So you’ve decided to renovate your home, you want to try it yourself, but you don’t want to do anything that could affect the structural integrity of the house. You’ve already decorated, but you still feel like you could do more. Why not try changing the flooring? Whilst changing the flooring in a room can be time consuming, if done right the end result can be quite rewarding. You will also save a lot of money by installing it yourself.
If you’ve never laid a floor before, this little guide will help you with the basics. First of all you’re going to need to know what type of flooring you want and with that you will need to know the materials and tools you will need. It’s very easy to find the right Building Materials in North Wales or anywhere else in the country and with a little common sense you will be on your way to getting the right look for your home.
Have a good think about the room in which you intend to put new flooring in. Common sense dictates that it’s not the best idea to put a carpet in the kitchen. You don’t want to create a potential fire hazard! Once you have decided what look you want, think about the materials needed. If you are thinking of laminate flooring, its worth looking into underlay for protection and support. Here we will take a look the different types of flooring and how to apply it to your home.
Carpets
The first choice of flooring (other than the kitchen that is!) is carpets. The good thing about carpets is they don’t really need an underlay. You can put them straight onto the floor. It’s also a good beginner’s way of laying flooring as you only need to measure the room and then choose a carpet to fit the specified size. There are so many types of carpets and colours to give you the look you want.
Before removing the current carpet, it’s recommended you vacuum thoroughly, to prevent any excess dirt or dust being breathed in when you lift the carpet.
Do make sure to remove all traces of the old carpet, watch out for awkward areas, such as doorways. A good way to remove everything is to cut the carpet into strips so you can work in sections. These sections make it easier for you to gauge accuracy, and not leave anything behind. It also makes pulling the carpet up much easier if you are doing it in sections. Most flooring guides recommend strips between 18-24 inches wide as they are easier to work with.
Before laying the new carpet, you will need to make sure that the area you are working in is clean and dry. If you are laying carpet over floorboards, check for any loose boards or nails that need to be hammered down. This will save you a lot of trouble later on.
Once the preparation is complete, you can go ahead and lay your carpet. Be sure to stick the carpet down using tackless strips.
Wooden Flooring
There are many different wood finishes to choose from when deciding to use wooden flooring, from an authentic, traditional floorboard look, to a more modern laminate finish. There is bound to be something to suit everyone out there. For ideas and inspiration look around first at North Wales Flooring, seeing something suggestions and designs you like can often help with the final design process.
It is important to remember that wooden flooring is a little bit different from laminate, as it is made from real wood, so the installation process is a little different. In addition to this, the material used also impacts where you can have the flooring put in your home.
Laminate flooring is versatile and comes in an array of patterns and colours, it can be laid down anywhere as it is low maintenance and it doesn’t require a lot of work or effort to keep looking good.
To keep laminate looking good you should vacuum or use a soft bristle brush. It is important that you do not use a wet mop on the the laminate flooring and make sure to clean up any spills immediately, as it can warp the floor.
Laminate is not scratch proof. Sharp objects can scratch the surface, leaving unsightly gashes that will be near impossible to remove. A good tip is to put protective felt pads on furniture to prevent scratches and not drag anything heavy across it.
Wooden floors are a good choice for families as you only need to brush or vacuum. Be sure to use a vacuum with a wood floor attachment to avoid scratching the floor. If choosing to brush instead of vacuum, use a brush with fine ends as they are more effective at trapping dirt and dust. Be aware that dirt and dust can act like sand paper on wooden floors, so make sure you keep your floors clean! Finally excessive water can warp a wooden floor, so mop up any spills as soon as you spot them.
With all this in mind it should be easy to maintain your chosen floor.
Daryl Green