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Flooring and Carpeting/Questions Answered by Expert Carol Blaha
| Subject | Date Asked |
| Asbestos in Linoleum | 1/28/2012 |
| Q: Carol: I have a Armstrong sheet linoleum floor which was installed in 1975 in my kitchen of about ... A: If there was asbestos in the floor it most likely would be the bottom layer installed in 75. Do you ... | |
| Vinyl sheet flooring | 1/9/2012 |
| Q: We had Armstrongs vinyl sheet flooring installed in our house in October. We have noticed a strong ... A: All products today are made within EPA guidelines for good indoor air quality. Just because the ... | |
| Tile sound barrier | 1/5/2012 |
| Q: I am a condo owner in NM and wish to replace my carpet with tile due to allergy and cleansability ... A: The most accepted sound barrier as you describe is cork underlayment. It is used in the music ... | |
| Which is the best carpet? | 10/19/2011 |
| Q: I am carpeting our whole house including two sets of steps. I am looking at 3 carpets: mohawk ... A: You're asking a bigger question than you realize. But I'll try and give you a short course in ... | |
| Porch Flooring | 10/3/2011 |
| Q: I have a balcony over my patio. The balcony floor is plywood. What do I seal the seams of the ... A: There isn't anything I know about that will fill those seams. But I would look into Lonseal's ... | |
| water inside the subfloor plys | 10/1/2011 |
| Q: Water from a leak in the shower coupling in the wall behind the shower seeped into the subfloor ... A: I have been in the flooring business and am a certified tile inspector (for installations), as well ... | |
| Laminate over existing floor? | 7/26/2011 |
| Q: I have a 20 year old trailor with carpeting, i want to pull it up and put down some kind of laminate ... A: Is your trailer climate controlled 100% of the time? Laminates need permanent HVAC in place and ... | |
| carpet | 7/24/2011 |
| Q: We just purchased carpet for most of our home and had it installed by a reputable dealer. Our house ... A: The dealer spec matches the info Shaw sent-- but it does not match what is on Shaw's website. I ... | |
| carpet | 7/24/2011 |
| Q: We just purchased carpet for most of our home and had it installed by a reputable dealer. Our house ... A: First the easy question. Many agitator brushes are very hard and stiff and can cause damage to ... | |
| carpet | 7/21/2011 |
| Q: We just purchased carpet for most of our home and had it installed by a reputable dealer. Our house ... A: What was your criteria to the dealer? If cost was the main concern, they did a decent job of ... | |
| Porcelain Tile for (particially) covered porch | 7/14/2011 |
| Q: I am considering having my front porch which is partly covered done with porcelain tile. A portion ... A: Be sure the tile is ok to use outdoors and will handle freezing. Tile is a wonderful choice, you ... | |
| Vinyl Plank Flooring for Multi-Family Applications | 6/26/2011 |
| Q: Carol - I am the property manager of an apartment community and we are installing wood plank ... A: The aluminum oxide finish is usually done on hardwood, not vinyl plank. Vinyl plank is a great ... | |
| Floor sags | 6/13/2011 |
| Q: The home is a double size and is permanently installed in a trailer park. In the home, there are 4 ... A: This was a repair I needed to have done to my home and it was easier than I thought it was. I had a ... | |
| Laminate floor is warping at seams | 6/4/2011 |
| Q: I had laminate flooring installed throughout my house. Now, just a few months later, just in my den, ... A: What type of product are you cleaning the floor with? Make sure it isn't solvent based. The other ... | |
| which floor to choose | 6/1/2011 |
| Q: Carol, Thank you very much for your time. I live in a house that is 80+ years old. It has pine ... A: Is it linoleum -- as many people call sheet vinyl linoleum. If sheet vinyl, there are many grades-- ... | |
| NAFCO Vinyl flooring | 5/8/2011 |
| Q: A little while ago I had this put down in my basement. We used a local, very reputable installer ... A: You don't have to have a water problem to have high moisture vapor emissions coming from your slab. ... | |
| Tile Floor | 4/16/2011 |
| Q: A sound engineer evaluated a tile floor above us for existence of underlayment. There is cork, but ... A: It will work if that is the sole contributing factor to the sound transmission. I am not a sound ... | |
| a covering for a concrete floor currently with astroturf | 3/17/2011 |
| Q: My sunporch is enclosed with brick to chair rail height and then glass windows. The concrete floor ... A: It has to come up. It won't be suitable underlayment for anything, including carpet. If the room ... | |
| carpet one crossover to mill style and color | 3/7/2011 |
| Q: I have shopped a Carpet One store near me. I need the manufactures style name and color name for ... A: If you can get the manufacturer, it may narrow the search. These items are private labeled for ... | |
| Udura Tile issues | 2/3/2011 |
| Q: I had an Audura flooring installed in my kitchen, mud room, and by the front door of my house. ... A: It sounds installation related. Prepping the floor to accept floor covering is part of ... | |
| aspestis | 1/14/2011 |
| Q: I recently removed and put in new tile where I live and was told the black glue that was under the ... A: First, not all black glue contains asbestos. Depending of the age of the tile, the tile could also ... | |
| water damage under ceramic tile | 1/12/2011 |
| Q: We recently purchased a home and had a toilet on the second floor overflow. The toilet ran for 2-4 ... A: If they did "dry" it out, then everything should be find. The question is "how dry is dry". I ... | |
| carpet | 1/11/2011 |
| Q: We're about to buy new carpet and have been told that the P.E.T. type of carpet is great. I guess ... A: PET or any olefin carpet is inherently stain proof. However it will still absorb odor. They can't ... | |
| Moisture under tile floor | 12/10/2010 |
| Q: In July I remodeled my ground floor bathroom. It is a small room containing a toilet and vanity. I ... A: You should not have installed over a plastic sheet. Ceramic tile is usually the most uneffected by ... | |
| getting adhesive off hard wood | 12/9/2010 |
| Q: Our carpenters used a masking tape to tape a paper roll to the hardwood after they laid it for ... A: Be careful-- don't harm the surface. First, the adhesive will probably wear off with normal ... | |
| heating a cold porch floor | 12/7/2010 |
| Q: My sunporch is connected to our house, but its an outside room, meaning that even though its ... A: I believe so. Some people (and commercial spaces) install radiant heat to melt the snow off ... | |
| carpet install | 12/6/2010 |
| Q: we just had our kitchen and dining room installed with hardwood floors and are going to have carpet ... A: No. Carpet must be stretched in drum tight. This requires the room to be empty of furniture. With ... | |
| installing new carpet | 12/5/2010 |
| Q: Is it possible to lay new carpeting over old carpeting if we put plywood down over the old carpet? ... A: I wouldn't recommend it. You need a stable base for the carpet to lay right. Then think of all the ... | |
| water da,aged cork underlayment ceramic tile | 11/23/2010 |
| Q: I am an insurance repair contractor. I recently encountered a job where the condo flooded and water ... A: I would get a ceramic tile inspector there before you proceed. Generally ceramic tile does not ... | |
| depth of tavertine tile-not grout depth | 11/16/2010 |
| Q: What is the difference in depth of travertine tile and 3/4" hardwood? And what is the difference in ... A: Travertine can be 3/8 to 1/2" nominal or thicker. But it will probably require beefing up your ... | |
| Dry Feet and New Carpeting | 11/15/2010 |
| Q: A few months ago I moved into a one-bedroom apartment with brand new carpeting. I typically walk ... A: Its hard to say-- but I've never heard of an instance of someone being allergic to carpet. There ... | |
| Vinyl Plank flooring | 10/21/2010 |
| Q: I have this flooring in my RV it is bunching at the seams how do I get it to shrink back. I am not ... A: I'm assuming this is vinyl floor?? This is very typical of moisture. Your RV sits in the sun ... | |
| Rugs | 10/12/2010 |
| Q: Carol. I had some storm damage to personal items in my home & I'm trying to place a dollar value to ... A: It's very hard to put a value on this -- the main valuator is yarn weight and "tips", how many yarn ... | |
| Armstrong Vinyl Tile Shrinkage | 10/12/2010 |
| Q: I purchased Armstrong vinyl flooring traditions 60100 in March 2000. In august of this year 2010 I ... A: First, why did Depot send an Anderson rep out to inspect an Armstrong product? A hardwood inspector ... | |
| flooring | 9/17/2010 |
| Q: I pulled the entire carpet out of the living room, two (2) bedrooms and dining room, Now I have a ... A: I think you should work on this from under the crawl space. I don't think caulk would have the ... | |
| Nittoh Vinyl flooring | 8/27/2010 |
| Q: I have a buttload (that's a technical term) of vinyl flooring that was in the basement of a house I ... A: I googled it and haven't seen any activity past since 97. I did find a Nittoh Tile co from ... | |
| wet carpet | 8/5/2010 |
| Q: I have noticed small areas of wetness on my carpet one in my hallway the other in my entry hall. I ... A: it's not condensation, it's moisture vapor emissions coming from your concrete slab. It can come ... | |
| wet carpet | 8/5/2010 |
| Q: I have noticed small areas of wetness on my carpet one in my hallway the other in my entry hall. I ... A: I could have bet on that. What you have is moisture coming up thru the slab. First, go around ... | |
| Upstairs bathroom flooring | 8/3/2010 |
| Q: I am remodeling an upstairs bathroom. The bathroom is off the master bedroom and over the garage. ... A: There are lots of choices in vinyl-- in tile, strip and sheet. I did some in my home (strip) and no ... | |
| Tiling | 7/29/2010 |
| Q: I have purchased ceramic tiles for shower enclosure - they are bowed and not flat. Are they ok ? ... A: Some reasons for cracks in grout are -- high absorption of tile (if so, tile surface wasn't dampened ... | |
| Tiling | 7/29/2010 |
| Q: I have purchased ceramic tiles for shower enclosure - they are bowed and not flat. Are they ok ? ... A: Bowed tiles are called "warped". If they are warped you will not be able to set them right. The ... | |
| Is this a popular way to fix the squeaky carpet floor? | 7/26/2010 |
| Q: I need to find someone to fix my squeaky carpet floor. From what I read, we may need to remove the ... A: The preferred way would be to get to it from below. But I have had clients do it this way. I ... | |
| brick pattern appearing on linoleum | 7/13/2010 |
| Q: Over the years a brick pattern, darker than the rest of the linoleum, has appeared on one section of ... A: I assume this is sheet vinyl vs linoleum? Are you using a rubber backed kitchen mat in the area? ... | |
| Clean Brazilian Cherry flooring | 7/6/2010 |
| Q: I want to prep a home for sale that has about 2500 sq ft of wood flooring. The house is only 3 ... A: You, or he can try to clean the surface first. But I think your contractor feels the finish will ... | |
| Hard wood floors and sealants | 6/29/2010 |
| Q: I looked into things like liseen oil and carab wax but I'm affraid that the sent of those might ... A: The website shows Bona products-- and lots to choose from. I don't know what you mean by ... | |
| laminate | 6/28/2010 |
| Q: Is the Quick Step laminate "Perspective" collection considered a decent laminate flooring (we have ... A: Laminate is sometimes sold as a bullet proof floor-- but it has it's limitation. It can scratch-- ... | |
| longiveity of carpet | 6/28/2010 |
| Q: I LOVE carpet for it's warmth, softness, quietness and the fact I only have to vacuum and then get ... A: Good carpet can last 10 years and beyond. I don't know anyone (except tenant finish) that replaces ... | |
| New Construction - Carpeting | 6/23/2010 |
| Q: I moved into my apartment (new construction) two months ago. A couple of weeks ago I started feeling ... A: This is just wierd. Could it be the pad? Could they have used a very cheap pad that is already ... | |
| bruce wear master | 6/22/2010 |
| Q: call if you can what is the best product to apply to bruce wear master for a strong nonskid finish A: If you get on Bruce's site, you can download maintenance procedure for finishing. But, none are ... | |
| cleaning and sealing | 6/8/2010 |
| Q: When I purchased the floor I was told I could purchase "smoke" colored sealant to put on the seams ... A: here is the maintanence manual for this product -- and info on cleaner. The contact info on the ... | |
| refinishing softwood floor | 5/20/2010 |
| Q: We need to refinish a pine floor in a very high traffic area (our family room). It's beautiful 10-14 ... A: A lot of times people assume that just cause a product has an odor it is toxic. So without seeing ... | |
| Exterior installation of Porcelain Tile | 5/17/2010 |
| Q: We would like to install a porcelain tile on our veranda and screen porch -- both areas are exposed ... A: When shopping for tile, ask for product that is freeze/thaw resistant and made for exterior use. As ... | |
| cork flooring | 5/9/2010 |
| Q: My house is on a slab. I have carpet that will be taken off - has been there 35 years. Underneath ... A: Depending on the age of your home, there is a possibility that your tile is contains asbestos if ... | |
| flooring at my work | 5/3/2010 |
| Q: My name is June i work at Butchie's Pool here in Yuba City. As a Aquatic instructor It is a warm ... A: Pine Sol does not create mold. But most vinyl flooring co's want a ph neutral cleaner. That is ... | |
| Glue down Engineered Hardwood on top of VCT tile | 5/3/2010 |
| Q: I have VCT tile on the floor of two rooms in my basement. I want to put down engineered wood. I ... A: Check with the manufacturer of the wood for their guidelines. I have done this, and you'll find the ... | |
| waterseal | 5/2/2010 |
| Q: what is the best way to prevent water or other liquid from passing through flooring to lower ceiling ... A: As my post said, there are products that will not allow water to pass thru the floor-- such as a ... | |
| waterseal | 4/29/2010 |
| Q: what is the best way to prevent water or other liquid from passing through flooring to lower ceiling ... A: You have to understand that water will travel till it finds a path. So if you have a water proof ... | |
| Deck tileing | 4/27/2010 |
| Q: I have above ground deck,partially covered. would like to cover with tile. right now framing is ... A: You would get something that is freeze/thaw resistant. I would be concerned about the weight of ... | |
| Carpet Padding on Stairs | 4/25/2010 |
| Q: Just had carpet installed on my stairs. The installer did not wrap the pad over the lip of each ... A: It might-- hard to say without seeing it. If it's creating something abraisive as the foot goes ... | |
| Slate flooring | 4/23/2010 |
| Q: Do I need to add a sub floor if I am putting slate in the front entrance of a 2-storey house? The ... A: it depends on the thickness of the existing sub floor. Have the dealer ask the manufacturer for ... | |
| bathroom floor | 4/15/2010 |
| Q: I have laminated a photo collage that I would like to make as the bathroom floor. Currently under ... A: All laminate flooring's enemy is water. Get enough of it on there and it will start to react. You ... | |
| Hardwood Floor | 4/12/2010 |
| Q: I plan to purchase a house built in 1969 and install hardwood floor throughout. I am wondering if ... A: There is nothing inherently toxic in a hardwood floor. If the child is vry sensitive to dust and ... | |
| Allure Flooring | 4/9/2010 |
| Q: I recently submitted this same question to the "group" and Perry answered it - and did a fine job. ... A: All that Alure or Depot will address are manufacturing defects. You have an insurance claim and ... | |
| mannington vinyl | 4/2/2010 |
| Q: Can Flexitec Majestic venturi embossed vinyl be laid over a poured cement floor in a basement ... A: I was unable to get a lot of info on the net. But -- first you should have a moisture test done ... | |
| kitchen flooring | 3/20/2010 |
| Q: I asked you about replacing my 13 year old kitchen carpet with carpet and you didn't recommend it. ... A: I don't know who originally told you not to do carpet in the kitchen. Your question went into the ... | |
| Smooth engineered hardwood floor | 3/15/2010 |
| Q: We are replacing 750 sq. ft. of flooring (kitchen, liv., rm. and hallway) that was damaged by water. ... A: No, thickness is the width of the plank. I did notice they do not call out their wear layer -- but ... | |
| carpet cushion | 3/15/2010 |
| Q: I ran into some cushion I never heard of,probably not made anymore. It's called Healthguard ... A: If you have water damage, it's not common to keep the pad. It would have to be minimal damage. I ... | |
| Smooth engineered hardwood floor | 3/14/2010 |
| Q: We are replacing 750 sq. ft. of flooring (kitchen, liv., rm. and hallway) that was damaged by water. ... A: I don't agree that the handscraped product is more durable. Why would they say that? The matt ... | |
| splintering timber floor | 3/11/2010 |
| Q: i have a timber floor which is splintering everywhere. the splinters are huge and would cause ... A: Here is a short list: Failure to provide expansion space, subfloor movement, damp mopping, improper ... | |
| Bamboo Flooring | 2/26/2010 |
| Q: Carol, I see you live in Colo. as do me and my husband. I also saw an answer you postd with regard ... A: I did a vinyl plank floor in my kitchen-- and many commercial projects. I would revisit the site ... | |
| Bamboo Flooring | 2/26/2010 |
| Q: Carol, I see you live in Colo. as do me and my husband. I also saw an answer you postd with regard ... A: There have been a lot of bamboo failures due to the low humidity in CO, everywhere in fact -- but in ... | |
| Dura tile? | 2/26/2010 |
| Q: ..What is the difference between dura tile and ceramic tile. I realize that one is harder than the ... A: Dura Tile or Dura Stone? Dura Tile is similar to ceramic, durastone is a vinyl. There are trade ... | |
| Advantages & disadvantages of different floor finishing materials? | 2/26/2010 |
| Q: Respected Sir, I am a first year Btech student. Sir, i have doubt about "Advantages %26 ... A: First, we don't do homework. But I will guide you. Some of your catagories are redundant. PVC is ... | |
| quick step laminate how good is their guarantee | 2/22/2010 |
| Q: sorry this question is a bit long winded but here goes. i installed Quick step perspective wenge ... A: Well if they find it's moisture related (the inspector will conduct a non -invasive test) the ... | |
| quick step laminate how good is their guarantee | 2/22/2010 |
| Q: sorry this question is a bit long winded but here goes. i installed Quick step perspective wenge ... A: No, it's not a waste of time. You are following the proper procedure for claims. Laminates do ... | |
| flooring advice | 2/19/2010 |
| Q: I have an enclosed back porch, (with waist-high-wall and glass windows on 2 sides of the porch), ... A: I used to be the factory rep for www.lonseal.com. They have a great product called LonDeck-- ... | |
| Nafco Crestview Plank wood vinyl floor | 2/12/2010 |
| Q: I had a custom home built and had Nafco Crestview Plank vinyl wood floor installed. The floor is ... A: That would be considered grade. Moisture related flooring issues are almost always on concrete. ... | |
| Nafco Crestview Plank wood vinyl floor | 2/12/2010 |
| Q: I had a custom home built and had Nafco Crestview Plank vinyl wood floor installed. The floor is ... A: Is this installed over plywood or concrete slab? On, below or above grade? Sounds like a ... | |
| durastone luxury tile | 2/6/2010 |
| Q: my dura floor is wearing down,is there a way to reshine and clean the dirt marks (seal and wax ... A: http://www.congoleum.com/care.html This is DuraFloor's recommended maintenance. They recommend ... | |
| flooring over radiant heat | 2/5/2010 |
| Q: I'm considering using sheet vinyl flooring over radiant heat (in bathroom) but I'm concerned that ... A: Oh they absolutely will be forthright about this. If it could cause harm it would be a hideous ... | |
| FHA carpet rquirement | 2/3/2010 |
| Q: The FHA states that carpet installed has to conform to UM44C-78. However, the search engine on the ... A: The doc is in HUD. I assume you are a retailer? This might help. ... | |
| soft whide wood for flooring- how to keep it nice? | 2/2/2010 |
| Q: Carol. Thank You for volunteering here we live in this house for 7 years.we had do sand and strip it ... A: You have some sort of bond breaker there. Did you apply a sealer to the paint or just paint? Was ... | |
| Termites in engineered bamboo flooring | 1/20/2010 |
| Q: I recently discovered drywood termites in my second story engineered wood bamboo flooring. I laid it ... A: Well if the manufacturer was caught by customs with infested boards-- they would be forced to ... | |
| Termites in engineered bamboo flooring | 1/19/2010 |
| Q: I recently discovered drywood termites in my second story engineered wood bamboo flooring. I laid it ... A: First are you sure it's termites? The group that most often hits bamboo is the false power post ... | |
| Bella Wood Flooring on concrete | 1/17/2010 |
| Q: Carol- Could you tell me if it's ok to install Bella wood flooring on a unheated concrete floor on ... A: Well here is the problem. There is a range that the area in temperature that needs to be ... | |
| flooring | 1/17/2010 |
| Q: In 2005, our Church was hit by both Hurricanes Francis and Jeanne...it sent our steeple through the ... A: First there is no reason to accept that horrid installation. You can hire an independent inspector ... | |
| non-glue vinyl flooring | 1/12/2010 |
| Q: Need advice on flooring for travel trailer parked outside. Temperatures range from minus 30F to over ... A: I do not know the manufacturer of the tiles but I doubt this is within recommended temp range. You ... | |
| Tile Floor | 1/10/2010 |
| Q: We purchased a Townhome in 2003. We had ceramic tiles installed on the first floor of the Townhome. ... A: I think it's installation related. There should be "soft" joints around all perimeter walls. It ... | |
| Flooring | 1/8/2010 |
| Q: My five month old sheet vainly flooring was glued on its entire surface has developed a bubble that ... A: Did they do a moisture test prior to install? This is a reaction consistant with moisture vapor ... | |
| vinyl planks and Class 1 flame spread | 1/7/2010 |
| Q: The IBC requires public exit ways to have flooring that meets a Class 1 (or Class A) Flame Spread. ... A: The test for Class A and Class 1 are very different. One is really a flamespread rating for wall ... | |
| laminate OR hardwood | 1/2/2010 |
| Q: can you offer some help whether we choose laminate or hardwood flooring for our formal sitting ... A: I have a bias as I am not a fan of laminate. Laminate is often oversold by retailers. Laminate ... | |
| wooden floor | 12/19/2009 |
| Q: What is causing a solid wooden floor to separate and what is the sollution A: Floors expand and contract with seasonal changes, especially solid hardwood, which is less ... | |
| Bamboo flooring | 12/12/2009 |
| Q: I ve got bamboo flooring on insolation...I paid a lot for it but I live in montreal and the cold ... A: Wood floors expand and contract with seasonal change. We are now in the heating season, and this is ... | |
| Reducer Strips | 12/11/2009 |
| Q: I am in need of replacement rubber reducer strips for either side of a threshold in a retirement ... A: A company like Roppe has a full line of reducer strips. ... | |
| pergo floor | 12/5/2009 |
| Q: I own a ranch house and my kitchen is long it has a dinette area then half a wall seperating the ... A: The two types of floors are perfectly fine-- separating wall or not. I have seen it done many ... | |
| moisture in floor | 12/4/2009 |
| Q: we have an installation of vinyl flooring in a customers home that failed.the customer had a leak ... A: Your customer may not want to hear it but it sounds like a moisture related issue to me. ... | |
| Lifting Tiles | 12/3/2009 |
| Q: Our house is only 4 years old and some of our tiles have lifted. The other night I heard a ... A: It may or may not be a foundation problem. I am assuming the tiles are ceramic or porcelin vs ... | |
| Undersized Laminate Planks | 12/2/2009 |
| Q: I recently purchased some Homelegend laminate flooring at Home Depot. During the installation I ... A: Often the manufacturer will call out the dimension as "nominal", which usually means slightly less. ... | |
| tile flooring | 11/29/2009 |
| Q: We are building a new beach house on the Gulf Coast which is being built 12 feet above ground on ... A: Micheal put your question into the question pool. There are sevreal ways to handle expansion-- a ... | |
| 9X9 PARQUET FLOORING | 11/27/2009 |
| Q: CAN SOME PIECES OF 9X9 PARQUET FLOORING BE TAKEN UP & REPLACED. A: Of course. As long as you have some attic stock. Its no different than any other wood or laminate ... | |
| glued down wood floor is popping | 11/25/2009 |
| Q: We had prefinished hardwood installed on the first floor of our townhome, which is on a slab. The ... A: If you are regluing the floor-- we need to find out why. Does the entire plank come up, or does the ... | |
| tile floor used in 1939 Dutch Colonial bathroom | 11/24/2009 |
| Q: We are trying to take our 1939 brick Dutch Colonial back to the way it was built, i.e. the bathroom ... A: If you look at the link there was an example of Dutch Colonial. Time made very little difference in ... | |
| slanted concrete entryway floor | 11/21/2009 |
| Q: We have a slanted concrete slab floor in the basement entryway, which is the most used entry to the ... A: Vinyl is probably the only thing that will be forgiving enough for your slope. This is an entry, so ... | |
| tile over a deck? is it possible? | 11/21/2009 |
| Q: I have a cedar deck, stands aprox 8 feet over a back door entry way. Central NJ.It is very solid, ... A: Download their install manual. It's huge, a real CYA kind of doc, but it will cover everything you ... | |
| Bathroom floor tile | 11/13/2009 |
| Q: We bought our house a year ago and the guest bathroom had been remodeled about 5 years prior. The ... A: ok-- so what that tells us is the floor is sealed as it didn't absorb the water. But with shoes ... | |
| Bathroom floor tile | 11/13/2009 |
| Q: We bought our house a year ago and the guest bathroom had been remodeled about 5 years prior. The ... A: Test the floor and grout to see that it is sealed. The quickest way to do that is the water bead ... | |
| Unknown Hardwood Floor Coating | 11/11/2009 |
| Q: I live in a gut-rehab condo building for four years in Chicago. The developer did not use high-end ... A: Vinegar and water is a good overall cleaner. Very very little water. Moisture is hardwood's enemy. ... | |
| what to use to fill and level grout joints | 11/10/2009 |
| Q: I am wanting to install laminate flooring over my existing ceramic tile floor but need to fill and ... A: Use a self leveling compound from co's like Ardex, Maipei and many others. Pay attention to their ... | |
| tile over a deck? is it possible? | 11/10/2009 |
| Q: I have a cedar deck, stands aprox 8 feet over a back door entry way. Central NJ.It is very solid, ... A: I would worry about weight. There is a vinyl product I have used that will waterproof, is long ... | |
| Defective carpet... | 11/10/2009 |
| Q: I purchased and had installed from a leading home improvement store beginning with an "L" what I ... A: It's called delamination-- the glue that bonds the primary to secondary back. The manufacturer ... | |
| cupped and buckled engineered floor | 11/5/2009 |
| Q: My engineered wood flooring is cupped and buckled. It is in various spots in the dining rm and ... A: I'm sorry to be dense- but did he do the test with the meter before the install-- or as in your ... | |
| cupped and buckled engineered floor | 11/5/2009 |
| Q: My engineered wood flooring is cupped and buckled. It is in various spots in the dining rm and ... A: If the reading is done-- after the fact-- after the problem occured-- it's on their nickel. Did you ... | |
| cupped and buckled engineered floor | 11/5/2009 |
| Q: My engineered wood flooring is cupped and buckled. It is in various spots in the dining rm and ... A: If this installation is on slab and the contractor didn't test for moisture-- it should be on their ... | |
| flooring | 11/3/2009 |
| Q: wondering what hard wood flooring goes with rough ceader walls A: Depends on the rest of the house. I have rough cedar walls and went with a Mannington maple that is ... | |
| how to remove glue residue/dust? | 11/2/2009 |
| Q: We have a mess at our home..we recently had bamboo floors put down on our concrete slab, a wood glue ... A: yes, they will walk from the job. Or, some will tell them they'll supply product but not install ... | |
| how to remove glue residue/dust? | 11/2/2009 |
| Q: We have a mess at our home..we recently had bamboo floors put down on our concrete slab, a wood glue ... A: First, vinyl will react just as hardwood to moisture. It will -- as we call in the field -- blow ... | |
| how to remove glue residue/dust? | 11/2/2009 |
| Q: We have a mess at our home..we recently had bamboo floors put down on our concrete slab, a wood glue ... A: First, if the installer didn't check for moisture prior to installation on your slab--he should be ... | |
| mexican tile sealing | 10/28/2009 |
| Q: I have just resealed my Mexican tile with an OIL based sealer, as I have always done. This time in a ... A: There is something that has been a bond breaker, orcould be lime "pops" coming from the tile itself. ... | |
| DOG URINE | 10/27/2009 |
| Q: Please advise. I have two dogs that have soiled an area of my bedroom 6 month old carpet. My ... A: Vinegar does neutralize the urine. But I totally do not recommend putting this on for a few hours. ... | |
| 3/4 | 10/23/2009 |
| Q: is it possible to get a sub floor so hot with a heat gun that it will fall apart? ANSWER: It might ... A: Like I said, its very possible the hot gun melted the glues in the plywood. Your subfloor could be ... | |
| pet odor | 10/21/2009 |
| Q: We are planning to install laminate flooring, but before I'd like to get rid off odor from at least ... A: There shouldn't be a long wait after putting the vinegar on the concrete. I'd just wait a day. As ... | |
| pet odor | 10/20/2009 |
| Q: We are planning to install laminate flooring, but before I'd like to get rid off odor from at least ... A: I would try vinegar on the urine. Urine is acidic and the vinegar should neutralize it. There are ... | |
| Tile Floor | 10/16/2009 |
| Q: Can you lay tile flooring over an old tile floor? Small Bathroom 4x6 Thanks A: i assume you mean old ceramic vs vinyl. Yes, you can The existing floor should be sound, no ... | |
| Tile | 10/15/2009 |
| Q: I have 900 sq. feet of 18x18 tiles and have had recurring issues with hollow tiles and cracks in my ... A: It is completely incorrect that the installer is telling you this is a cosmetic issue only. That ... | |
| Installing Marble floor | 10/15/2009 |
| Q: I am planning on installing marble flooring in my bathroom. My bathroom is very small and will only ... A: The manufacturer will have a suggested subfloor thickness. So, if it's 3/4" and you have a 1/4" you ... | |
| type of flooring over radiant heat | 10/13/2009 |
| Q: What is the best type of flooring to put over radiant heat? Is a floating floor best? Is bamboo ... A: You should review manufacturer specs to make sure the product is ok for radiant heat. you can use ... | |
| jute carpet on laminate floor | 10/12/2009 |
| Q: I had laminate floor installed in my livingroom and dining room last April. I bought 2 natural jute ... A: Good Luck! You will need to push the dealer on this. They need to file a claim and do the follow ... | |
| jute carpet on laminate floor | 10/12/2009 |
| Q: I had laminate floor installed in my livingroom and dining room last April. I bought 2 natural jute ... A: People use area rugs over laminate all the time. There has to be something in that rug that is ... | |
| floor care | 10/11/2009 |
| Q: I'd like to steam clean my new DuraStone floor but I'm not sure if it's considered a sealed surface. ... A: According to the Congoleum website, the floor is not nor should be sealed. The recommended cleaning ... | |
| Rolled Ruber instalation | 10/10/2009 |
| Q: I am getting ready to install 3500 sq. feet of rolled rubber flooring for a new doggie daycare. Do ... A: I am surprised the sales person gave you so little information. Rubber floors should have a field ... | |
| Creaking engineered wood flooring | 10/8/2009 |
| Q: Live in North East UK and our engineering wood flooring (oak) has been creaking (getting worse) ... A: Yes it could. Wood's biggest enemy is hardwood. The installer however should have checked the home ... | |
| Vinyl floor in bathroom... | 10/7/2009 |
| Q: We just bought a brand new home built in 2009. I have just found a spot in the bathroom where the ... A: What you have is probably moisture coming from the tub going under the vinyl. You should call the ... | |
| carpet repair | 10/6/2009 |
| Q: my tenant spilled some hot candle wax on my year old carpet. It seeped through the carpet to the ... A: Your question was sent to the question pool. This is Carol. First try to repair it yourself. ... | |
| PET carpet issues | 10/5/2009 |
| Q: It looks great but as soon as there is any foot traffic it a lot of loose fibers mat up and form ... A: What kind of vacuum are you using? Some vac's -- and some very expensive vac's can create problems ... | |
| Creaky Raised Wood Floor in Florida | 10/4/2009 |
| Q: I recently purchased a 1957 concrete block house that sits on a slope. The whole house is raised up ... A: It sounds like a subfloor issue. We recently purchased a home in GA, and found that we had wood ... | |
| porcelain tile installation | 10/3/2009 |
| Q: So we're going to be installing porcelain tiles on my kitchen floor. I was wondering if it would be ... A: It probably isn't necessary. Do you have a wood or concrete subfloor? With wood there is almost ... | |
| laminate under cabinets | 10/1/2009 |
| Q: We are redoing the kitchen. Is it better to lay the floating laminate flooring under the cabinets ... A: Typically people do not install laminate under the cabinets. It creates height issues. And, if ... | |
| carpet protecting that stays on stairs that are already covered with wall-to-wall carpeting | 9/30/2009 |
| Q: My problem is finding protection for my stairs that have already been covered with wall-to-wall ... A: Carpet on stairs is a real problem. And carpet manufacturers usually exclude stairs from wear ... | |
| water damaged pergo to be replaced by vinyl stick tiles | 9/24/2009 |
| Q: My dishwasher broke and water flooded my kitchen floor. I have pergo flooring in the home. Needless ... A: Taking up the pergo should be easy, its installed as a floating floor- meaning its not glued all ... | |
| Removel of 1982 sheet vinyl w/ black adh. | 9/23/2009 |
| Q: I got different answers about weather 1982 they still made abestos backing.One said 1986 and earlier ... A: To the best of my knowledge, asbestos was used in glues (black cutback) and tile-- when VAT became ... | |
| Engineered Wood Flooring | 9/22/2009 |
| Q: We have asphalt tile over a concrete floor and want to put down Handscraped Engineered Wood Flooring ... A: Work with the hardwood manufacturer to determine which glue and installation method is recommended. ... | |
| floor prep over commercial tile | 9/21/2009 |
| Q: KevinWe have commercial tile on the floor in our office and control room at our water treatment ... A: Your question was sent to the question pool. This is Carol Porcelain or ceramic tile is very ... | |
| Vitrified tiles | 9/13/2009 |
| Q: I have seen vitrified tiles in India, they look like Granite but are a cheaper option. Can you tell ... A: Vitrified is defined as a reduction in porosity of a ceramic composition as a result of heat ... | |
| what is DuraStone? | 9/13/2009 |
| Q: I'm interested in buying DuraStone HPF for my kitchen and bathroom. How does this product affect ... A: When people ask me about enviro issue-- my best advice is to first, choose a long lasting product. ... | |
| Carpet steps to wood steps | 9/10/2009 |
| Q: My carpeted stairs in my home are 22 years old and the carpet is tearing up in places from ... A: If what you have seen is in good condition, probably all of it is. The carpet has been protecting ... | |
| Flooring over vinyl tiles | 9/8/2009 |
| Q: I would like to put some new flooring in my basement. I believe the old vinyl tiles may contain ... A: If your floor was put down prior to the 70's -- it most likely does contain asbestos. If you think ... | |
| old bathroom tile | 9/7/2009 |
| Q: I have a house built in the early 1900's and the bathrooms are the small white and black ... A: Your tile and grout need to be sealed to ease maintanence. Any tile center can recommend a good ... | |
| floors | 9/1/2009 |
| Q: 13 years ego,my cement floors were cover with rugs. Can I put a linoleum on top of the old rugs? or ... A: I assume you mean wall to wall carpet vs rugs -- which are area rugs. Yes, the previous carpet ... | |
| Different Floor Stains, Same space | 9/1/2009 |
| Q: My home has nice oak flooring done in a light finish with darker golden undertones (on the entire ... A: Its another subjective choice. Having hardwood in good condition will help resale value. Certainly ... | |
| Different Floor Stains, Same space | 9/1/2009 |
| Q: My home has nice oak flooring done in a light finish with darker golden undertones (on the entire ... A: From that view it does look dark. Its really a matter of taste. I have seen darks and lights ... | |
| tiles on flat concrete roof | 8/28/2009 |
| Q: i would like to know if its a good idea to put tiles on a flat roof for our home.the rof is about ... A: There are tiles that can be used exterior, and withstand freeze/thaws without cracking. However the ... | |
| Hardwood Floor shrinking | 8/25/2009 |
| Q: we are having a terrible time with our oak floor. We purchased it from a big box store last July and ... A: First, you purchased from the big box, not the manufacturer. The Big Box is the the manufacture's ... | |
| swuare vinyl flooring | 8/13/2009 |
| Q: I What happens when ceramic tile is set on square vinyl tile. Custom building products says I can ... A: The problem is that the tile can adhere well now, but in the future start to come off the floor. ... | |
| swuare vinyl flooring | 8/11/2009 |
| Q: I What happens when ceramic tile is set on square vinyl tile. Custom building products says I can ... A: The reason he is telling you this is because the adhesion of the ceramic will be as good as the ... | |
| vinyl tile flooring | 8/3/2009 |
| Q: I would like to install vinyl floor tiles in my kitchen. Could you recommend a product to go ... A: Yes!! There are many options for you. There are cushioned back goods. And cushioned or cork ... | |
| Laminated wood flooring | 8/1/2009 |
| Q: I am wanting to install laminated wood flooring in my living room, dining room and kitchen (all ... A: You can probably go either way. Tie it in with the area rug and other furnishings. Nothing needs ... | |
| Hollow Sounding Tiles | 7/29/2009 |
| Q: I have problem of Hollow sounding tiles (Randomly but about 10% of overall area) in our property. ... A: Its an ANSI Standard for Installation. Most if all not manufacturers of ceramic tile follow ANSI or ... | |
| Matching hardwood floors | 7/23/2009 |
| Q: We have hardwood floors now and want to install more in the bedroom...however...our present floors ... A: There is no rule that says everything must match. Pay attention to the profile of the floor, ... | |
| Engineered harwood with two dogs | 7/20/2009 |
| Q: I want replace the carpet in three rooms(family room, dining and office) with wood floors. I have ... A: You should go with a wood that is very high rating on the Janka Hardness test. (google it for more ... | |
| old wood floor buckled | 7/7/2009 |
| Q: I have a rental property that the hardwood floor on the living room, kitchen and dining room had ... A: I am doubtful that a 4" buckle will go back to normal. You could also have moisture still under the ... | |
| flooring | 7/6/2009 |
| Q: I am moving into a pre-1920's home that has original pine hardwood floors. The floors have been ... A: The squeaks could be coming from the subfloor vs the flooring. Call in a contractor to give you a ... | |
| vinyl no wax tile | 7/5/2009 |
| Q: My sister waxed our new vinyl no wax tile floor. We've spent weeks trying to restore it to its ... A: You're going to have to find the stripper for the product your sister used. But be careful, some of ... | |
| Tile installed over cushioned vinyl | 7/3/2009 |
| Q: A few months ago I dealt with a flooring company who installed ceramic tile without first removing ... A: It really doesn't matter which manufacturer. All tile should be installed by the National Tile ... | |
| levelling a floor before laminate installation | 7/1/2009 |
| Q: my bathroom floor has a 3-inch difference,wall-to-wall, with peaks and valleys in-between. 60 sq. ... A: The added weight is an issue. I cannot answer this genericaly. I don't know the psi of your floor. ... | |
| What is causing mildew smell and wet carpet? | 6/30/2009 |
| Q: I live on ground level 2 story apt and when I run my AC (central air)my carpet gets wet by the floor ... A: yes mildew/mold is a health issue. It can be a huge issue. Don't dismiss this.; You haven't ... | |
| Underlayment specs - Vinyl self-stick tile over concrete | 6/26/2009 |
| Q: I bought quite a bit of 4"x 36" plank self-stick tile. The manufacturer requires clean, level, ... A: That is unusual and un-necessary for a 1st floor unit. But, I guess they have to be comsistant to ... | |
| Tile installed over cushioned vinyl | 6/25/2009 |
| Q: A few months ago I dealt with a flooring company who installed ceramic tile without first removing ... A: Not good. The ceramic tile council handbook requires a solid substate. If they installed over non ... | |
| Linoleum under tile | 6/24/2009 |
| Q: I recently asked one of your experts about cork flooring that was incorrectly installed. I was very ... A: Well you are going to knock them out of the park when/if you go to court. You havea right as a ... | |
| Linoleum under tile | 6/23/2009 |
| Q: I recently asked one of your experts about cork flooring that was incorrectly installed. I was very ... A: Your picture didn't come through. So please let me know the issue. Is it linoleum or sheet ... | |
| hardwood buckle-separation | 6/23/2009 |
| Q: I've been contracting for 20+ years. Did a GC job for a friend (big mistake). I renovated an ... A: There are a lot of things that could contribute to this. Moisture is woods enemy. Its my #1 ... | |
| Travertine over ceramic | 6/22/2009 |
| Q: I have a 15 x 15 master bathroom 2nd floor with ceramic 8" tiles that is in good shape. I recently ... A: Yes you can install tile over tile. You will have to be sure all sealers are off the material and ... | |
| konecto flooring style "Bali 80050" | 6/19/2009 |
| Q: What are the planks made of,are they glue based,or vinyl,or wood? A: Konecto is part of Metroflor, all their products are solid vinyl. In reviewing their website, it ... | |
| Trying to find replacement ceramic tile | 6/18/2009 |
| Q: My wife and I moved into a newly constructed home in December of 2007. One of the items on our punch ... A: Companies discontinue tiles for more reasons than poor sellers. They may drop the product because ... | |
| Ceramic Tile | 6/17/2009 |
| Q: My Wife and I bought 18x18 ceramic tile, it was being stored in a "dry" warehouse, when we purchased ... A: That black stuff is probably mold-- and it does leave an odor. I would be careful-- some black ... | |
| Attic sub-flooring | 6/16/2009 |
| Q: I have an attic over a garage. Currently the flooring is as such - Joists, 16"oc and diagonal 2*6s ... A: So I am reading this right-- there is currently no subfloor- I originally thought there was plywood ... | |
| Attic sub-flooring | 6/15/2009 |
| Q: I have an attic over a garage. Currently the flooring is as such - Joists, 16"oc and diagonal 2*6s ... A: You can probably just lay the plywood on top, make sure the seams run perpendicular. You want it to ... | |
| hardwood floors | 6/12/2009 |
| Q: i just purchased a new apt in west palm beach i need to put hardwood floors in the bedrooms, i want ... A: There are a lot of considerations here. Its like when people ask, "what is the best floor"-- there ... | |
| Flooring Glue | 6/11/2009 |
| Q: I just bought a house and ripped out all the laminate flooring out (all 4 layers) and they used 3 ... A: You could rent a floor sander. There is always a chance the glue (especially if you are saying ... | |
| aspestic tile in basement? | 6/10/2009 |
| Q: We had a fridge go bad in our basement. The rotten juices spilled out of freezer and onto ... A: Yes, this tile is more absorbant. Asbestos as it is, is not a health hazard, but once you start ... | |
| aspestic tile in basement? | 6/10/2009 |
| Q: We had a fridge go bad in our basement. The rotten juices spilled out of freezer and onto ... A: Do you mean asbestos? VCT (vinyl composition tile-- without asbestos) or VAT (vinyl asbestos tile) ... | |
| Laminate Floor Underlay | 6/9/2009 |
| Q: I am installing 12mm laminate flooring with a 2mm attached underlay. Will the 2mm underlay provide ... A: Who's laminate/underlay is it? I can review their specs and get you an answer. Most likely, if its ... | |
| Floating an engineered wood floor | 6/5/2009 |
| Q: My wife an I are struggling with a purchase. A very reputable hardwood shop we have used before ... A: THe only answer I can honestly give you is the textbook answer. The National Wood Flooring Assoc -- ... | |
| Floating an engineered wood floor | 6/5/2009 |
| Q: My wife an I are struggling with a purchase. A very reputable hardwood shop we have used before ... A: As an independent inspector I can tell you if you do not follow manufacturer guidelines you have ... | |
| Floating an engineered wood floor | 6/3/2009 |
| Q: My wife an I are struggling with a purchase. A very reputable hardwood shop we have used before ... A: Yes, you can use an pre engineered floor on slab. You can even use pre engineered on slab below ... | |
| Linseed Oil Treated Oak Floor Problem | 6/1/2009 |
| Q: ) I have treated my recently laid beautiful oak floor with linseed oil and whilst most of it soaked ... A: It is not unusual for linseed oil to take weeks to dry-- it may not dry! Especially if you haven't ... | |
| Brands and prices | 6/1/2009 |
| Q: I am purchasing some boxes of tile from a contractor and I just want to know if I'm getting a good ... A: I am not familiar with the brand and I googled it in every combination and couldn't find info. ... | |
| Tile grout cont. | 5/31/2009 |
| Q: I sent you a message earlier, that you replied to. Thank you so much for your reply. I knew that ... A: According to standards, you should have expansion joints at all perimeter walls. It should be a ... | |
| Cracks in grout along tile and baseboards | 5/31/2009 |
| Q: I moved into a new home 1 year ago. I have my one year inspection coming up and have MANY cracks in ... A: Interesting. First, all perimeter walls etc should have expansion joints. I don't see it in your ... | |
| cork vs. DuraCeramic | 5/28/2009 |
| Q: Carol, I have been writing to you, and just now online saw you reply to my 2nd set of questions. So ... A: First, if the issue on your friends cork was installation related, it isn't the fault of the product ... | |
| engineered wood safety | 5/28/2009 |
| Q: I am concerned about the adhesive used to put down a wood flood.......can it be harmful to small ... A: First, a preengineered floor can be floated as well as glued. The glues today are all made ... | |
| Bamboo flooring in colorado | 5/20/2009 |
| Q: We live in Colorado Springs, CO where the humidity is low most of the year. We are interested in ... A: Dryness is only part of the story. Retailers say that but its not true. I live in CO also, and have ... | |
| buckling floor | 5/18/2009 |
| Q: My wood floor buckles very easily when even small amounts of water get on the floor, even though it ... A: yes,have your retailer file a claim with the manufacturer. They can send out an independent ... | |
| kitchen flooring | 5/17/2009 |
| Q: I am stuck in picking out a good kitchen floor. I'm sure that you probably do not want to recommend ... A: There are two types of cork construction, pre-engineered and solid tile. They are all made the ... | |
| scuffed and foot prints on porcelain | 5/17/2009 |
| Q: I recently installed an unpolished porcelain daltile (ERA, in color Arke). my tile lloks scuffed and ... A: This is from the daltile website: Maintenance: Routine maintenance will keep your tile looking new ... | |
| buckling floor | 5/16/2009 |
| Q: My wood floor buckles very easily when even small amounts of water get on the floor, even though it ... A: Was the floor acclimated properly? Proper acclimation means in your living space, not the garage, ... | |
| kitchen flooring | 5/13/2009 |
| Q: I am stuck in picking out a good kitchen floor. I'm sure that you probably do not want to recommend ... A: I love cork. The maintenance is very similar to wood. There are light woods and dark woods, you ... | |
| Buckled wood floorts | 5/11/2009 |
| Q: My wood floors have buckled. They were laid two years ago. Within 2 months they began to buckle in ... A: You don't need a moisture barrier (retarder is the correct word) unless it is necessary. Your ... | |
| Staining Brazilian Cherry | 5/8/2009 |
| Q: Last year we stained 4000sq. ft. of Brazilian cherry flooring. The polly seems to be pulling from ... A: Usually when you don't have a good bond its an issue of contaminates vs letting the stain cure. ... | |
| Hardwood Floors from emeraldfloors.com floating | 5/7/2009 |
| Q: I recently was looking at Engineered Floor from www.emeraldfloors.com . Could you explain the ... A: Get the manufacturer guidelines for moisture and installation. Preengineered flooring is the most ... | |
| commercial carpet specs | 5/4/2009 |
| Q: My church is making plans to replace carpet in the hall of our senior citizen building. Need spec ... A: This is a very big question and sounds easier to answer than it is. First, why are you replacing ... | |
| hickory flooring | 4/30/2009 |
| Q: I want to have unfinished 5" hickory floors installed in my new construction home, however I have ... A: It is true that wider planks can be less dimensionally stable-- but its all in the making. Is this ... | |
| Meritage Wood Flooring | 4/29/2009 |
| Q: I had Meritage Engineered maple installed thoughout my home last summer. During the winter months, ... A: Is it delaminating or "checking"? Checking is areas of raised grains vs delaminating. Is this a ... | |
| What's up with my wood floor? | 4/29/2009 |
| Q: Just pulled up carpet in our 100 year old house to discover two types of boards in the front living ... A: Its not unusual for people to combine different widths, species etc in one room. Ornate details may ... | |
| Steam Mops & Brazilian Hardwoods | 4/25/2009 |
| Q: There are lots of infomercial on TV showing steam mops as a good way to clean hardwoods. If the ... A: Water is the enemy of hardwood floors. I have heard of claims from a Swiftex. I know you aren't ... | |
| concrete floor in basement | 4/24/2009 |
| Q: I am freaking out a bit as it occurs to me that perhaps our concrete basement floor was painted at ... A: When you are talking tiles are you talking vinyl tiles or ceramic? If you are talking ceramic, then ... | |
| concrete floor in basement | 4/22/2009 |
| Q: I am freaking out a bit as it occurs to me that perhaps our concrete basement floor was painted at ... A: It depends. First, as far as lead paint, as long as you don't abraid it, you'll be fine. However ... | |
| Pooling of carpets | 4/20/2009 |
| Q: Can a person sue in Small claim court and win if they a bad case of pooling which the salesman ... A: Probably. In all probability the retailer will resolve the problem with just the threat of court ... | |
| flooring | 4/19/2009 |
| Q: We have a relatively new travel trailer. We opened it up this weekend and discovered that the vinyl ... A: its probably cause its paper backed. cheap stuff. Check out www.lonseal.com. Its a commercial ... | |
| Porcelain over Marble? | 4/19/2009 |
| Q: Will the bonding cement for porcelain tile adhesive to existing marble tile? I was told to either ... A: Chunks out of the marble? Oh for gosh sakes. Tile Council N America Handbook for Tile Installation ... | |
| Carpet to Harwood Floors | 4/18/2009 |
| Q: I live on the first floor of a Condo building and we have concrete floors with carpet, I want to ... A: Just pull it up and go! Make sure you test for moisture as your going over concrete. If you are ... | |
| Plywood Floors | 4/18/2009 |
| Q: We are putting down plywood flooring. My husband has set them in so that the space between them ... A: I have never heard of putting chalk between the boards. Normal dirt particles will not corrode the ... | |
| wood laminate - mildew | 4/15/2009 |
| Q: We have about 1000sf of uninstalled wood laminate, and it has been sitting in the garage for about ... A: If there are experts in restoration and mold, they might be better at answering this. You can also ... | |
| proper procedure for tile install | 4/14/2009 |
| Q: I installed 400 SF of 12" floor tile over 1/4" hardi backer board that was shot down with roofing ... A: I gave you some answers on this. If this is heading to court, hire an independent inspector. ... | |
| proper procedure for tile install | 4/14/2009 |
| Q: Carol, I installed 400 SF of 12" floor tile over 1/4" hardi backer board. That was shot down with ... A: Sadly, they never remember the warnings when they have a failure. Unfortunately, even getting a ... | |
| Re-Installing Hardwood floors | 4/12/2009 |
| Q: I appreciate you taking the time for my question. I have a oak hardwood floor. I have some gaps in ... A: Floors do move with the seasons. Max of 1/8" is not out of spec. Do not caulk, it will pop out as ... | |
| Sand free refinishing? | 4/8/2009 |
| Q: I recently have read good things about a product from Varathane called "Renewal". It is a type of ... A: Its really not a sandless refinishing. Its a coating. Most floors with light wear as you indicate ... | |
| carpetting over a wood deck | 3/31/2009 |
| Q: what are the pros and cons of putting indoor/outdoor carpet over a wood deck? A: Pro is that its inexpensive. Cons include: short lifespan and low quality. The vinyl backing of ... | |
| flooring | 3/30/2009 |
| Q: . further to that... can you perhaps suggest an alternative choice for my large area ?? A: I assume you want to stay with vinyl? A solid luxury vinyl such as Parterre, Centiva, Amtico and ... | |
| PET Mohawk Carpet | 3/30/2009 |
| Q: Hey Carol. We bought a Pulte home and closed mid Dec. We upgraded our pad to the Duet foam pad and ... A: No, PET is not the same as nylon-- that was irresponsible of them to make that statement. Did they ... | |
| flexitec | 3/30/2009 |
| Q: I am replacing carpet because of many stains (old dog) and planning on putting in Flexitec ... A: I have seen this product, I question how authentic the visual is in a large area as you intend to ... | |
| What type of hardwood floors do I have | 3/29/2009 |
| Q: My wife and I bought our first house in a little while ago in Everett, WA and have found hardwood ... A: I am sure the floors are original. In the 50's it was building code to sell a home with a permanent ... | |
| cold weather flooring | 3/27/2009 |
| Q: I live in a cold weather climate where the winters get down to -40. I have an unheated sunroom with ... A: I might have a solution for you. Lonseal (www.lonseal.com) and click to find the LonDeck product. ... | |
| Many cracked tiles in newer home- | 3/26/2009 |
| Q: My home was built in 2001. After several years i noticed that the driveway had more crackes in it ... A: I can't answer about warranties -- as they vary by builder. Are there movement joints in your ... | |
| Laminate Durability | 3/26/2009 |
| Q: I live in the woods. Although it is just my husband and myself with 3 small dogs that reside in ... A: A vinyl product like Parterre would work. As far as installing over existing floor, you probably ... | |
| Laminate Durability | 3/26/2009 |
| Q: I live in the woods. Although it is just my husband and myself with 3 small dogs that reside in ... A: The Parterre product comes in strips, planks just as hardwood-- so removal is not very difficult. ... | |
| Matching wall color & carpet | 3/25/2009 |
| Q: I have dark taupe walls, it almost look gray, what color carpet should I get? This is for my ... A: Well you could go with a light gray, almost off white or white if you want to lighten the room. You ... | |
| TILE OVER HARDWORK | 3/24/2009 |
| Q: CAN YOU TILE OVER HARDWOOD? A: Yes you can. Remember that your installation will be as good as your subfloor-- so make sure the ... | |
| 3/4 | 3/21/2009 |
| Q: We recently had installed a 3/4" red oak floor over a sublfoor tongue and groove plywood that was ... A: Was the wood climatized in your home or at the dealer/installer? The subfloor can be of good ... | |
| coordinating carpets | 3/14/2009 |
| Q: We're buying a home that has off-white carpets throughout main floor, stairs, and basement. We want ... A: This should be very easy to do. Since you are tearing out the upstairs, take a swatch to any ... | |
| leaking travertine stone walls in showers | 3/14/2009 |
| Q: I have a HUGE PROBLEM. We floated the walls with cement over the paper, then used quickset to mount ... A: Most sealers are for stain resistance and water resistant but not a 100% moisture barrier. ... | |
| indoor/outdoor carpeting | 3/8/2009 |
| Q: I would like to put indoor/outdoor carpeting in my garage. Is there anything else made that might ... A: I am sure any retailer will be competitive with that Depot price. Rolls vary by manufacturer but ... | |
| Laminate flooring | 3/5/2009 |
| Q: Our house is about 40 years old and I would like some new flooring. We chose a laminate and had an ... A: Yes there are self leveling compounds. Your installer should have suggested that. However for a ... | |
| high traffic flooring | 3/4/2009 |
| Q: we need flooring for our kitchen and dining room. They are very high traffic areas. With three ... A: I don't know of a coating on laminate that would make it scratch resistant. Basic Coatings makes a ... | |
| prefinished hardwood floor | 3/3/2009 |
| Q: 3 yrs ago we built a new home and installed prefinished Brazilian cherry hardwood floors.we live in ... A: 1/8 inch is not abnormal for this time of year. Floors in winter-- the heating months and lower ... | |
| separation between boards in hardwood floor | 3/2/2009 |
| Q: I have a country plank floor that has separations between some of the boards. Some are up to an ... A: Well then you have abnormal cracks. The separation gets worse in the colder months, not warmer. ... | |
| high traffic flooring | 2/23/2009 |
| Q: we need flooring for our kitchen and dining room. They are very high traffic areas. With three ... A: You are right in being concerned. Ground in dirt in hardwood will accelerate wear. How about a ... | |
| hickory hardwood floor prefinished | 2/23/2009 |
| Q: HOW WELL DOES MANUFACTORED HICKORY HARDWOOD FLOOR DO IN HUMID CONDITIONS prefinished A: Hickory is a alightly less than average dimensionally hardwood. However, engineered wood overall is ... | |
| Hardwood Flooring | 2/22/2009 |
| Q: Planning to put hardwood flooring in my kitchen. Don't know whether to have the wood stained after ... A: From a performace standpoint-- there is no difference. There may be less disruption to the home ... | |
| separation between boards in hardwood floor | 2/21/2009 |
| Q: I have a country plank floor that has separations between some of the boards. Some are up to an ... A: In the winter months planks, especially in a solid floor-- contract. Do not fill those in, nor ... | |
| Plywood subfloor | 2/20/2009 |
| Q: My husband and I want to put tile down on our bathroom floor. the floor has half inch thick plywood ... A: Depending on your room, you could use a leveling compound -- Mapei, Aardex, etc. You could start 4 ... | |
| Tile Floor | 2/19/2009 |
| Q: Four years after building my house, the tile in my hallway began tenting and my cleaning lady almost ... A: This site made me erase my prior answer-- i just wanted to add a follow up. I asked you to contact ... | |
| Tile Floor | 2/18/2009 |
| Q: Four years after building my house, the tile in my hallway began tenting and my cleaning lady almost ... A: Is this vinyl or ceramic tile? Are all areas effected on slab? How is drainage around the house? ... | |
| Plywood subfloor | 2/18/2009 |
| Q: My husband and I want to put tile down on our bathroom floor. the floor has half inch thick plywood ... A: ceramic tile usually requires a 3/4" subfloor. This is to give you a rigid substrate and avoid tile ... | |
| flooring | 2/12/2009 |
| Q: Is it proper to have a laminate flooring in your bedroom and then decide to install pre-finished ... A: There is nothing wrong with what you are planning. Many homes have multiple colors of carpet, ... | |
| travertine floor in kitchen | 2/10/2009 |
| Q: I am having travertine put in my kitchen. When I asked the installer about how they would install ... A: He is probably correct. There is going to be a significant height difference as the dishwasher is ... | |
Flooring and Carpeting
Answers by Expert:
Carol Blaha
Top Expert on this page
Expertise
Flooring questions: Specification, Warranties, Inspections, Product Knowledge, Enviromental Issues
Experience
I have been in the field 25 years, first as a specifier, then retailer and currently manufacturer representative on contract with 8 manufacturers, independent inspector and conduct moisture testing. Founding board member of the CO Chapter, US Green Building Council
Organizations
WFCA (World Floor Covering Association), NTCA (National Tile Council America) SCRT (Society of Cleaning & Restoration Technician), ASTM F60, (Environment) and F06 (Resilient Floor)
Publications
Colorado Real Estate Journal, Smart Buildings
Education/Credentials
MBA, CTC (Certified Tile Consultant), RRT (Carpet Repair & Reinstallation), CCT (Carpet Cleaning Technician, ISSI (Substrate Inspection) and completed coursework for Independent Ceramic Tile Inspector, Hardwood/Laminate Inspector and Senior Carpet Inspector. Scheduled to complete Independent Resilient Inspector in April.
Awards and Honors
Multiple Awards for Salesperson of Year and President's Club
Past/Present Clients
Clients include Fortune Co's to mom and pop
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