5 Floor Installation Tips
What Do You Need To Know To Do Floor Installation?
In terms of creating your dream home, flooring is one of your most important considerations. Floor installation will contribute greatly to the overall foundation of your home, so it’s important to make sure you take everything into account. The first thing you will want to think about are the various challenges inherent in flooring installation. Some opt to have professionals take care of everything, which, depending on your level of experience with installing floors, is something you might want to think about.
Nonetheless, if you have decided to handle the installation work on your own, there are a few important things that you will want to consider before getting started.
Floor Installation Tips
It goes without saying that you are making an investment when it comes to the floors you choose for your home. This is an investment you will likely have to live with for years to come. To that end, from choosing your materials, to making sure everything has been installed correctly, we have put together a list of tips that can be useful to anyone.
1) Take time to explore your many options. Hardwood flooring is perhaps the most popular option right now. Certainly, when we conjure images of beautiful floors in our minds, hardwood is one of the first things to pop up. However, this isn’t the only option available to you. Ceramic tile, laminate, marble, porcelain, and engineered wood flooring are just a few of the possibilities that are out there. Different options have different benefits and potential drawbacks. For example, ceramic tile flooring is built to last, but many people dislike how cold the floor can get, especially during winter months.
Hardwood floors are great for living rooms, but you may want to think twice, before putting them into a below-grade basement. You’ll also have to be very careful with hardwood floors to avoid scratching the surface, which is a blemish no one wants to see on their floor. You really need to consider not only your tastes, but also things like the type of room your renovating, the climate in which you live, and durability of the material before settling on a material.
2) Laying floors for strength. One of your most important considerations with flooring comes down to making sure your floor runs perpendicular to your joist. The joist is a series of wood or steel panels that supports part of a structure, in this case, the floor. By adhering to this tip, you will be ensuring that your new floor is strong and adequately supported.
3) Make sure the subfloor is level. This is a particularly essential tip for those who are planning to install wood floors in their home. You want to be absolutely certain that your subfloor is properly leveled, or you will run into problems later on. For example, leaving voids under your floorboards can cause the floors to squeak later on. You can also end up dealing with gaps and separation of wood panels.
4) Floating floors. This type of flooring has become pretty popular with homeowners. To put it simply, a floating floor is a floor that has a plastic sheet between the concrete and flooring. One of the best things about floating floors is the fact that you don’t have to worry about things like glue or nails. A floating floor also comes with many benefits, the most notable being that it can make certain wood floors more stable and moisture-resistant. The installation process is pretty straightforward, which makes it easy for you to handle the installation on your own. There are numerous online tutorials that you can use to educate yourself on the process.
5) Respect your DIY experience level. No one wants to admit that they can’t handle a certain project. When it comes to flooring, you really don’t want to take anything for granted. If you know what you are doing, then proceed. Make sure to remember that different types of flooring are going to have different installation considerations. In other words, having experience with ceramic tile installation isn’t exactly the same as experience with laminate flooring. If you have any doubts as to your DIY experience level with a project like this, then you will definitely want to begin looking for professional contractors.
If you choose to handle a flooring installation project on your own, you will want to make sure that you have the best materials possible. As is the case with all other aspects of enhancing your home with a renovation project, it can be useful to create a budget specific to your flooring needs and goals; and of course, it always helps to do your research to ensure that you are prepared for the task.
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