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How To Replace
A Ceramic Tile
With a carbide-tipped grout saw, apply firm grout but gentle pressure across
the grout until you expose the unglazed edges of the tile. Do not scratch
the glazed tile surface. If the grout is stub born, use a hammer and
screwdriver to first tap the tile (Step 2).
How To Repair A
Carpet Seam
Separate the carpet fibers along the seam with your fingers, so you can
clearly see the seam. Use a carpet or utility knife to cut through the seam
tape stuck to the underside of the carpet.
How To
Patch Resilient Sheet Flooring
Measure the width and length of the dam aged area. Place the new flooring
remnant on a surface you don’t mind making some cuts on— like a scrap of
plywood. Use a carpenter’s square for cutting guidance.
FLOORING - HOW TO FIX A
BUBBLE
Deflate air pocket. Use a utility knife to lightly score and then slice
through the bulge. This allows air to escape. Extend the cut a little (½)
beyond the blister at both ends. If possible, cut along a line in the pat
tern to hide the cut.
HOW TO FASTEN LOOSE
BOARDS
As a last resort, reattach buckled floorboards to the subfloor by nailing
them down (from above the floorboards) with flooring nails. To reduce the
risk of the boards splitting, drill pilot holes slightly smaller than the
diameter of the nails.
HOW TO SET LOOSE BOARDS
Because small squeaks can be caused by dirt between floor boards or by
dryness, dean the floor at least once a week and apply lubricants to areas
that tend to be extra dry or squeaky.
Understanding floors
When most of us think of a floor we envision the top layer: in effect, the
decorative covering -- hardwood, ceramic tile, laminate, or carpet. The
“real” floor is hidden underneath.
Choosing flooring
Today’s homeowner is faced with
an extensive range of flooring choices. Selecting the right floor can almost
be harder than installing it.
Evaluating floors
Floor coverings wear out faster than other interior surfaces because
they get more wear and tear. Surface damage can affect more than just
appearance. Scratches in resilient flooring and cracks in grouted tile
joints allow moisture to wear away at adhesive, eventually pushing up the
floor covering or tile. Hardwood floors lose their Finish and become
discolored And loose floorboards squeak. If that problem appears to be minor
now, the question is: Clean, repair, or replace?
Problem solving -
Cleaning hardwood floor
Immediately dean spills with a dry cloth. Avoid ribbing the spill into
the floor. Once the spill is soaked up, use a damp cloth to blot the
remaining residue on the floor. Rinse your cloth often and thoroughly
wring it out before using it again. Use a d clean cloth to dry the area
when you are done. If it is still sticky allow the area to dry and then
use a damp mop.
Cleaning carpet
Carpet cleaning machines can be rented by the hour or by the day To deep
clean your carpet push the machine forward over a 3-ft. square area,
releasing the detergent and rotating the brush. At this time hot water
is often used, causing steam. When you pull back, cold water is used as
a rinse. Some machines allow you to manually adjust the water
temperature. Always be sure to rinse thoroughly Slowly go over the same
area a couple of times to work the cleaner into the carpet. Repeat this
process until the entire carpet is cleaned. Allow the carpet to dry
Vacuum.
Cleaning ceramic
tile
Dry mop daily to gently remove particles that could scratch your tile.
Cleaning resilient
& laminate floors
Remove tough stains with
mineral spirits or household bleach. Wet a rag with the solution, and
place it over the stain. Lay a plastic bag over the rag to slow
evaporation. Wait 1 to 2 hours, then wipe up the stain. Always test
solvents in an inconspicuous area before using them elsewhere on the
floor. Bleach may strip the protective finish off the floor, leaving it
dull.
Checking a room
for square
The biggest problem with an
out-of-square 4 room is not knowing about it. If you’re in the dark,
then you can’t exercise any of the many strategies to hide the problem.
One of the best is simply to identify the least visible wall and use
that to absorb all the trouble. A good candidate is the bathroom wall
that falls behind the toilet and the vanity. Another is along the tub-
You can install the tub so it’s square to the room and fur out the wall
behind the tub.
Installing slate
floor
Once the slate is laid, as
shown here, consider applying a sealer. While doing so is not necessary,
coating the floor prevents the grout from staining over time. Apply the
sealer with a paintbrush in thin, uniform coats. Most sealers dry in a
couple of hours, and two coats should do the trick. Just stay off the
floor for 24 hours after the each coat to avoid leaving footprints
behind. To maintain the floor, clean it frequently with a solution 0
mild soap and water.
Installing radiant-floor heating
Radiant heat can be used in any room, especially if it is specified when
the house is being built. But in the remodeling world, the most popular room
for installing radiant heat is unquestionably the bathroom. There is nothing
quite like stepping out of the shower onto a warm floor when it’s about 10
degrees out side. In most cases, these systems are used under ceramic tile.
Installing a
laminate floor
A typical laminate floor is
installed as a floating system. This means that the boards or tiles are
glued to one another but not attached to the floor. This allows the flooring
to “float” without buckling or cracking as it expands and contracts with
changes in temperature and humidity. To create a barrier between the
floating floor and the immobile subfloor, you install a foam pad that is
about ¼ inch thick.
Installing plywood
underlayment
The correct underlayment will
make your new flooring stay flat and resist water for many years. But it
needs to be installed properly. First prepare the existing floor so that it
provides a solid base. Then select an underlayment thickness that will make
the new floor match the height of floors in adjoining rooms. Cut the panels
to size, and place them on the floor so the joints are staggered. Then
attach the panels with screws driven through the underlayment and subfloor,
and into the floor joists.
Installing vinyl
floor tiles
Vinyl floor tiles come in almost
an endless array of colors, patterns, and finishes. But all of these can be
categorized into just two basic types: tiles that are laid in adhesive, such
as those shown here, and self-sticking tiles that come with protective paper
on their sticky side. To lay self-sticking tiles, first thoroughly clean
your existing floor; snap some layout chalk lines; then peel off the paper,
and press the tile down onto the floor. While there’s no question that
self-sticking tiles are easier to in stall, the traditional type, with
separate adhesive, is considered by most to yield the more durable
installation.
Installing
vinyl sheet flooring
Unlike laying vinyl tiles,
installing vinyl sheet flooring requires some manipulation of large
rolls of material. If you can find a big, open place to work, the job
will be easier. Many people use the garage floor.
Installing wood
strip flooring
These days, many different
wood species are used for flooring, generally as veneers glued over
plywood panels. But traditionally, solid maple and oak were used for
floors because the wood was so hard and the trees were so plentiful.
Solid wood floors may be difficult and time-consuming to install, but
they look wonderful and are very durable, often outliving the houses
where they were installed.
Laying ceramic
floor tile
Ceramic floor tiles come in a
wide variety of different shapes and colors. One of the primary
differences is whether the tile is glazed or unglazed. The unglazed type
shown here is a common choice for both bathrooms and kitchens. The
reason is simple: most unglazed tiles provide better traction in wet
conditions. To protect them from staining, a sealer is applied every
year or two.
How to glue down a
splinter
If you still have the splintered piece of wood, but it has been entirely
dislodged from the floor, it’s a good bet that the hollowed space left
by the splinter has collected a lot of dirt and grime. Combine a 1:3
mixture of distilled white vinegar and water in a bucket. Dip an old
toothbrush into the solution and use it to clean out the hole left in
the floor. While you’re at it, wipe down the splinter with the solution,
too. Allow the floor and splinter to thoroughly dry.
How to repair a
gouge
Repair small holes with wood putty. Use putty that matches the floor
color. Force the compound into the hole with a putty knife. Continue to
press the putty in this fashion until the depression in the floor is
filled. Scrape excess compound from the area. Use a damp, lint-free
cloth while the putty is still wet to smooth the top level with the
surrounding floor. Allow to dry.
How to fill gaps
between joists & floorboards
if there is a gap or movement be the sub floor and joist at the squeak
location, tap a tapered wood shim into the gap. First smear it with
construction adhesive or wood glue. Squirt some glue into the gap, too.
How to
cinch flooring to joists
If you’ve made it this far, the squeak is not caused by a gap between
the subfloor and the joist. It’s likely the floorboards have buckled up,
creating a gap between the floor and the subfloor. We’re going to drill
up through the subfloor and pull the flooring down tight against the
subfloor with some wood screws. |
