Tag Archive
Sealed Concrete Floor: Problem for New Floor Installation?
Laying some types of finish flooring straight atop concrete slab has its ups and its downs. Most concrete is in fairly level condition–after all, it’s a quasi-liquidfied substance that is largely self-leveling. But one problem you’ll often run into is sealed concrete. It may seem that sealed concrete is a perfect surface to lay down... »
Nailing Underlayment
When nailing underlayment, you need to think about three things: nail type, nail size and nail spacing. Sure, it may be tempting to grab just any old nail in your shop and start pounding away, but in the case the wages of sin are high: nails popping up through carpeting and even laminate floor; floor... »
Is the Concrete Slab is Ready for Flooring?
If you’ve got a concrete slab, you’re in luck. In a best case scenario, concrete slabs provide a (relatively) glass-smooth surface for flooring and are so stable that you should never have squeaks. But one thing to keep in mind with installing flooring directly on concrete is that concrete has a lot of moisture…and... »
Should I Use Subfloor Adhesive?
Q: I’m laying down subfloor and everything I read says to use adhesive with the subfloor. Now, I don’t remember this from years past. Is this a new-fangled thing that completely blows…or should I consider doing this? A: Nice, but not necessary. Call me lazy, call me cheap, but I think you can get by... »
Learn About Types of Subfloor and Underlayment
Below the finish floor, and above the floor joists (or concrete slab), is the subfloor. Sometimes, you’ll have an underlayment that comes between the subfloor and the finish floor, too. These terms are confusing because sometimes you’ll want both, sometimes not. And other times, the same material can be used as both subfloor and... »
Best Way to Clean Wood Floor After Sanding? Tack Cloth!
After you’ve sanding your wood floors, you need to seriously clean them. And I mean seriously. That’s because, unless you happen to live in a barn, those wood floors will be stained and sealed. You may skip the staining part, but you will be sealing them. Any kind of dust remaining on the surface of... »
Quarter-Sawn Wood Flooring
Q: I have been looking at quarter-sawn wood flooring vs. plain sawn wood flooring. The quarter-sawn is more expensive, but I’ve heard it’s better. Should I buy it? A: Yes, if your budget allows for it. Quarter-sawn wood flooring is considered a big deal (vs. plain-sawn wood). Quarter-sawn wood flooring is... »