22 • The Beacon September 8 , 2022
Some tips to consider when replacing your floors
By Marianne Austin
Thinking about replacing your floors this fall ? Should you go with wood or vinyl ?
Once you ’ ve decided what type of flooring you want , you need to decide if you ’ re going to do the work yourself or hire a professional . Installing new flooring in the home can be a major renovation or a smaller project when you ’ re just updating a room or hallway . New flooring can transform a living space , providing the installation is done correctly . It ’ s important to always consider the pros and cons of starting a do-it-yourself installation project . Give yourself plenty of time and start small .
If you prefer a professional rather than doing it yourself , they have less demand for work in the
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It ’ s important to always consider the pros and cons of starting a do-ityourself installation project .
fall . This means better rates on remodeling contract deals between the homeowner and builder . There are fewer chances of mistakes being made that can cost more money on labor or materials if you decide to have your floors installed professionally . Contractors like to do inside remodeling projects during the cold season anyway .
Another plus is in the fall lumber and building supplies are cheaper . Home-improvement stores feature sales on many remodeling project supplies during the offseason . You can purchase what you need at reduced prices and save money .
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In general sheet vinyl costs less than vinyl tile but will be more expensive to install . The textured , special prints and some designs will cost more .
One of the significant advantages of using a luxury vinyl floor is it ’ s water-resistant . It can be installed in areas of the home that are typically difficult for other flooring materials — for example , in basements and bathrooms where moisture can be a problem . This gives the floor depth and dimension , making it hard to discern from real wood or tile . Vinyl has a softer , more sound
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absorbent quality than wood due to a layer of rubberized backing . One drawback of natural wood is it is loud .
Hardwood flooring is a natural , durable but expensive flooring option for homes . Vinyl flooring is cheaper but a less durable , synthetic alternative . Hardwood floors are usually favored for their durability , better aesthetic and resale value . If well maintained and cared for , hardwood flooring can last for generations .
Depending on the type of wood , the material may be extremely hard and resistant to damage , and treatments can be used to reinforce the natural strength of hardwood . If the floor does get damaged , it also can often be repaired or refinished , which will completely revitalize the material and make it look brand new .
If you decide to do the job yourself , you need to consider the tools you will need for the job . A tape measure or laser measure device to find the exact measurements of the room are needed .
You ’ ll need to take your square-foot measurements and add a percentage to accommodate for any loss , broken planks or tiles , or mistakes .
Removing the existing floor can be more than you bargained for if you don ’ t have the right tools . You will need to remove carpet , tile , hardwood , vinyl or whatever without damaging the subfloor . Some types of vinyl flooring , like peel and stick , can be installed on top of existing floors .
You may be cutting down planks or tiles to size , installing some type of underlayment or padding and assembling the first row of flooring you will need to lay the planks or tiles in a row with no gaps .
Use spacers between the floor and planks for any expansion when the floor settles and to help keep the first row away from the wall , stapling the floors if needed , cutting flooring for new rows , tapping planks or tiles into place , checking for gaps and adjusting the flooring , and installing the final rows . Some planks or tiles may need to be cut down vertically to fit the space .
Last will be applying sealant to the perimeter and installing the baseboard that runs around the perimeter between the crown molding and the floor to hide the gap between the floor and the walls and to seal the flooring .
Because flooring contractors do this type of work almost every day , they can complete a basic job within a day or two . You can schedule the installation at a time that works for you and know it will be complete within a certain time frame .
Many contractors guarantee their work with some type of warranty . If the job doesn ’ t meet your standards , they can come back and correct any mistakes . Contractors do all the work . Most will remove the old floor and do the cleanup , provide all the tools and supplies , and check the old floor or subfloor for mold , water damage or other issues .
There ’ s a tremendous sense of pride for a homeowner when it comes to successfully completing home-improvement projects . Besides gaining a sense of accomplishment , chances are you padded your homeimprovement budget by saving a valuable amount of money on labor .
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