How to Change Your Flooring
When updating your home, some updates take much longer than others, but those updates are often the ones that most drastically change the overall look of your space. Changing the flooring is one of these updates. Choosing flooring that compliments the rest of your space can be a tricky and time-consuming task, but the flooring you choose will ultimately set the scene for the rest of the room. That’s why updating your flooring can be so important. Of course, paying someone to install your new flooring can be expensive, so today, we’re going to look at the different types of flooring and a few types that you can actually change yourself (with enough patience and endurance, that is).
Types of Flooring
There are many different types of flooring, some of which are better for certain rooms than others. Hardwood floors are great because they can be added to in many different ways. A person can choose to go with carpeting as their flooring, but this can often get expensive with the cost of installation and additional upkeep. Below is a list of different types of flooring:
Vinyl
Solid Wood
Parquet (A type of wood flooring using different small pieces of wood arranged into different patterns)
Engineered Wood
Laminate
Stone/Tile
Carpet
Cork
Rubber
Foam
These options are mostly affordable if bought at the right time and with the right deals. Some are better than others for areas of high moisture to avoid mold and other issues. Stone/tile or engineered flooring tends to repel moisture at higher levels than solid wood or soft types of flooring. Soft flooring can be a great option for a kids' room or in a room meant for exercise or relaxation.
Identifying Damage and Other Issues
When removing or adding new flooring, it is essential to identify damages that may need to be addressed beforehand. In older houses especially, there is often a lot of damage that may not be seen on the surface. Removing the old flooring can help you access the inner layers of the floor, and you may find that there is more damage than you can handle on your own. Be careful with electrical and plumbing lines as you remove the floor. If you have access to floor plans or blueprints, it may be helpful to look at those before and during the removal of the old flooring. Try to have someone assist you in removing the flooring, as this will significantly decrease working time which will mitigate errors due to exhaustion and boredom.
How to Change Flooring
Tear Out Old Flooring:
First, remove all furniture and other items that currently sit on top of the flooring you are trying to remove. Then, check to see how the flooring is attached to the subfloor before beginning to rip it out. Carpeting is often stapled down or full of nails that are often attached to the baseboards. Be careful when removing old nails, as you can damage the subfloor if you remove them roughly or incorrectly. While you may be tempted to tear the flooring out as fast as you can, try taking this process one step at a time. Some floors are not as securely attached as others. A quick YouTube search can give you a ton of tutorials on how to remove your specific flooring type on your own. After removing the hardware, figure out what hardware is still good for use. Reuse and recycle as much as you can.
Clean:
Make sure to clean everything thoroughly and vacuum any dust along the entire process. It may require a lot of manual scrapping of dirt or flooring before your area is ready for new flooring. There may be glue on the subflooring that will need to be removed in addition to a regular pile-up of dirt. If there is any mold or wet spots underneath the previous flooring, you will need to address them before putting on your new flooring. Identify the cause of the mold and the extent of damage. If it is black mold, contact a professional before continuing work. Wet spots can often lead to mold and are often caused by improper insulation or moisture prevention. Try to patch any holes and treat affected areas with a solution of vinegar and baking soda or bleach.
Install New Flooring:
There are two ways to install flooring: permanent and flexible installation. Flexible installation, which always includes hardwood flooring, is the quicker fix. Flexible installation essentially means not gluing or securing every plank down, allowing the floors to be changed without much effort. The downside to this option is that the flooring, if not properly installed, may begin to shift and show wear sooner. It is understood that this arrangement is not permanent and allows for more flexibility for later projects. It is a quick fix and immediately begins making the space look newer and more put together.
Permanently installing your flooring, on the other hand, will require much more precise measurements and knowledge of different types of fixtures. If you are planning to expand an area by knocking out a wall or building an add-on, be sure to do it before installing any permanent flooring. You can use the following options when permanently installing your flooring:
Water-based adhesive
Polyurethane based adhesive
Acrylic Adhesive
Wood glue
Wood screws
Nails
These are all options for installing your flooring; some are more permanent than others. Many adhesives are not compatible with certain types of flooring. Try a small section of material with your chosen adhesive before using it everywhere. Changing your flooring will take time and dedication to detail. Being aware of things that may be out of your control will allow you to finish the job without unnecessary frustration.
Summary
Identify the issues with your current flooring and choose the materials you wish to work with. Keep your area clean throughout the entire process. Avoid fixing flooring that does not need to be fixed, and outline your process at the beginning so you have a clear path forward. For more information or assistance, contact a real estate or flooring contractor.
