Archive for the ‘Flooring’ Category.
March 24, 2010, 1:23 pm
Hardwood flooring requires proper maintenance to last for years. After years of use some problems may arise and it may require some extra attention. Call in professionals to repair hardwood flooring. If it is a negligible problem you can also repair it all by yourself.
Scratches and loose planks are some of the common problems faced with hardwood floors. Due to improper installation, hardwood planks can get very loose and you may require a floor installer to put them in place. Nailing down the loose hardwood planks to the sub floor can also solve problem. Incase of slight scratches on floors, you can use touch up kits to repair it on your own. A complete refinishing may be required incase of severe scratches on hardwood floors.
Here some useful repairing tips have been given for problems that are usually faced by homeowners:
- Warped Hardwood Floors: Due to moisture accumulation hardwood floors can get warped. It requires immediate attention and you should call in a professional home remodeler for floor repairing service. Warping in hardwood floor can also occur due to poor quality hardwood or lapses in installation process. But if your hardwood floors start sagging, it needs to be treated seriously.
- Cupped Hardwood Floors: Sometimes hardwood planks rise up on the edges and center of the planks tend to sink downwards. This is often caused due to imbalance of humidity level in the house. If this level can be set right then further cupping of the floors can be prevented. When floor surface becomes normal again, it needs to be refinished and flattened down with professional hands.
- Buckling Up of Hardwood Floors: Often buckling of hardwood floors occurs from gradual warping and as the planks get loosened from the sub floor. This hardwood flooring problem should be repaired immediately. The root of this warping should be found out to prevent further buckling up and so that the planks remain attached to the sub floor below.
- Crack or Split in Hardwood Floors: After several years from installation, hardwood floor planks can develop cracks and splits. As a quick and effective repair, hardwood planks can be put together with angled nails. The blemishes on the hardwood floors due to these splits can be hidden by applying wood putty. You need to think about refinishing the floor from a professional floor installer if the cracks further develop. Incase of serious cracking and splits, damaged planks can be removed and new hardwood flooring planks installed in their place.
- Gaps in Hardwood Flooring Planks: A very common problem with hardwood floor planks is development of gaps. Most of the time due to seasonal change these gaps occur in between wooden planks. As hardwood planks expand and reduce due to temperature variation and change of humidity level, this is a natural phenomenon with hardwood flooring. The gaps in the planks tend to appear in particular season. But persistent gaps in hardwood planks require repair by professionals.
March 22, 2010, 10:48 am
Flooring is one of the important parts of any house. For flooring installation at your home you must have chosen the very best for you, suited to your requirements and budget. If laminate flooring is your choice then it is indeed a smart choice that you have made. But it goes without saying that before installation you should be aware of the many advantages as well as disadvantages of the particular type of flooring material you have chosen.
Laminate flooring is a popular choice for homeowners due to its cost effectiveness, toughness and convenient installation processes. If you have already chosen laminate for your home flooring then let’s check with its advantages so that you will know that you have made a right choice.
- Installation: Laminate floor tiles are comparatively easier to install than other flooring materials. For laminate floor installation you do not have to take the hassles to nail them or attach them to the sub floor. The planks can be easily snapped together for quick and effective installation.
- Easy to Use: Laminate flooring is also known for its versatility of being used on any substrate. It can be also installed on substrates where previously vinyl floor was installed. It is easy to install laminate flooring on surfaces like plywood, wood and even concrete.
- Appearance: Next to hardwood floors laminates are also highly in demand to the homeowners. Laminate is a great alternative to wooden flooring. The look and feel of laminate floor resembles hardwood and it adds aesthetic appeal to your home.
- Durability: One of the aspects for which laminate flooring is chosen is its durability. Laminate floors are resistant to scratches as well as to stains. Even if it is exposed to sunlight, it does not fade easily.
Though laminate floor installation has a number of benefits yet there are some disadvantages as well. Before you install laminate at your home take a quick look at its weaker points so that you can be careful about its maintenance right from the day of its installation.
- Repairing: Compared to other flooring materials it is difficult to repair laminate flooring. Wooden flooring can be repaired and refinished for a number of times but this is not possible with laminate floors. If your laminate has persisting problems you may have to change it. But it is often seen installation of a laminate floor costs more than repairing cost of a wooden floor.
- Damage from Moisture: Laminate flooring is susceptible to moisture. Laminate floors are made from fiber boards which get easily damaged from water. Laminate floor planks may get expanded from water damage and in that case you have to replace your home flooring. So it is better not to install laminate floors at places where it can be affected by water especially in bathrooms.
- Installation: Compared to other floor materials installing laminate can be easy. But it requires good skills to do it yourself. If you want professional touch and proper installation at your home it is better to consult floor installers.