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According to numerous studies,
flooring remains unchanged in most homes longer than any
other item with the exception of bathtubs.
Very few, if any, homeowners plan on
changing the flooring in their homes every few years.
If you are considering replacing the flooring or floor
coverings in your home, it is important that you consider
all the possible alternatives and weigh the advantages and
disadvantages of each type, material and style.
There are seven basic choices of
materials for residential flooring:
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Man-made clay tiles such as
ceramic and porcelain,
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Natural stone tiles such as
marble and granite,
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Wood including Bamboo and
engineered hardwoods,
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Laminate,
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Vinyl in sheets and tiles,
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Carpeting including area rugs,
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Cork.
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If you only had to pick between
seven choices in might not be that difficult a decision.
However, each of those materials has hundreds of variations
in color, size, texture, pattern, durability, life, and
price.
The
following list will guide you to additional
information on each aspect of choosing and
installing the right flooring material for each
room in your home. |
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Area Rugs 1
Area Rugs 2
Just like a carpet, an area rug may be flat-woven or exhibit a
soft, plushy pile surface. |
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Bridging Floor Joists
Floor joist bridging is critical to the structural strength of a
floor. Proper bridging distributes the load on the floor to
other joists and over time prevents floors from sagging and
squeaking do to floor joists twisting and warping. |
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Carpet Fiber
Carpet Pile
Under Pad
Removing Staples
Carpeting can be a major purchase for your home. You want
it to have a long life, look good, and be comfortable to walk on. Before you
choose your carpet, it is important to understand the different types of carpet
piles, fibers and under pads that are available and their advantages and disadvantages. |
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Ceramic
Tile
Replacing Cracked Tile
Painting
Not all ceramic tiles are
produced in the same manner nor do they have the same wear
qualities. It is important that you understand why some
ceramic tiles are 50 cents a piece and others are $10. |
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Contractor
Whether
you are looking for a general contractor or a specific trade, determining
who you should deal with can be a very frustrating experience.
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Cork Flooring Basics
Luxurious
Cork Flooring
Cork flooring is beautiful, durability and its additional benefits, as
explained in this section cork is an ideal flooring choice for residential where it has been used for centuries. |
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Floor Joists -
Bridging
Modification
Repair
Deck
The floor
joists are one of the most important structural elements in any home.
Over time, they can deteriorate, sag, twist and warp. |
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Floor Systems
Flooring generates some of the most common complaints that
builders receive. Squeaking, discoloration, lumps, bumps,
and vibrations are but a few of the problems home-owners endure
because of material shrinkage or poorly constructed floor
systems. |
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Granite Tile
Replacing Cracked Tile
Granite is the hardest of all building stones with a very dense grain,
making it virtually impervious and uniquely applicable for any interior
use. If polished, its high-gloss finish will endure even in harsh
environments. These characteristics are ideal for flooring, making
granite a reliable stone for this applications. |
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Hardwood
Flooring Basics
No
other flooring product offers the features and benefits of hardwood.
Each floor, each board, each plank is unique in its appearance,
coloration and tones.
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Kitchen
Flooring
When considering kitchen flooring material there are three major considerations; safety,
comfort and the material's
ability to stand-up to water and general wear
and tear. |
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Laminate
Flooring
Installation
Manufacturing Process
Shopping for laminate flooring can be a
difficult task. It can be very confusing as most
salespeople know very little about what they’re selling. |
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Limestone Tile
Replacing Cracked Tile
Limestone is a beautiful stone, generally
available in light browns, beiges and yellow
shades. Limestone tile is usually provided with
a matt finish, which makes it safer to walk on
if there is any liquid spilled. |
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Marble Tile
Replacing Cracked Tile
Marble tiles offer a superb natural alternative for many
applications, with a wide variety of types to choose from. |
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Noise Control - Flooring
Eighteen Styles Of Residential Wood Frame Floor
Construction Related Noise
Transmission Levels. |
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Parquet Flooring
For
many years hardwood parquet flooring has been considered to be the
inexpensive hardwood flooring. The basic pattern of 12 inch by 12 inch
squares was seen in high-rise apartment buildings throughout North America.
This is no longer the situation. |
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Porcelain
Tile
Replacing Cracked Tile
Painting
Porcelain tile is
a type of ceramic tile, it is manufactured using a series of
unique clay minerals. Porcelain is a very resistant and
durable product, it has a very hard surface and a solid
structure. |
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Sloping / Sagging Floors
Before you attempt to jack-up a sagging or sloping floor it is important to
understand why the floor is sagging in the first place.
Steps to take to remediate a sagging or sloping floor. |
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Squeaky Floor Repair
Very few items in a home are more annoying than squeaky floors.
Squeaky floors are a result of one or more of five possible
problems. This article describes the five causes and the
methods that can be undertaken to correct the problems. |
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Vinyl - Sheet
Vinyl Installation
Installing sheet vinyl flooring can be a challenge even for the
most competent handymen. There are some basic techniques
that will save you time, effort and frustration. |
