FLOORING

FLOORING

WOOD OVER CONCRETE - CAN BE RISKY IN A GLUE DOWN FLOOR. BEFORE INSTALLING ANY WOOD OVER CONCRETE, CHECK FOR MOISTURE BY TAPING SQUARES OF 6-MIL POLYETHYLENE PLASTIC TO SEVERAL AREAS OF THE CONCRETE FLOOR. WAIT AT LEAST 48 HOURS, THEN CHECK UNDER PLASTIC FOR MOISTURE. IF MOISTURE IS EVIDENT ON FLOOR OR PLASTIC, GO WITH A "FLOATING FLOOR".

FLOATING FLOOR

  1. LAMINATED PLANK FLOORS WITH VENEER FINISH.
  2. PLANKS 1’ TO 8’ LONG & AT LEAST 6" IN WIDTH.
  3. COVER CONCRETE FLOOR WITH 8-MIL PLASTIC OVERLAPPED AT LEAST 8 INCHES.
  4. INSTALL PLANKING TONGUE & GROOVE EDGES AS PER MANUFACTURER’S SPECIFICATIONS.
  5. LEAVE AT LEAST 1/4" GAP ON PERIMETER FOR EXPANSION.
  6. WEIGHT OF FLOOR STABILIZES IT, BUT IT CAN MOVE WITH VARYING HUMIDITY & CAN TOLERATE MINOR MOISTURE PROBLEM.
  7. GOOD IDEA TO CONTROL MOISTURE IN THAT AREA.

CARPET OVER CONCRETE - TO SOFTEN / WARM CONCRETE FLOORS INSTALL COMFORTBASE CARPET UNDERLAYMENT. HOMASOTE CO. (609) 883-3300.   WE THINK CARPET, OR ANYTHING ELSE BUT TILE FOR THAT MATTER, OVER CONCRETE, 'SPECIALLY IN A BASEMENT, IS A REAL BAD IDEA!!!  

GAPS IN YO' FLOOR  CAUSED BY SETTLING AND WOOD SHRINKAGE OVER THE YEARS. CAN BE FIXED BY  REFINISHING THEN  FILLING  CRACKS WITH WOOD FILLER OR ELMER'S GLUE MIXED WITH WOOD DUST FROM THE REFINISHING PROCESS.  OVER TIME THIS FIX MAY  LOOSEN, CRACK AND FALL OUT OF LARGE AREAS SO SAVE SOME WOOD DUST FOR THE NEXT TIME..

BROTHER SHELLY SAYS A LOT OF WATER LEFT TO SOAK ON CARPET GLUED TO CONRETE WILL GREATLY FACILITATE THE REMOVAL PROCESS.  HE DID IT SO WE BELIEVE IT.

VINYL SHEET GOODS OR VINYL TILE INSTALLATION

- OVER WOOD FLOOR - LAY 1/4" PLYWOOD UNDERLAYMENT OR MANUFACTURER'S UNDERLAYMENT ACROSS GRAIN OF FLOOR WITH RING SHANK NAILS OR UNDERLAYMENT STAPLER (RENT STAPLER). COVER NAILHEADS, STAPLE HOLES, & SEAMS WITH FLOOR PATCH MATERIAL. APPLY WATER-BASED PRIMER TO UNDERLAYMENT BEFORE APPLYING TILES OR VINYL.

- OVER SOUND VINYL FLOOR - CAUTION: A SOUND FLOOR HAS NO NAILS POPPING, NO VOIDS, NO LOOSE TILES. IF YOU HAVE SOME BAD AREAS, BUT MOST OF FLOOR IS SOUND, PATCH BAD SPOTS WITH LATEX AND USE A PATTERN FILLER.

FLOOR PATCH. CLEAN OLD VINYL THOROUGHLY OF ALL WAX, GREASE, & DIRT. USE ADHESIVE APPROVED BY MANUFACTURER OF THE NEW TILE.

OVER UNSOUND VINYL FLOOR -  USE UNDERLAYMENT AS WITH THE WOOD FLOOR.

SQUEAKY FLOORS - GENERALLY DUE TO FLOORING RUBBING ON NAIL. 

BASEMENT SITUATION - HAVE SOMEONE WALK ON FLOOR UNTIL YOU’VE LOCATED SOURCE OF SQUEAK WHICH YOU MARK WITH CHALK.  SCREW 3" L-BRACKETS AT EACH SQUEAK LOCATION SO TOPS ARE FLUSH WITH TOPS OF JOISTS, THEN DRIVE SCREWS UP INTO SUBFLOOR AND SURFACE FLOOR TO PULL THOSE STRUCTURES DOWN TIGHT TO JOISTS. OR USE ONE OF THE FOLLOWING:

  • FLOOR BINDER - BASED ON AN ANGLE SYSTEM TO SUPPORT DECKING - (605) 229-4332
  • SQUEAK ENDER - ALSO BASED ON ANGLE SYSTEM WITH TURNBUCKLE-TYPE MODIFICATION - (312) 371-2000
  • NO BASEMENT / CRAWL SPACE - SECOND FLOOR - CARPET SITUATION - THE FOLLOWING IS THE "DEAL". BREAK-AWAY SCREWS - SCREW THROUGH CARPET WITH SPECIAL ADAPTER - (800) 459-8428
  • SQUEEEEEK NO MORE - BROTHER CHRIS REPORTS THIS ONE WORKED PRETTY WELL FOR HIM.  IT'S AVAILABLE THROUGH ACE HARDWARE FOR ABOUT $20.00.  YOU CAN CHECK THE PRODUCT AT WWW.OBERRY-ENTERPRISES.COM.

CLEANING THE GOOK OFF HARDWOOD AFTER TAKING UP VINYL OR SOMETHING IS A BEAR!!!  BRIAN, A MEMBER  OF OUR RADIO FAMILY,  REPORTED REAL GOOD LUCK USING ACE BRAND "REMOVER ADHESIVE."  NEVER HEARD OF IT BUT  WISH WE'D HAD SOME WHEN WE REDID THE KITCHEN AT THE CAT HOUSE.