Find a style to make your floor durable and chic.
Deciding on what kind of flooring to install in your home takes more than just good design sense. Because flooring is a long-term investment, you want to make sure that the look of your floors is something you're willing to live with for quite a while. More and more people are choosing to do their own labor, so retailers are catering to do it yourselfers with affordable, quality options.
Carpeting
When you're installing carpeting, it's essential to have accurate room measurements. Adding strips to close gaps in sizing takes away from the overall look of the finished product. The job begins with preparing the subflooring by repairing damage due to moisture or loose wood flooring, and adding a layer of carpet padding. Larger rooms usually need power stretching, which is a method that ensures there are no bumps in the carpet. (This is done by a professional.) After the job is complete, the edges are secured by tack stripping.
Hardwood
Installing hardwood flooring is painstaking work if you choose to do it yourself. Moisture testing is essential to prevent any future warping to your hardwood, and it may be necessary to lay down a vapor-retardant membrane. Hardwood floors can either be parquet, which are geometrical pieces that are glued and/or nailed down; planks, which are secured by nails or pneumatic staples; and strips, which are slender pieces that create a larger-looking space. Hardwood can be laid over concrete or existing wood flooring, but make sure you have a level surface and no protruding nails.
Laminate Flooring
Laminate flooring is a man-made substance that is a lot easier to clean than natural materials like hardwood. Laminate planks are laid by an interlocking tongue-and-groove method, secured in place by laminate adhesive. The planks are also available in preglued strips that are wiped down with water and set in place. Because laminate is available in a wide variety of colors and designs, it can mimic the look of real hardwood, concrete or marble. It's also a low-maintenance choice because of its resistance to stains, scratches and fading.
Concrete Flooring
Concrete floors are the newest trend in home, restaurant and boutique decorating. Contemporary concrete floors are being colored with acid-staining, painting or micro-topping. They are also accented by saw cuts and patterns to individualize their look. Concrete overlays (or tiles) can be applied on top of almost any surface with adhesive, but the bottom must be scuffed first to ensure a strong bond. Once your floors are installed, they can be polished with machines that use diamond-crusted attachments that resemble sandpaper.
