How to install hardwood floors, tile or linoleum.
by: BruceContryman
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Wood planks can come in thickness of 1/4?, 5/16?, 3/8?, 1/2?, 5/8" and 3/4" or (6 mm, 8 mm, 10 mm, 13 mm, 16 mm and 19 mm). They can be solid hardwood, or engineered wood. They can be tongue and grove or interlocking planks. They can be pre-finished wood floors or unfinished which means they must be sanded and finished after they are installed. The engineered wood will normally have a wear layer of 2 mm to 4 mm thick. They can be attached to the sub floor by nails, glue or floating, 1/4" thick planks cannot be floated.
Which method is recommended or required for the flooring you want to use. What is your sub-floor, cement or wood? Cement sub-floors are normally on the ground or below ground level and need to be checked for moisture content. If they exceed the recommendations, a moisture barrier must be installed over the cement. Check for the manufacturers recommended practice.
You can install this flooring as a do it yourself project, learn all the recommendations, by talking with knowledgeable people. Decide which material you want to use and how are you going to fasten it.
If you are going to glue the floor down, check out the process, does the manufacturer require that you use their glue, they may put a tracer element in their glue to verify if you have used their glue if there is a warranty claim on the installation. Do they require that a professional installer installs it?
Tile flooring can be either ceramic or vinyl. If the application is for a high traffic area such as a hall way or entrance or if it is a high moisture area such as bathroom?
Ceramic tile can either have a thin top layer or glaze that is very pretty but can easily be scratched in high traffic areas. Other types of tile will have the color clear through the tile and resist scratching very well. Ceramic tile can be installed over a cement or wood sub flooring. The sub flooring must be structurally stable. You may need to install a cement board recommended for wood sub floors and attached it to the sub floor per manufacturers recommendation.
Vinyl tiles are usually the least expensive tile and easiest to install. They can be installed over an existing resilient floor, over plywood on wood floors or on dry concrete. The sub floor must be clean, dry and level, remove all oil, wax or grease. Again study all the pros and cons for which ever flooring you select for the job you want it to do.
Linoleum can be fabricated from natural materials such as linseed oil, wood or cork powder, resins and ground limestone which are environmentally prudent. Linoleum can come in many rich colors and patterns. It comes in a sheet that is usually 2 meters wide (6' 7") and 2.5 mm thick is suitable for household use.
Linoleum can be placed over most sub floors but if placed over concrete, the moisture content must be below the limits set by the manufacturer. A pH level of 10 for the concrete can break down the adhesive and it may not bond if there is a sealer on the concrete. If two sheets of linoleum are butted against each other, they need to be sealed either with special seam sealer or a color coordinated linoleum rod that is heated with a special welding tool.
Linoleum may expand in width and shrink in length over time so this needs to be compensated for when it is installed.
About the Author
Before you begin to remodel your old floors check with Bruce Contryman's advice on How to install hardwood floors. How to install hardwood floors, and home improvements
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