Flooring Installation Tips

If you're one of those people who enjoy getting the job done yourself, then you'll want to know more information about flooring installation. You can certainly save yourself hundreds of dollars by installing your flooring by yourself; you should, however, know what you are getting yourself into. Some flooring is easier to install than is other flooring, and all of it can be a time consuming task.

Tips for Installing Carpet

When you're ready to install carpet, you need to prepare with a number of steps. First, get rid of the old carpet. Remove the tackless strips and ensure that the floor is both clean and dry. Install new tackless strips around the perimeter of the room and make sure, at the corners, that they are closely butted against each other. Now, you're ready to lay the underpad. To install the carpet, you'll need to begin with a piece that overlaps the edge of the floor by about 4-6 inches. Measure the room at the longest point and then add another six inches to the measurement. Then mark the carpet on the underside and trim it accordingly. If you need more than one piece of carpet, make sure that the carpet pile runs the same way in both pieces. Try to lay the pieces out so that the seams won't be noticeable; obviously this isn't always possible. You'll then need seaming tape to adhere the pieces to each other, a knee kicker to attach the carpet along the edges, and a carpet stretcher.

Tips for Installing Laminate

Installing laminate flooring should be easier than installing carpet. You'll need to measure the floor where you want the laminate and then add 10% for waste. There are installation kits for laminate flooring that you can buy at the same place where laminate flooring is sold. This is a great idea, as it comes with tools to assist you in your process. Be sure to bring the laminate that you purchase into the house at least 48 hours before installing it. This allows the laminate to acclimate to the humidity level in your home. Follow the manufacturer's instructions for installation. All laminate flooring comes with detailed instructions from the manufacturer which should make your installation go smoothly. It usually takes about one day to do one room with laminate flooring.

Along with these instructions, there are a few things that all laminate flooring installation has in common. You'll need a level sub floor to lay the planks onto. Make sure that you give the laminate the time that it needs to breathe in your house before installation. Finally, to avoid seeing the seams near a patio door or other door, consider running the planks at a right angle to the door, or at least at a 45 degree diagonal angle. This creates more work, but it is very attractive and worth the extra effort.

Tips for Installing Wood

Installing wood flooring takes more skill and more time than does laminate. Make sure that you install the wood on a clean, smooth, level and structural sound floor base. Before you install the wood, leave it indoors for a few days to let it acclimate to the temperature and moisture in the house. Laying wood flooring takes a good deal of work and knowledge. You'll need to make sure that you know what you are doing and that you have all of the proper tools. You'll need many items including sandpaper, a utility knife, a pry bar, a caulking gun, a putty knife, a drill, a long-handled floor scraper, a tape measure, a hammer, a straightedge, the floorboards and moldings, a wood floor glue and a leveling compound. Speak to the store where you purchase the wood flooring to discuss any suggestions or manufacturer's installation instructions that might help you with this process. Make sure, before you begin, that you have your tools and your knowledge.

Tips for Installing Area Rugs

These are my personal favorite. If you don't like your flooring or if you wish to change the look of your home, purchase area rugs. Throw them on top of your flooring, sit back, relax and enjoy!