminates while leaving your floor with a sand paper like finish. Once you’ve cleaned the floor your ready to apply a new floor.
Epoxy is a popular do-it-yourself makeover. Keep in mind, if your cement floor is sealed you’ll have to rent or buy a concrete grinder; this will prep the cement for the epoxy application. You’ll need roller brushes with an extension arm, plus the epoxy coating kit. Start by mixing the basecoats of the epoxy together. Then work in six-by-six foot sections, beginning in the furthest quadrant of the room. Once you’ve completed a section, toss in some color chips to give it that marble look. When you’ve finished the entire floor, let it cure for 24 hours. Apply a protective cover and you’re done. For more information on epoxy floors go to this website: http://originalcolorchips.com/store/.
The G-Floor from Better Life Technology requires virtually no tools for installation. This polyvinyl laminate is merely rolled on to your garage floor. It adheres easily to cement and can be trimmed with scissors for a perfect fit. The G-Floor comes with a vapor/moisture barrier preventing oil and grease from seeping through. It’s also easy to clean; just remove it from the garage and spray it down with the hose.
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January 19th, 2009 in Flooring
Tile has been a popular choice as a flooring material all over the world for centuries. I enjoy it in my home as it is easy to clean, durable, cooler in the summer, and always looks clean and attractive. Before you invest in new tile for your home, whether it is for the indoors or out, you should check its durability based upon the Porcelain Enamel Institute’s (PEI) rating system. If you’ve already gone tile shopping, you probably have heard the term PEI Rating. This rating system tests how much foot traffic each type of tile can endure and ranks the durability of the tile from one to five. For exterior purposes, a rating under four is not recommended.
Ceramic Tile. Although very attractive, ceramic tiles have a PEI rating of 0-3 and are not recommended for heavy traffic areas. They also absorb more water, which makes them less desirable for exterior applications. The water can either freeze, causing cracks, or lead to mold or mildew growth.
Porcelain Tile. These tiles are very durable and many have a PEI rating of 5 making, them an excellent choice for both indoors and out.
Natural Stones. These can include granite, slate, limestone, travertine, and marble. The PEI ratings vary with these, with all of them except marble being durable enough for floor use.
PEI ratings are broken down as follows:
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October 13th, 2008 in Flooring
Wow, for just $1,000,000 per square meter these luxurious Pietra Firma floor tiles could be yours!
"The dazzling LuxTouch creation is a black marble tile inlaid with 95 brilliant cut diamonds, mother of pearl and abalone. The centre of the tile consists of a pitch-black agate circle inlaid with 19 diamonds and a mother of pearl flower petal pattern radiates outwards from the centre. Each of the petals is a single piece of mother of pearl inlaid with a large precious cut diamond and the black agate pieces between the petals are also inlaid with diamonds. The tile's four corners are inlaid with mother of pearl and abalone shell, achieving a visually stunning counter balance with the radiating flower petals. "
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