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Flooring and Carpeting/Questions Answered by Expert Dave Coil
| Subject | Date Asked |
| subflooring moisture problem | 6/16/2011 |
| Q: 40 year old home in east central Illinois on wooded lot; 1/2" plywood subflooring; prehistoric ... A: I would love to have a visible inspection of this before I render a truely accurate answer, but as ... | |
| Cracks in grout | 6/7/2011 |
| Q: My wife spotted some very thin cracks in the grout on our ceramic tile floor in the kitchen ... A: Sanded grout is for 1/8" or larger joints. You might do better with unsanded grout. It has the ... | |
| laminate flooring warping | 4/26/2011 |
| Q: I had laminate flooring installed throughout my house over tarazzo. The installer put a black vapor ... A: This is information of a delicate type. I imagine you have air/moisture intrusion from an outside ... | |
| laminate flooring warping | 4/24/2011 |
| Q: I had laminate flooring installed throughout my house over tarazzo. The installer put a black vapor ... A: Warping is not always a moisture issue. Sometimes it is expansion. Edges can get compressed an ... | |
| Laminate flooring | 3/15/2011 |
| Q: I am a fellow expert and I know these sorts of questions can be hard to answer, but I will ask ... A: If you want a quality floor....stay away from Laminates. If you want the look of wood...go with ... | |
| replacing broken tiles in new kitchen | 2/28/2011 |
| Q: I have a new kitchen going in The tile was going to remain but there are a few broken pieces that ... A: Do you have tile under the refrigerator..or stove??? Not the average place to look, but a great ... | |
| hardwood floor finishing | 2/20/2011 |
| Q: Construction is nearly completed on my new home. We installed wide plank rift/quartered select grade ... A: I would assume that Poly is Poly. But to answer the other part...Poly is NOT a hard surface. It is ... | |
| Gap between planks | 2/6/2011 |
| Q: ....I'm hoping you can give me some direction with a problem which arose during my DIY laying of an ... A: YOu did not mention the manner of installation. If a glue down, a nail down or both. If glue ... | |
| Fllooring options | 2/5/2011 |
| Q: My friend is interested in a new floor. She prefers vinyl, but she has steps to the lower level of ... A: Caution is always up front with stairs. A very high traffic situation. Tile..or Solid wood ... | |
| wooden strip flooring | 1/20/2011 |
| Q: Hope you can help. I have wooden strip flooring in my house. We are removing some walls to create ... A: Sometimes..the strips are not glued or nailed...and you would be able to lift them slightly and ... | |
| Flooring beneath tub | 1/15/2011 |
| Q: My house is 10-12 years old. Each time I move in the shower the floor under the tub squeeks badly. I ... A: The best option...cut a hole in the ceiling...then 3 holes...be enough for your fist....and then you ... | |
| Painting Linoleum/vinyl floor | 1/3/2011 |
| Q: My wife and I are considering painting a linoleum/vinyl floor in our kitchen. My largest question ... A: With the temperature variances...lino does shrink and expand...minutely. If you paint in the heat ... | |
| stone surround for fireplace | 12/22/2010 |
| Q: I would like to install travertine stone surround for my gas fireplace. It will be attached to ... A: You cannot have a combustable substance within 12" of any fireplace opening. Plywood is out. Type ... | |
| porceline tile | 12/1/2010 |
| Q: Bathroom with O.K.'d porcelain tile on floor and walls. Walls and floor tiles are straight, some ... A: It would be rude of me to talk bad about a man that has 50 yrs experience. I can only say...If you ... | |
| installing duraceramic over brick pavers | 11/30/2010 |
| Q: We have a brick paver surface (25 yrs old) in our kit., dining area & utility room, all rooms flow ... A: I would assume that after 25 years...it is a stable as its going to get. As long as you can clean ... | |
| WilsonArt Flooring buckling | 11/18/2010 |
| Q: Have had my floor for ten years and now it is buckling in the traffic path. How do I repair it ... A: First thing...contact a WilsonArt Dealer. Some of the products have lifetime guarantees. They ... | |
| transition strip | 11/15/2010 |
| Q: My bro-in-law owns a couple of dairy queen stores and at one of his stores he has a ceramic floor ... A: There are rubber transitions. From lino to carpet...it about 1/4" high. You can trim it to fit up ... | |
| laminate | 10/11/2010 |
| Q: About 6 months ago we had laminate installed throughout the house. Now we have problems throughout ... A: I try to tell EVERYBODY about this. Laminates are second to the worst product available. This Is ... | |
| Marble VS Marbonite and Design | 10/6/2010 |
| Q: Am constructing my sweet home. Now its my time to concentrate on my floor. I just confused between ... A: Marble is a natural stone. It does not wear out. Marbonite is man made...it will wear out. Marble ... | |
| Dog vs. Carpet | 10/3/2010 |
| Q: My husband and I came home to find our dog tore up the house while we were gone for just 4 hours... ... A: I love dogs...sometimes this is what they do. Unfortunately...when they do this...they will ... | |
| wood floor problem | 8/11/2010 |
| Q: I hope you can help me, I love your web site, I have a problem with a engineered wood Brazilian ... A: This is not uncommon. Some of the issues are moiture in the floor and subgrade...some of the issues ... | |
| Flooring for handicapped | 7/4/2010 |
| Q: I am looking to update my home. Currently the house has vinyl flooring in the kitchen and carpeting ... A: Wood is a great option when money is available. You never go with laminates. Always look to either ... | |
| laminate | 6/28/2010 |
| Q: Is the Quick Step laminate "Perspective" collection considered a decent laminate flooring (we have ... A: The word "laminate" tells me that your flooring is good for about 4yrs. It is a very temporary ... | |
| flooring | 6/22/2010 |
| Q: Why do we apply cement slurry above cement mortar before laying tiles & why we finish and clean the ... A: Bonding to old mortar is not prefered. It will work..as long as you introduce enough moisture to ... | |
| finishing edge of tile to laminate wood | 6/15/2010 |
| Q: My tiled hallway meets the wood laminate living room floor in a curved shape and is slightly higher ... A: ONe way...not the best...is a rubber "carpet/vinyl? transition. It comes in brown and black. It is ... | |
| soft spot on home to be purchased | 6/14/2010 |
| Q: I am entering escrow on a home with wood/carpet/tile. Near the front entrance there is a "soft ... A: Be sure that this spot is noted in escrow as a condition of a "sound floor". Water damage is rare, ... | |
| Ceramic Tile | 6/8/2010 |
| Q: My tile was put down 9 years ago. When I walk on it in one particular spot, I hear a "pop" sound ... A: That tile,,,or part of that tile has released from the mortar/thinset. It may be possible to pull ... | |
| olefin carpeting | 6/7/2010 |
| Q: Is this type of carpeting hazardous to human health? A: If it had a life and safety hazzard, it could not be use in residential dwellings. It is not a good ... | |
| Installing new baseboards on a tile floor | 6/2/2010 |
| Q: I am replacing all my baseboards in my house. I have both tile and carpeted rooms. When the ... A: Many lumber yards and Home Depot, sell effectively cardboard strips that are 1/16" thick and 1 1/2 ... | |
| bathroom tile | 5/22/2010 |
| Q: I have a 42 square feet bathroom trying to ceramic it. the existing floor has covered with vinyl It ... A: Yes you can. I will advise you to use some caution. If you use plenty of masonry fasteners to hold ... | |
| Laminate flooring | 5/14/2010 |
| Q: I have this product: Bruce Hardwood Floors Dallas TX 75248 000988014105 Do I need to nail or glue ... A: I need to be specific for you. A "laminate" is a floating floor product. Engineered flooring is ... | |
| PROBLEMS WITH PORCELAIN TILE INSTALLATION | 5/13/2010 |
| Q: WE RECENTLY HAD PORCELAIN TILE INSTALLED ON OUR GARARGE FLAT ROOF. ITS WAS DONE FIRST WITH A RUBBER ... A: He did not seal the grout. If the grout is getting wet....even from dew...it can exhaust calcium ... | |
| Pergo Laminate Padding | 4/24/2010 |
| Q: We are having a Pergo Laminate installed and it has the padding on the planks. We live in the ... A: This padding is mostly a sound deadening application. It has little or no insulation value. ... | |
| Porcelain Tile Floor | 4/22/2010 |
| Q: "I recently had a tile floor installed. There was pergo flooring down that was buckling. Upon ... A: I have had grout go bad...or be bad out of the box. It is rare...but it is traumatic. Most tile ... | |
| tiles | 4/10/2010 |
| Q: can you buy an oil based grout to make floor tiles for a wet room completely water proof and not ... A: Grout is a portland cement typical product. Oils do not mix with a water related product. You can ... | |
| bamboo flooring and bath tile floor | 4/6/2010 |
| Q: this is just a follow up to what my contractor has done. I discovered that he did not remove the ... A: You have more concerns than you are aware. The baseboards SHOULD BE REMOVED. The 5/8 gaps is ... | |
| flooring | 3/28/2010 |
| Q: which do I prefer for flooring between marble and vitrified with regards to durability. I dont mind ... A: I do not know about the Marble...but I would suggest it is relative to the idea in the same regard ... | |
| Bamboo vs Engineered vs Laminate | 3/26/2010 |
| Q: I would like to solicit your opinion on the pros and cons of Bamboo (5/8" x 3.75") vs engineered vs ... A: Scratch the laminate NOW. Bamboo is extremely hard. I have burnt up saw blades cutting it. ... | |
| self -stick vinyl tile | 3/25/2010 |
| Q: I am installing self-stick vinyl tile over wood subflooring in the bathroom.I removed the old ... A: If I accomplish anything....Avoid that junk. There is nothing worse...except maybe the MDF ... | |
| Soundproofing | 3/23/2010 |
| Q: I own a duplex and as we are moving downstairs, i'd like to soundproof the ceiling/floor as much as ... A: Cork is now required on highrise floors...as a prep for any other floor. 1/4" is the minimum. ... | |
| laminate flooring | 3/18/2010 |
| Q: What sort of base can laminate flooring be laid on? Our 2nd story floor is not concrete (obviously) ... A: Most boxes have a square foot label on them. If not..there is a number count of how many pieces ... | |
| installing travertine marble on shower wall | 3/18/2010 |
| Q: to cut to the chase. I'm installing 12"x24"x1/2" travertine on my shower wall with seat. Now, I had ... A: The 1/4" is not for wall use...however, in your case, with the plywood prep under...it is ok. 1/4" ... | |
| Wool Carpet | 3/17/2010 |
| Q: I had a fitted wool twist carpet put down in September 2009 and ever since on emptying my barrel ... A: Wool is typically a great product for carpet. However..If the mills are trying to save money, the ... | |
| need a low odor glue for stone installation | 3/2/2010 |
| Q: My husband and I are having some contractors install some stone tile on an interior living room wall ... A: Do not use Mastic to install this stone. Mastic is for thin ceramic tile..of little weight. ... | |
| porcelian tile over brick fireplace | 2/27/2010 |
| Q: I want to re face my interior fireplace with 12x12 tile. Do you have experience in this procedure? ... A: It is being done alot. You can either clean the brick very thoroughly or build onto it with cement ... | |
| Mannington Domestics | 2/20/2010 |
| Q: We just purchased Mannington Domestics laminate flooring and are having a problem figuring out how ... A: You start with one end. Install it completely, but let it be slightly raised up...1/4" or so. YOu ... | |
| installing marble tiles over fireplace | 2/9/2010 |
| Q: I have a fireplace metal box surrounded by drywall.I would like to either cover it with marble or ... A: I would recommend that the drywall be removed in the area to be tiled. Wonder board is 1/2" thick ... | |
| Cement Floors | 2/8/2010 |
| Q: I pulled the carpet up from my basement floor.I still have a thin layer of glue on the floor. I ... A: If you have a plywood subfloor in mind...it is a great idea. Most construction adhesives will bond ... | |
| flooring | 2/4/2010 |
| Q: I am renovating my small 3 bed unit which has a large 12'x27' room which has black aluminum and grey ... A: Travertine tile may be a great choice. It is almost always in earth tones...but it can go alittle ... | |
| laminate flooring | 2/3/2010 |
| Q: We are ready to begin laying our floating laminate flooring. I know we need to figure out the width ... A: As you look around the room...what is the least conspicuous location. That is the end point. If ... | |
| brick pavers | 1/6/2010 |
| Q: My wife and I recently moved into a home in which the kitchen floor is composed of what seems to be ... A: It should be easy enough to pull up, but there is a risk that the pavers were used to cover a very ... | |
| Ceramic Tile Mortar | 1/5/2010 |
| Q: My basement flooded and the insurance only gave me 1/3 of what the cost for a contractor costs to ... A: The key to installing tile...the right water mix. If it is too dry...it will not fully bond. If ... | |
| metal strip over plywood. | 1/2/2010 |
| Q: I'm installing a laminate flooring. I took off the carpet and found a metal trips all across the ... A: This is a structural strap that typically is on a wall...holding sections together. This would tell ... | |
| What type flooring to choose? | 12/22/2009 |
| Q: Dave, I have a small kitchen/dining area that right now has two layers of vinyl tile flooring in ... A: Lamintes are NOT my favorite. DIY is ok to use them. If you dont spend the money to get a quality ... | |
| floor | 12/18/2009 |
| Q: What are the pros and cons of stained concrete? I was wanting laminate wood but my daughter just ... A: Stained concrete is a beautiful approach, but it too is high maintenance. It requires polishes ... | |
| 18X18 travertine floor tile | 12/16/2009 |
| Q: We are trying to get our tile guys to lay the 18X18 filled and honed travertine tiles without grout ... A: There should not be a variation of more than 1/32" per tile. It is a manufactured product. If you ... | |
| pergo laminate floor | 12/15/2009 |
| Q: am considering putting pergo onto my basement floor. i like whiteside pine which pergo classifies as ... A: I have not seen a laminate floor that will stay locked, without gluing the joints. Advertise all ... | |
| Grout | 12/8/2009 |
| Q: We replace some tiles in our bathroom due to cracks. Since then the grout flakes out, come out in ... A: Grout is a cement base product and should be hard within 24 hours of placement. It is recommended ... | |
| tiles popping | 12/7/2009 |
| Q: The tiles in my house starting making a loud noise for about 20 minutes (like something was breaking ... A: There are so many possibilities. If a minor earthquake hit...if the subterean has received alot of ... | |
| Water Damage Laminate | 12/2/2009 |
| Q: Roofer removed roof and freak storm dropped buckets of water into my condo. Water sat on laminate ... A: He is responsible for an entire room...If it goes past a doorway, that is questionable depending on ... | |
| Spilled water on cured tile mortar before grouting | 11/16/2009 |
| Q: I spilled a large glass of water on my freshly cured tile floor while getting ready to grout. Most ... A: IT is very possible that the water will/has separated the contact with the mortar. Test some ... | |
| self sticking vinyl tile | 11/15/2009 |
| Q: Can self sticking vinyl tile be directly installed over OSB board? A: This tile can be installed over anything. It is the stickiest of all glues. That said...I highly ... | |
| Moisture Barrier for Wood Laminate | 11/13/2009 |
| Q: I am preparing to install 8mm laminate wood flooring that already has the underlayment attached. ... A: IF the concrete was done properly, there is 6mil plastic guarding it from moisture from below. If ... | |
| moisture content | 11/13/2009 |
| Q: I live in alberta canada and have a question concerning hardwood floor. What moisture content should ... A: It can vary slightly from 5%to 15% depending on the thickness and mill run. That is why the gap on ... | |
| Moisture Barrier for Wood Laminate | 11/12/2009 |
| Q: I am preparing to install 8mm laminate wood flooring that already has the underlayment attached. ... A: In most cases...it is not a moisture barrier....tho it has some affect that way...it is mostly a ... | |
| Marble installation in bathroom | 11/10/2009 |
| Q: I've been researching as much as possible so as to avoid problems as it appears that many are ... A: It is highly recommended that NON sanded grout be used in tub/shower areas. You need at least a ... | |
| lamanate flooring | 11/2/2009 |
| Q: in one room all around the edging of the whole room it make a sound like its cracking when U step on ... A: It sounds like the thin pad that is usually laid under the laminate, may have a wrinkle in ... | |
| Removing carpet from hardwood floors | 11/1/2009 |
| Q: I want to remove 38 year old carpet that is covering hardwood floors. After checking under part of ... A: For the least possible damage...use a putty knife on the floor, and a screwdriver under the staple. ... | |
| Floor Touch up | 10/25/2009 |
| Q: we have an oak floor . There are a few scratches in the floor , in prominent areas . I don't want to ... A: As long as you can tape off the surrounding area, and very lightly sand the scratch area...then a ... | |
| Laminate flooring problem | 10/19/2009 |
| Q: I had a Mohawk laminate floor installed 8 months ago. It has the attached underlayment. My house ... A: Humidity is large in the south. If you go from 20% in winter to 90% in summer...the laminate will ... | |
| installation of flooring | 10/11/2009 |
| Q: I NOW HAVE VINYL FLOORS. I HAVE PURCHASED BRAZILIAN CHERRY HARDWOOD FOR HALF OF THE ROOM AND CERAMIC ... A: The wood floor is installed first. Depending on the substrate...glue to concrete or nailed to ... | |
| Best covering for outside balcony | 10/11/2009 |
| Q: We have an upstairs covered balcony that runs 56 feet by 6 feet wide. It has a roof and is screened ... A: Because of the weather..I would stay with a cheap indoor/outdoor carpet. Because it is cheap...it ... | |
| Laminate flooring | 9/29/2009 |
| Q: Is it possible to varnish laminate flooring to give it extra protection against liquid spillage. ... A: There are water base varnishes and Oil base. The water base will peel...and soon. The oil ... | |
| Removal of Nafco tiles | 9/9/2009 |
| Q: We need to replace Nafco tile [vinyl]that was installed on new floor in 1995. I assume the ... A: First...dont assume anything. Depending on the situation at the time....anything could have ... | |
| URGENT: porcelain tile over concrete outdoors | 9/6/2009 |
| Q: Two days ago, my contractor mistakenly repainted the often-painted concrete floor of my screened ... A: It is almost too obvious. The concrete needs to be scraped clean...all paint and debris removed. If ... | |
| marble tile and grout | 9/5/2009 |
| Q: I had a marble mosiac tile floor installed and grouted by 2 different (not so) handymen. I'm still ... A: If the contractor....did not take out a permit...if the Board is contacted...they usually process in ... | |
| laminate vs ceramic | 9/5/2009 |
| Q: I plan to remodel my kitchen and laundry room in the very near future. But, I can't decide if I ... A: PLEASE....prefer the Ceramic over Laminate. Laminates are a very cheap DYI project material to get ... | |
| Laminated floors | 9/4/2009 |
| Q: I would like your advice on laminated floors I have moved into a beautiful new built modern house ... A: I have been answering your question....but it may be that you are not receiving??? For the look you ... | |
| marble tile and grout | 9/4/2009 |
| Q: I had a marble mosiac tile floor installed and grouted by 2 different (not so) handymen. I'm still ... A: Be sure you file a complaint with the State Contractors Board on the first Contractor. He is still ... | |
| River Rock Shower Floor | 9/4/2009 |
| Q: Immediately upon reading your negative reaction to our planned river rock floor I phoned to cancel ... A: If I were to assume that you will grout it after it is installed...you may want to use two coats of ... | |
| marble tile and grout | 9/3/2009 |
| Q: I had a marble mosiac tile floor installed and grouted by 2 different (not so) handymen. I'm still ... A: Was there a Contractors License involved with these men? You have a recourse for workmanship if ... | |
| Ceramic tile laying & Subflooring | 9/2/2009 |
| Q: Sorry, I am back again... In an earlier question submitted I said that our dressing area floor is ... A: Dont be sorry, consider yourself fortunate to know what questions to ask. You can install the ... | |
| Two Further Questions. Re ceramic tile flooring | 8/30/2009 |
| Q: I have alrady received an answer from someone else but it is much too technical/long drawn out for ... A: As for tools...depending on the mess you plan to make...you can rent saws to cut the hardwood into ... | |
| Two Quetions. Re flooring for eramic tiles and waterproofing hardiboards | 8/29/2009 |
| Q: I have alrady received an answer from someone else but it is much too technical/long drawn out for ... A: You do not want to install tiles over any wood...solid or plywood. The cement boards are giving two ... | |
| wood flooring on new slab construction | 8/23/2009 |
| Q: Dave, we have purchased a new-construction condo. I have a good friend in the flooring business who ... A: Engineered is quite good as long as it is all wood...not MDF. If you cant get away from MDF core, ... | |
| Uneven Transition: Laminate to Tile | 8/22/2009 |
| Q: I had someone flatten the concrete floor, then installed the laminate. The T-molding worked fine on ... A: Sometimes the answer is only available on a visual inspection. I would need to see why the ... | |
| Laminate flooring | 8/20/2009 |
| Q: I purchased laminate flooring with the liner attached. I hsve limited storage space and the living ... A: Whenever and where ever possible, use the cushion coasters. It has the advantage of making things ... | |
| flooring for stairway | 8/20/2009 |
| Q: I have a stairway in my townhouse..also 3 cats who choose to use the carpeting covering stairway as ... A: After you remove the carpet and pad...thoroughly treat the wood with "green" animal related products ... | |
| seal bathroom floor | 8/12/2009 |
| Q: This may sound very basic, but I was wondering what to use to seal my laminate floor where it meets ... A: If you can find an oil base caulk in a color you like..it will be awesome. All latex and silicones ... | |
| ceramic tile | 8/11/2009 |
| Q: here it is: I bought a beautiful ceramic tile table...homemade with marine lumber and ceramic tiles ... A: The ceramic is NOT affected by weather or temps. The substrate, the adhesive, the grout etc are ... | |
| mixing Thin Set in smaller amounts | 7/31/2009 |
| Q: We laid porcelain tile over concrete (after removing sheet vinyl). We followed all thin set ... A: The amount you mix is NOT important, it is the water content and pastyness of the mix. You can mix ... | |
| Shower Tiling | 7/30/2009 |
| Q: Dave, I have been searching the internet for some time trying to find an answer, but they all ... A: Green board is the recommended treatment in and about showers and tubs. It is meant for mastic set ... | |
| laying tile outdoors | 7/28/2009 |
| Q: I have a couple of questions. We recently stained our covered porch. Nightmare. Anyway, we ... A: YOu have an option that I did not consider. I have seen power washers tear up concrete. If it gets ... | |
| install hardwood floor on particle board | 7/27/2009 |
| Q: The contractor installed structural hardwood floor for us about two weeks ago. The floor became ... A: BE a professional as you can, call the contractor back to inspect his work, point out your concerns. ... | |
| Flooring recommendation | 7/27/2009 |
| Q: I have removed the carpet in my home and was planning to use Konecto -after reading your opinion ... A: Oak and Maple are the two hardest, with a good appeal. If you seal the floor with Orange Glo...it ... | |
| laying tile outdoors | 7/26/2009 |
| Q: I have a couple of questions. We recently stained our covered porch. Nightmare. Anyway, we ... A: If grinding is not in your plan, you could add hardibacker and drill some anchor holes for screws. ... | |
| Leveling sub-floor | 7/25/2009 |
| Q: I'm installing a pre-finished hardwood floor over a particle board sub floor. There are some minor ... A: It kinda sounds like you have room for 1/4" plywood to cover the area. If you use the cardboard ... | |
| Engineered Hardwood with big dogs | 7/20/2009 |
| Q: I want replace the carpet in three rooms(family room, dining and office) with wood floors. I have ... A: Engineered flooring is a great product normally. However, I am seeing short cuts taken in the ... | |
| Laminate flooring | 7/17/2009 |
| Q: We are installing Quick lock laminate and I just have a couple of questions. First thing is how do ... A: Another good reason I dont like laminates. It causes complications during the installation. It can ... | |
| Thasos disaster | 7/5/2009 |
| Q: I was contracted to install white thassos marble for a customer here in the Poconos. After ... A: Marble can have other minerals encapsolated, and the water content of the thinset or the grout can ... | |
| Ceramic over linoleum | 6/25/2009 |
| Q: A few months ago I dealt with a flooring company who installed ceramic tile without first removing ... A: Tiles NEED to be installed to a cement substrate...NO EXCEPTIONS. If they did not remove the vinyl, ... | |
| WRONG ANSWER | 6/15/2009 |
| Q: This is not a question, it's a statement. I saw your response to someone who was wondering if they ... A: WE are all experts...of varying degrees. I have opinions of procedure..and the wire mess ... | |
| Laminate Flooring Installation Problem | 6/9/2009 |
| Q: I am trying to install laminate flooring for the first time. The panels fit together nicely and lay ... A: If they can pop together in your hands...a sampling of how they fit, then they should fit on the ... | |
| Uneven floor | 6/7/2009 |
| Q: I am thinking of redoing our kitchen floor. Kitchen size is approx. 12.5' x 13.5'. On the diagonal, ... A: You are very fortunate to have a raised floor. You may be able to put in some concrete piers and ... | |
| Baseboard height to install ceramic tile | 6/6/2009 |
| Q: I am replacing a carpeted area in a hallway where my back door is located. My 100+ year old house ... A: Tile needs a cementous substate to bond to. You can use 1/4" hardibacker, but that does increase ... | |
| tile over wood flooring | 5/28/2009 |
| Q: My house was built in 1902, kitchen added. Floor is knotty pine 4" wide. There is no basement ... A: Screws are prefered, but you can also nail it. I would also recommend some construction adhesive ... | |
| wood engineer floors | 5/8/2009 |
| Q: I like and elegant sophisticated luxurious floor color with the wow factor for a new built town ... A: Maple is a very white wood...Birch has a slight yellow tint...Hickory is white with some very dark ... | |
| carpeting | 5/2/2009 |
| Q: I live in a 5 year old manufactured home and my master bedroom carpet is lifting and bubbling in ... A: I dont have alot of info on manufactured housing, but you definitely have the possibility of ... | |
| flexitech vynil | 4/26/2009 |
| Q: I had the felexitech vynil flooring mega series installed a liitle over a year ago and had constant ... A: Contact the Contractors License Board in your area. Workmanship is warranteed. They must either ... | |
| hard wood floors | 4/15/2009 |
| Q: Currently, I have jerusalem stone flooring in my entry way and kitchen which, like our whole house, ... A: Only a very high end Laminate will give you a "decent' look. If you can get an acrylic floor ... | |
| HOPPING MACHINE | 4/13/2009 |
| Q: inspite of the washing machine being leveled front to back, side to side, front loading machine ... A: Most front loaders have either springs or counter weights to hold them steady. If you continuously ... | |
| bumps in the kitchen floor | 4/4/2009 |
| Q: I have a 1993 townhouse and the kitchen is a vinyl floor. 2-3 weeks back, I started to observe some ... A: If the bumps are springy...or bouncy...you may have a delamination of the plywood below. If not ... | |
| Retiling bathroom floor | 3/16/2009 |
| Q: I am attempting to fix a small tile floor (30 ft sq) in a bathroom that has had some reccuring ... A: The main issue is the possible movement in the subfloor. If you do have movement....it will ... | |
| uneven floor | 3/12/2009 |
| Q: I have just been told my a Lowes representative that my kitchen floor is uneven by 1/2 inch. He said ... A: Dont trust Lowes employee Expert knowledge. Go back to the original problem. If you can afford a ... | |
| Required subfloor for VCT installation | 2/23/2009 |
| Q: I have a 24x26 finished shop area within my pole barn. It is all concete floor and I am setting it ... A: You have 2 concerns to conquer. Temperature is working against you for vinyl. Oil is working ... | |
| Grey cement grout made by mapei has turned white in areas | 1/25/2009 |
| Q: I have a construction cleaning company, and we cleaned a 10,000 sq. ft car dealership. We used a ... A: Hard water will do this quite often. If the grout was mixed too wet....it is a common occurence. ... | |
| Crackling vinyl or linoleum floor | 1/24/2009 |
| Q: We had a Congoleum Ultima vinyl floor installed about 2 months ago over the top of an existing vinyl ... A: Another good reason to hate staples. Enough staples in luan plywood and it easily separates. It ... | |
| old teak wood bathtub | 1/12/2009 |
| Q: This super old teak wood bathtub needs refinished. 10 years since its been done. It is at this nice ... A: Depending on the condition of the wood...A Teak is very hard, if you need to strip it to restain ... | |
| Ceramic Tile over Linoleum Height | 1/10/2009 |
| Q: Dave, I want to install ceramic tile over a linoleum floor. Here's my situation: Subfloor- 3/4" ... A: I would strongly recommend removing the 1/4 particle board and install the cement board to the 3/4. ... | |
| peel and stick tile | 1/5/2009 |
| Q: I live in a 16X80 mobile home and they had carpet installed in the master bathroom, which I think is ... A: You are not going to like my answer. I do whatever it takes to steer everyone AWAY from peel and ... | |
| relative cost of different kinds of flooring | 12/27/2008 |
| Q: I have recently had a flood inside my home. I have had to remove the existing hardwood flooring. ... A: IF you can, replace the area by the door with indoor outdoor carpet. It can handle the water and ... | |
| Linoleum flooring showing "raised islands" | 12/26/2008 |
| Q: We are in the completion stages of a kitchen remodel using a licensed contractor. Everything is ... A: The question is...is it a hollow bubble, or a solid raised surface. It could be a mound of putty to ... | |
| brick floor | 12/10/2008 |
| Q: I have brick floors in an area that is now enclosed (was a garage/carport) probabley thirty years ... A: My guess is that it will be difficult to stain with any real control over color. AT that age and ... | |
| Engineered hardwood installation | 12/4/2008 |
| Q: "Hello Dave! I am installing 9/16" thick, 5" wide engineered tigerwood with regular tongue and ... A: On concrete....glue down...complete contact is essential. I also advise that you only install as ... | |
| Installing 5 inch wide Hard wood | 11/25/2008 |
| Q: I am installing 5 inch wide Hard Wood in my house (1600sf). I am getting conflicting info on ... A: Since you have a conditioned space below...you dont need the kraft paper. I would suggest at least ... | |
| ambient air | 11/25/2008 |
| Q: I am actually a student doing a report on flooring business. I was wondering if you could tell me ... A: It is requested by manufacturers to allow hardwood to be in the room for 24hrs to aclimate to the ... | |
| Installing 5 inch wide Hard wood | 11/21/2008 |
| Q: I am installing 5 inch wide Hard Wood in my house (1600sf). I am getting conflicting info on ... A: Either way, you would not use felt paper. When you say a not finished basement, does that mean that ... | |
| removal of ceramic tile flooring | 11/18/2008 |
| Q: I am in the processing of removing the ceramic tile in my kitchen and dining rooms after which i ... A: Let me first caution you on the laminate floor in a wet area. NOT a good idea. Many Many ... | |
| laminate vs. vinyl | 11/18/2008 |
| Q: We opened up the dining room into the kitchen. I am deciding between a pergo laminate I saw at Lowes ... A: I do my best to caution everyone about laminates in the kitchen/bath area. I have not seen a ... | |
| Vinyl Tile not sticking | 10/27/2008 |
| Q: Three summers ago I installed vinyl peel and stick tile onto existing linoleum in my kitchen/dining ... A: Dont assume asbestos. I cant imagine saving the peelnstick tiles. Once installed...the glue is ... | |
| Vinyl Tile not sticking | 10/26/2008 |
| Q: Three summers ago I installed vinyl peel and stick tile onto existing linoleum in my kitchen/dining ... A: This is your delema....the additional step you took....now is a future problem. How to remove ... | |
| Vinyl Tile not sticking | 10/23/2008 |
| Q: Three summers ago I installed vinyl peel and stick tile onto existing linoleum in my kitchen/dining ... A: So much for HOME DePOT expertise. YOu should NOT have prepared the floor with an additive. ON the ... | |
| Leaning to hardwood - lams aren't way to go | 10/1/2008 |
| Q: Since you feel laminate pretty much "...isn't worth the gas to bring it home" and I've read so many ... A: In some cases...solid wood can be cheaper than Engineered hardwood. Oak is a prefered species for ... | |
| Laminate - you're NOT a Fan - Appreciate your input | 9/30/2008 |
| Q: We aren't DIY-ers & want to get installed 600 S.F. laminate in an open dining/fam room area - not a ... A: Mannington has the worst warrantee record. Stay clear. WilsonArt is a great product...as long as ... | |
| Marble Flooring Installation | 9/26/2008 |
| Q: I've recently purchased a new home in Arizona and have decided to replace all the flooring in the ... A: On a wood flooring system, you NEED a cement board. There are several types...so depending on your ... | |
| Congoleun Vinyl floor | 9/26/2008 |
| Q: I had a Congoleun Vinyl floor (with a life time warranty) put down over a old Vinyl floor with luan ... A: The INSTALLER is on the hook for this. Congoleum is still warranteeing the flooring...but the ... | |
| Sqeeky laminate flooring | 9/24/2008 |
| Q: I have bought as new home in Ga and the laminate floor in the entrance hall squeaks in several ... A: The best correction is to remove it. Laminates are, in many cases, junk. A better product, a ... | |
| bad laminte piece | 9/12/2008 |
| Q: I have one bad piece of laminate flooring in the middle of my floor how do i replace? A: YOu have two bad choices. Either remove it completely and hope NOT ot damage surrounding pieces, ... | |
| help with concrete slab basement floor options | 9/7/2008 |
| Q: I have a half basement that I want to redo. The basement floor is rectangular approx. 40' - 0" x ... A: As long as you can create the dam affect for the water tank area and use tile for that ... | |
| help with concrete slab basement floor options | 9/7/2008 |
| Q: I have a half basement that I want to redo. The basement floor is rectangular approx. 40' - 0" x ... A: You have done alot of research....and alot of planning. If you can create a Dam affect for your ... | |
| Underlayment and subflooring | 8/29/2008 |
| Q: Coil, We have a 3/4" OSB PS2 subfloor glued and screwed to the 2x10 floor joists, 16" OC. This ... A: Connecting Plywood to OSB is not a big ordeal. It will require long screws to penetrate into the ... | |
| parkay | 8/26/2008 |
| Q: I had a water leak under part of my tile in the kitchen. The floor underneath is concrete. It ... A: Parquet is normally 12"x12" patterned pieces. You can do a 24"x24" area without too much trouble. ... | |
| Solid 3/8 inch by 3 teak | 8/1/2008 |
| Q: We want to purchase solid hardwood 3/8 by 3 brazillian teak. We plan to glue it down to our ... A: Unless your concrete is very uneven....all wood flooring needs to be glued. If it is very uneven, ... | |
| engineered wood | 8/1/2008 |
| Q: I wanted to install hardwood floors but I keep reading that it's hard to maintain if you have pets. ... A: Lets educate you. Real wood is two different things. Solid wood...3/4" thick, tongue and ... | |
| Resurface hardwood | 7/26/2008 |
| Q: We have had a hardwood floors resurfaced TWICE in 10days! Both times hair and dust have been caught ... A: A paint sive is a very good idea, but the evap cooler...not good. You want the air stagnant for 4 ... | |
| hardwood laminate | 7/18/2008 |
| Q: I have a free floating laminate that was installed and it is buckling in the middle and in a few ... A: Unfortunately, this is one of my reasons for refusing to install laminates without a full ... | |
| Sub floor issue | 7/14/2008 |
| Q: Dave, My home went 8' under water, when Hurricane Katrina blew out the levee wall on the canal near ... A: For about $1.50 a foot, you can do a mortar drypact infill. It is not hard... Trick is to get ... | |
| Laminate floor choice | 7/13/2008 |
| Q: We want to install a laminate floor in a craft room area we are making in our basement. We had the ... A: If you dont get a quality product...it will not give any durability. $3 per ft as the minimum. ... | |
| engineered floor glue down or float ? | 7/7/2008 |
| Q: i have recently purchased some very beautiful 3/8 x 3" engineered hardwood, which comes in about 5 ... A: My trick is to glue down ONLY AS MUCH as I can weight down. I use plywood and concrete blocks to ... | |
| engineered floor glue down or float ? | 7/6/2008 |
| Q: i have recently purchased some very beautiful 3/8 x 3" engineered hardwood, which comes in about 5 ... A: I like this guy. I think he got everything right. At this point...whatever he says...I think I ... | |
| DIY Floating Installation Mistake | 7/4/2008 |
| Q: My husband and I have almost finished installing most of our engineered floating HW floor on cement ... A: Preparation is the key to all work. A floating floor is mostly a way of installing a quick..no ... | |
| Which Material? | 7/3/2008 |
| Q: We are considering replacing our carpet with hardwood type flooring. Our subflooring is ... A: Mis information is a terrible thing. Any subfloor of 5/8" or greater is sufficient for a hardwood ... | |
| sub flooring | 6/28/2008 |
| Q: hi i am looking to install a laminate floor in my living room i just bought the house and the floor ... A: I dont recommend a laminate over open subfloor. Any surface prior is better. Be advise that if you ... | |
| stubborn queaky floor | 6/23/2008 |
| Q: I just bought a 15 year old house recently, the master bedroom floor is terribly squeaky all the ... A: Normally a squeak is from wood moving on the nail. I have had to cut access holes in the flooring ... | |
| engineered wood over uneven concrete slab | 6/17/2008 |
| Q: Hey Dave, Here's the deal. I am doing a kitchen remodel for my parents. They have a concrete slab ... A: If you can create shims or guides that will run level...you could put several down....and fill in ... | |
| Travertine vs. Brazilian Cherrywood | 6/16/2008 |
| Q: We are thinking of building a house and can't decide which to put on the floor..Ivory Travertine or ... A: Your lifestyle has alot to say. Traverine..if a piece breaks...replace it. If wood....as beautiful ... | |
| floor | 6/7/2008 |
| Q: we live in Texas - our house foundation is slab - there is an area of our interior floor ... A: If your flooring is exceeding the ambient air temp at which is was laid, it can be expansion from ... | |
| ceramic tile | 6/7/2008 |
| Q: We just had ceramic tile installed in both bathrooms and fireplace. The grout is beige. I have a ... A: There should be no haze after the install. It should have been wiped clean before it dried. As for ... | |
| Laminate flooring | 6/4/2008 |
| Q: I have bubbles that are forming on the top of my laminate. Not sure what the cause is. Could it be ... A: Normally blisters are from water/moisture getting under the film of the surface. If the surface was ... | |
| replace kitchen tile floor with wood | 6/1/2008 |
| Q: What would the ballpark cost to replace my kitchen floor with wooden floors, roughly 15x35 ... A: There are a few factors, so add them as you need. A true wood floor will cost from $4 to $6.50 ... | |
| nothing really, just a comment | 5/30/2008 |
| Q: after just reading alot of your answers from all these questions, I feel like I was listening to my ... A: It is so quite refreshing to see that someone can, and will read....not to mention know what they ... | |
| tile floor | 5/21/2008 |
| Q: I am installing a 12x12 inch tile floor over a 1x1 inch tile floor in a bathroom. I was told by one ... A: I dont like putting tile over tile, but the basic approach is good. Scuffing the current tile for ... | |
| inflating measurements | 5/17/2008 |
| Q: My husband is convinced that a local company is inflating their measurements of our home to rip us ... A: It is normal to overestimate the size of rooms for square footage....We dont want to run out of ... | |
| Traventine & Slate Tiles on Elevated Floor | 5/13/2008 |
| Q: Dave: We are building a new house in Houston. The entire main floor and outside decking is elevated ... A: With the transition problem, it would be advisable to create a taper or bevel from the carpet to the ... | |
| Bamboo Flooring | 5/13/2008 |
| Q: We are remodeling a house and are thinking about using Bamboo floors in, at least, some of the ... A: Someone has given a bit of wrong news. Bamboo is a very hard wood. I installed some on a ... | |
| Traventine & Slate Tiles on Elevated Floor | 5/11/2008 |
| Q: Dave: We are building a new house in Houston. The entire main floor and outside decking is elevated ... A: You dont really need 1/2" but that is a good thing. 1/4" would work. You first lay out the cement ... | |
| Berber carpet | 5/8/2008 |
| Q: I have a fuzz ball on my berber carpet. Can I cut it off or will it start a run in the carpet? A: You can trim it with scissors, but another approach...matches. Get some wood matches and let the ... | |
| Sealing Ceramic Tile Floor | 5/7/2008 |
| Q: I asked this question of another expert earlier today, but my question wasn't really answered. So I ... A: Ceramic tile does not need to be seales...in fact..ceramic is a fired surface that nothing ... | |
| Installing marble tile over ceramic | 5/7/2008 |
| Q: Is it possible to directly install marble tile over an existing ceramic tile floor. Is this done ... A: My best advice...do not install over ceramic. In many cases there are hollow spots in the current ... | |
| installing tumble travertine | 5/5/2008 |
| Q: I used 2x4 tumbled travertine tiles in my kitchen for the backsplash and up the walls. I also ... A: Most verticle wall applications are mastic. ONly rare occasions of heavy tiles are masonry products ... | |
| Basement Tile Installation | 5/4/2008 |
| Q: I would like to install tile in our basement, which is comprised of two rooms (laundry/utility and ... A: I would consider using hardi backer 1/4"...installed in a bed of thinset...with alot of weight till ... | |
| flooring questions | 5/3/2008 |
| Q: We are about to get laminate and carpet installed. Have you ever heard of the brand Berry Floor ... A: You are paying too much for the laminate, but the installation is reasonable. Be advised by ... | |
| tile over 80 yr old hardwood floor | 4/20/2008 |
| Q: We are currently renovating our kitchen( from the studs out)I have done every faze of the job ... A: Floor levelors are ok for 1/8" deep area, but if you are looking at over 1/2"...you will need a more ... | |
| Laminate | 4/17/2008 |
| Q: I installed pergo flooring in our last home, and would like to have it again, but I have a concern. ... A: EAch transition is different. I prefer to but and caulk. If the elevation is less than 1/8" in ... | |
| Bruce Wear Master Commercial Flooring | 4/9/2008 |
| Q: I purchased Wear Master 3 ply commercial flooring about ten years ago for use in my kitchen. It ... A: I know Mannington is a lousy floor and lousy warrantee. Bruce used to be respectable...but ... | |
| Marble tiles installation | 4/6/2008 |
| Q: How to install marble tiles in my family room.Right now the builder provided a standard carpet(poor ... A: Marble is a pretty soft stone...care to be taken. You need to remove the carpet, the pad, any ... | |
| Why wait 24 hours for tile to dry before grouting? | 4/5/2008 |
| Q: Our tiler did not wait 24 hours for the travertine tiles to set before applying grout. He waited ... A: The traffic on the tiles while grouting can cause a movement and separate of the tiles from the ... | |
| Vinyl tiles | 4/1/2008 |
| Q: I have a friend who wants me to help him install vinyl tiles. My question is this.....He has ... A: In MY personal and professional opinion....vinyl self stick tiles are the absolute worst flooring ... | |
| tile | 3/31/2008 |
| Q: I am going to tile an outdoor patio(wood table with Porcelain and glass tile. It will be used ... A: A premium White thinset will do a great job. It can be used thicker for the thinner product and ... | |
| marble wall tile | 3/29/2008 |
| Q: I want to install 6 x 6 marble wall tile on the bathroom walls. None of the walls are in the shower ... A: The method you used to seal the sheetrock is my concern. Not sure what application method willl ... | |
| the floor is not level | 3/27/2008 |
| Q: I just installed a tile floor in our bathroom using 12 x 18 porcelain tile. The floor is uneven but ... A: Any movement of the substrate will allow the tile and grout to crack. It is the most important part ... | |
| contrast hardwood flooring with trim | 3/25/2008 |
| Q: In my home, we currently have wall to wall carpet. We would like to instal wood flooring on the ... A: Natural oak is always a good choice if your current wood work is oak. Do not get confused with ... | |
| Transition from laminate to carpet | 3/23/2008 |
| Q: We just finished installing laminate flooring in out living room and have transitioned from laminate ... A: Is the tack strip moving with the carpet. If the tackstrip is loose...the carpet will move. If the ... | |
| Polyurethane Hardwood Floors | 3/20/2008 |
| Q: I have a big problem with refinishing my hardwood floor. -- I sanded probably 1/8" to 1/4" off of ... A: Two thoughts...the shelf life of that can....date? Some shellacs and poly have a shelf life..or ... | |
| laminate flooring | 3/19/2008 |
| Q: I was reading past questions and noticed you said so many people are having problems with laminate ... A: Where to begin.... It is a floating floor,,,not fastened down. It is hollow sounding when walked ... | |
| laminate flooring | 3/17/2008 |
| Q: we laid laminate flooring in a bedroom, uneven floor,so some joints left a gap, joe has a good idea ... A: So many people are having so many problems with laminate floors. Depending on the surface of your ... | |
| porch flooring | 3/16/2008 |
| Q: My porch is enclosed with screens sliding doors made of some kind of plastic. It is unheated and ... A: Because you have a potential for water problems, I am going to suggest a thin troweled on layer of ... | |
| marble flooring | 3/14/2008 |
| Q: I want to install 6-inch square marble tiles (.375" thick) on my bathroom floor. The floor has small ... A: The bigger question is how much movement can you get from the joists. If you cant gain the ... | |
| vinyl tile installation | 3/14/2008 |
| Q: I plan on applying self-adhesive tile (12"x12")over excisting tile that have a shallow design in ... A: VCT is a much better and reasonable choice. The latest pricing I saw.... $.60 a ft. You get the ... | |
| tile installation | 2/28/2008 |
| Q: I am getting ready to install tile in my kitchen located on the top floor of my home which has an ... A: I will recommend using the white thinset to bond the cement board to the vinyl. It doesnt really ... | |
| Armstrong Cushion step over radiant heat | 2/28/2008 |
| Q: We have the older style in floor radiant heat (rubber tubes imbedded in slab concrete). Concrete ... A: The radiant heat is a great mediam for heating rooms...as long as temperature gradients are not ... | |
| Hardwood Floors | 2/27/2008 |
| Q: we're looking to do our whole first floor in hardwood but are having a hard time figuring out the ... A: The dog is the deciding factor. You should consider solid wood vs an Engineered floor. Some times ... | |
| Round edge self adheive backing laminate | 2/25/2008 |
| Q: I want to install this laminate in a bathroom. The old peal & stick tile shifted some once I ... A: If you can find a reasonable carpet store, ask for some "slip sheet". It is the equivalent to ... | |
| Vinyle vs. laminate in kitchen | 2/25/2008 |
| Q: We are in the process of installing flooring in a house that is being built. We are, at this time, ... A: Please consider the vinyl over the Laminates. It will last longer...cheaper, more durable...easier ... | |
| trying to match prefinished cherry hardwoods | 2/25/2008 |
| Q: My husband and I just purchased a home that has prefinished chelsea plank cherry hardwood floors. In ... A: It will be a long time before the two can fully actually blend, if in fact the species are close ... | |
| Vinyl/linoleum | 2/23/2008 |
| Q: We had a linolum floor installed almost two weeks ago over an existing floor. There was no issues ... A: It sounds like they rolled the flooring with a weight greater than needed. I think they squeazed ... | |
| linolium or vinyl tile problem | 2/6/2008 |
| Q: I have 12" linoleum or vinyl tiles installed in my foyer and first floor bathroom. The tiles were ... A: I wont call this a good option, but Crazy Glue might just be the option of ease. If you can put a ... | |
| Tile | 2/5/2008 |
| Q: "Hi Dave, I am installing tile for the first time and all is going well so far but I do have two ... A: If you are using a snap cutter for your tile, it will almost cut a perfect line to match back up ... | |
| Self adhesive vinyl tile and subfloor | 1/31/2008 |
| Q: I have a couple questions. I am going to install self adhesive vinyl tiles in my kitchen. Existing ... A: Whatever you choose...reconsider the self stick vinyl tile. They are the worst flooring product ... | |
| Crunchy laminate floor | 1/31/2008 |
| Q: A year ago we intalled 2 different colors of Tarkett Urban Luxury laminate floors in our home over ... A: If you put the thin pad under...it can get brittle and crackle. A really bad thought...roaches...if ... | |
| leveling a floor | 1/31/2008 |
| Q: I have two questions 1. I have a new addition and the subfloor of the addition is 1/4" lower than ... A: If it is a consistant 1/4" then a layer of hardibacker would be easy. If it is not consistant, and ... | |
| Room transition | 1/28/2008 |
| Q: We are buying a 1988 rambler with wall to wall carpet. I want to remove all carpet and replace with ... A: I might suggest a highend wood look vinyl flooring. Seamless, durable, low maintenance, easy ... | |
| Engineered wood floor cracking | 1/26/2008 |
| Q: I have engineered wood floor (Mfgr HAWA) glued down in 3 rooms and is glued down to a cement ... A: Assuming the installer did a good job of gluing, it is possible that the plywood substrate is ... | |
| Dupont Tuscan Stone laminate flooring | 1/26/2008 |
| Q: my wife and I are hoping you can shed some light on a new subject for us.... we purchased the Tuscan ... A: Sorry for the delay..computer was down... For the most part the pad is a sound deadener...it doesnt ... | |
| Hardwood Floors | 1/26/2008 |
| Q: A couple of questions re hardwood floors: 1. We are doing extensive interior remodeling. Our ... A: Sorry for the delay...computer has been down. Refinishing is an EXTREMELY dirty project. ... | |
| Dupont Tuscan Stone laminate flooring | 1/25/2008 |
| Q: my wife and I are hoping you can shed some light on a new subject for us.... we purchased the Tuscan ... A: For my opinion, both are crazy. Generally you have to go with the manufactures specifications for a ... | |
| Laminate over two different floors | 1/25/2008 |
| Q: I read through all your answers and didn't see this question addressed: I purchased 1400 sq ft of ... A: A normal tile installation is 3/8" thick from the concrete..5/16" is really thin, but it could be. ... | |
| Sqeeky Hardwood Floor | 1/24/2008 |
| Q: Dave, About 6 years ago I had hardwood “professionally” installed in my living/dining room and ... A: Part of your problem may be in finding the direction the floor joists are running. It is also ... | |
| Basement Bathroom flooring | 1/24/2008 |
| Q: I have a bathroom/ laundry room that I plan on renovating. I had my contractor around last night and ... A: In the old days a gymnasium floor was put down with 1x4 sleepers...glued in place and then the void ... | |
| Peel and Stick tiles | 1/24/2008 |
| Q: I purchases some peel and stick tiles for my kitchen, breakfast nook, back hall, and half-bath. My ... A: VCT is the 1/8" thick tiles used commercially in stores and restaurants. Very durable and easy to ... | |
| Peel and Stick tiles | 1/23/2008 |
| Q: I purchases some peel and stick tiles for my kitchen, breakfast nook, back hall, and half-bath. My ... A: First...strongly consider returning the peel and stick tiles, and get another option. You will ... | |
| Floor in kitchen is rising, | 1/22/2008 |
| Q: Maybe you could just point us in the right direction...We've got a lot of work to do at our first ... A: Generally speaking it would be a water problem. Water will swell earth and cause it to rise. In ... | |
| hardwood floor over ceramic tiles | 1/20/2008 |
| Q: i currently have ceramic tiles throughout our home that i believe have been here a long time. our ... A: The worst case is the best. Remove all the tiles...get down to a clean smooth concrete finish. ... | |
| laminent flooring warping | 1/18/2008 |
| Q: We installed over 1000 sq ft of laminate flooring in our home, I loved it at first but have noticed ... A: I do my best to warn people against laminate floors. You have one of the reasons...the nightmares ... | |
| trying to find new pergo flooring to match my already existing pergo flooring | 1/17/2008 |
| Q: I am looking to add on to the existing pergo that is in my kitchen to my living room which is ... A: Pergo is becoming a generic name for laminate floors. If it is a true Pergo product, you can get, ... | |
| Tiling at 45 deg. | 1/10/2008 |
| Q: I have used "All Experts" before and think it's great what you guys do! I wish I was an expert in ... A: The Diamond look is very attractive...but a nightmare to install. If you can stand the strain of ... | |
| Replacing a section of glue down flooring | 1/10/2008 |
| Q: We installed a glue down engineered wood floor (Tarkett is the brand) over the cement floors in our ... A: It will be much easier to replace a relatively small section, than to try to refinish any part. It ... | |
| Konect Laminent Flooring | 1/8/2008 |
| Q: We bought some Konect Laminent Flooring and we are having problems locking it all together. What is ... A: In most cases it is a snap lock process. Let me caution you STRONGLY...if you do not glue each ... | |
| Laminate floor gaps | 1/7/2008 |
| Q: We just had a company put in an Armstrong laminate wood floor in our hallway. In a matter of 2 ... A: BEST advise...dont do laminates. You are experiencing one of the best reasons. They are NOT a ... | |
| engineered floor and onyx tile on concrete slab | 1/5/2008 |
| Q: We want to install engineered floating hardwood and onyx tiles on concrete floor hallway (currently ... A: Because of alot of misinformation, I will ask for you to specify a particular point. Engineered ... | |
| Baseboards and Hardwood Flooring | 1/4/2008 |
| Q: We are building a new house and installing Hardwood floors throughout. My contracter recently ... A: Without hesitation, the flooring goes first....then baseboard to cover the gap to wall. IN tract ... | |
| PROBLEM WITH BRAND NEW HARD WOOD FLOORS | 1/2/2008 |
| Q: One month ago we had some pre-finished hard wood floors glued on a concrete foundation. From the ... A: This is why I get premium for my hardwood installs. I guarantee that the wood is fully bonded. I ... | |
| laminate flooring | 1/2/2008 |
| Q: I really like the tuscan stone terra flooring to use in the kitchen in my new house. I like it ... A: MOST people use the cheapest flooring available....that is what they get. If you pay a reasonable ... | |
| Transitions - Tile to Floorboards | 1/1/2008 |
| Q: Hope you can help me. We have just ripped up our carpets and are in the process of polishing the ... A: That is alot of difference. More than I have seen transitioned before. You really need to ramp ... | |
| Concrete Slab Elevation Changes | 1/1/2008 |
| Q: I was wondering if you could help me out with a question related to increasing the elevation of a ... A: Wonder board is a better approach. It is more cement based and has more aggregate to be stable. ... | |
| Maple floor finishing | 12/30/2007 |
| Q: We recently had a company put a Swedish finish on maple flooring that my husband and I installed. ... A: It sounds like they tried to do a good job, but the wind came in and blew debris into a wet finish. ... | |
| Engineered Wood Flooring | 12/24/2007 |
| Q: I have just installed engineered hardwood floors on concrete. I used a high quality underlayment. I ... A: On a concrete slab, you need to use plenty of glue, BUT...BUT..only lay as much as you can weight ... | |
| tile adhesion - salvagable? | 12/24/2007 |
| Q: The person installing my bathroom tile floor used the sanded grout i bought to lay the tile, instead ... A: Because the grout is not a adhesive, they will come up almost easy. Your prep will probably be ... | |
| osb subfloor | 12/21/2007 |
| Q: We are renovating an old farm house. We had to remove the flooring, down to the original subfloor ... A: You have a very good base for you new tiles. I would only be concerned about the nails/screws ... | |
| Mexican tile | 12/21/2007 |
| Q: My whole house is Mexican tile which I hate as it is so uneven. Would it be possible in some way to ... A: That tile is so thick, it would really raise a new floor very high. You could float a cement/mortar ... | |
| old stick on tile | 12/19/2007 |
| Q: I am removing some old stick on tiles off a wood sub floor. The tiles are 1970 era. I need to use ... A: That is about the time that asbestos was removed from production. It is not likely to contain it. ... | |
| removing tile installing cork | 12/17/2007 |
| Q: I would like to remove the ceramic tile on my kitchen floor and install cork flooring. I think the ... A: I strongly dont recommend cork in a kitchen. It is not water proof. It holds food, it is very hard ... | |
| Carpet to wood | 12/6/2007 |
| Q: Would you use safetstrip for carpet to wood? Thanks, Hank ANSWER: I dont know the term Safetstrip? ... A: ...it told me alot. AS for my opinion, I would not use it. 2 reasons. It is not going to be as ... | |
| what color wood floor | 12/2/2007 |
| Q: I have mahogony furniture in my living/dining room and am looking to put down a wood/laminate floor. ... A: Only the Pergo, or WilsonArt Laminates are worth the money and effort. Most of the "laminates" on ... | |
| Laminate Flooring | 11/29/2007 |
| Q: I had a couple questions about laminate flooring. The first question, is Pergo a good brand of ... A: Pergo and WilsonArt are the top brands. Laminate is installed on stairs, but keep in mind how ... | |
| Tile | 11/28/2007 |
| Q: I am finishing my basement and plan laying down tile on the concrete floor. I have done various ... A: Some very helpfull info...a good diamond tile saw, use a spray bottle of water to dampen the ... | |
| Spills on Vinyl Flooring | 11/26/2007 |
| Q: I spilt some PVP Purple Primer on my newly laid Vinyl Floor, and can't find anything that cleans it. ... A: I can only imagine that Lacquer thinner, mineral spirits or Methelane Chloride, could have some ... | |
| terrazzo floor | 11/24/2007 |
| Q: I have a terrazzo floor that I had put ceramic tile over. I had to remove the tile and would like ... A: What little I know of terrazzo, it is a clay fired product that is very porous. If something gets ... | |
| Installing trim pieces for Wilsonart Laminate Flooring | 11/19/2007 |
| Q: I'm installing Wilsonart Red Label 5" plank Dragon Cherry in my home. I'm just about done with the ... A: Putty filler is correct...my mistake. The celephane is to allow you to set the trim to put the putty ... | |
| Kitchen Flooring | 11/16/2007 |
| Q: I currently have vinyl flooring in my kitched. It has separateed at the seams in a few spots and ... A: First....do not use self sticky vinyl tiles for your kitchen. It is the biggest mistake to recover ... | |
| Stone Flooring | 11/15/2007 |
| Q: I am in the process of installing new flooring in my dining room. I really like the appeal of the ... A: The preparation for the flooring is the number one issue. Onyx is not a great choice, but if the ... | |
| marble over fireplace | 11/5/2007 |
| Q: I have a brick fireplace that I painted white at one time. Now I want to put marble on it. Do I ... A: Surface prep is everything. You need a smooth sound clean surface to use any masonry adhesive to ... | |
| kitchen floor | 10/12/2007 |
| Q: Good morning Dave, I'm remodeling my kitchen ( it was built in 1953) and we extend it before so I ... A: When you put down a wood floor on wood, you can glue on the concrete and glue/nail on the wood ... | |
| hardwood floors cracking/ warping | 10/11/2007 |
| Q: The mostly original hardwood floors in my 1927 house were redone before I bought the house a year ... A: The clue is a patched area. This may be a different cut of grain. The old hardwood is cut from a ... | |
| Hardwood Underlayment | 10/9/2007 |
| Q: I have a 3/4 mohawk hardwood floor installed last year. The install manual said to lay felt paper ... A: You are in a bad situation. If the install is a licensed contractor....give him notice you are ... | |
| Direction of laminate...with hallway or with window light? | 10/8/2007 |
| Q: I am putting down laminate in all rooms on top floor except the bath. I would like this to be as ... A: Too much advice will destroy and easy job. The hard part is staring in the hallway and working into ... | |
| about the laminated floor | 10/7/2007 |
| Q: i have refurbished my home and replaced the florr carpet with laminate flooring recently. after ... A: I am constantly informing people that laminates are a big mistake. You have another of the problems ... | |
| Laminate Floor over Ceramic Tile | 10/7/2007 |
| Q: My house was built in 1998 in Phoenix. I have Ceramic Tile on the entire lower level, where the ... A: There are two issues. Elevation of the new floor, and the irregularity of the tiles under the ... | |
| Hardwood flooring @ door entry | 10/4/2007 |
| Q: I recently had hardood set, sanded, and finished in an area of about 1000 s/ft. After the floor was ... A: Unfortunately, the doors are the only 'give' in your situation. The thresholds can be added to to ... | |
| Cupping newly installed wood floors | 9/28/2007 |
| Q: We live in a 50+ year old house with red oak solid wood flooring. We recently added a master ... A: If you dont have a moisture problem from below...did they use a water base stain or sealer? All ... | |
| Expanding laminate floor | 9/27/2007 |
| Q: I'm hoping that you can help me. I had laminate flooring in stalled in my basement one year ago. ... A: I have been advising alot of people lately...laminates are not a good choice. If you dont spend the ... | |
| Replace vinyl and carpet with hardwood | 9/19/2007 |
| Q: there. I have vinyl flooring in the kitchen, hardwood in the dining room, and carpet in the family ... A: I will assume that you have a concrete slab house. If this is correct, you will need to remove all ... | |
| konecto/laminate/ANY ideas?! | 9/18/2007 |
| Q: I am redoing a small hair salon floor. There's 18-yr.old Wonderboard (hard as nails now) & sheet ... A: I remember seeing a foam backed Tarquet floor used in a gymnasium. No sheen, flexible, and I think ... | |
| konecto/laminate/ANY ideas?! | 9/18/2007 |
| Q: I am redoing a small hair salon floor. There's 18-yr.old Wonderboard (hard as nails now) & sheet ... A: There are a couple of brands of laminate floors...floating plastics....that have a cushion on the ... | |
| Moisture test for laminate flooring | 9/13/2007 |
| Q: We have a plan to change our carpeted home to Shaw Laminate flooring and a porcelian tile. I paid ... A: This wrong of me, but I am glad you cannot use the laminates. Laminates were a great product in the ... | |
| installation of ceramic tile floor over vinyl | 9/12/2007 |
| Q: Dave, hope you give me some advise. I am planning on installing ceramic tile in a bathroom. The ... A: I will recommend that you first install a 1/4" layer of hardiboard, screwed and glued. Then you ... | |
| flooring help | 9/11/2007 |
| Q: I hope you can help. my mom had tiles installed in her new house approximately 1 year ago. they look ... A: I would start by closing off sections of the house for the dogs. Limit the constant traffic area ... | |
| Ceramic floor tile underlay | 9/7/2007 |
| Q: Dave, I've 5/8" plywood floor with an additional 1/2" plywood substrate on screw to 16" joist. I ... A: YOu need a cementous substrate to lay the tile on. Installing tile to any wood product is risky. ... | |
| Marble versus Tiles | 8/23/2007 |
| Q: I am constructing my house in Pakistan comprising Sitting area, Drawing, Kitchen, 4 Bed Rooms with ... A: For a living space, the marble will outlast the other tiles. It is not a water proof surface, so it ... | |
| laminate flooring | 8/15/2007 |
| Q: I need to know how to level a floor, and what tools i will need to do so before i can lay the ... A: If you have high spots....grinding or sanding is the slow way to take off small amounts. If you ... | |
| Kitchen & BA: Removing Old on with New | 8/13/2007 |
| Q: House 1910+/-, Very happy to see thin plywood underlay beneath vinyls & linoleums and finding ... A: Wood can be put anywhere in your home, if all the proper precautions are taken. Oil each board ... | |
| Hardwood floor installing | 8/5/2007 |
| Q: First thanks for taking my questions: My husband and I are planning on installing a hardwood ... A: For the new install..look for loose nails or staples. Look for potential squeaks. Be sure the ... | |
| Crackling sound | 7/30/2007 |
| Q: We are in a new home (2 yrs) and have radiant heat under hardwood floors. It is stapled to the sub ... A: The nail pattern was dictated by the piping. Your approach from below is going to be greatly ... | |
| Laminate Hardwood | 7/22/2007 |
| Q: We are looking to replace the flooring in our kitchen/family room area with laminate hardwood. What ... A: Unless you intend to go high end, like Pergo's top of the line or WilsonArt....you will get a ... | |
| dura stone flooring | 7/18/2007 |
| Q: I had a fire in my home two years ago I had hardwood floors and when they redid my house i chose ... A: A licensed contractor is always responsible. It is his responsibility to help you get relief for ... | |
| Leveling Floor for Tile | 7/15/2007 |
| Q: I have 700 square feet of flooring that I am going to be tiling. (Yes, it's self-stick vinyl, ... A: I hate to give any advice on this...almost anything you do in this matter is going to be crappy. ... | |
| hardwoodfloor installation | 6/28/2007 |
| Q: Dave Coil, First of all, what is the difference in cost of installation of 2 1/4" wide hardwood and ... A: Differing prices for different circumstances. Normal is about $6 per ft. To get it done ... | |
| radiant heat | 6/27/2007 |
| Q: I would like to install radiant heat mats in an area of 428 sq ft. The mats are fairly expensive in ... A: Radiant heat serves two purposes. It warms the floor and warms the contents on the floor. It is ... | |
| wood flooring | 6/23/2007 |
| Q: Give me your personal opinion of what wood floors look best, engineered,laminates, solid wood ... A: Solid wood is overwhelmingly prefered. The hardest product and nearly indestructable. Engineered ... | |
| flooring options | 6/18/2007 |
| Q: I know its hard to generalize as material costs are going to be important, but can you give me a ... A: I would think that removing the existing flooring and prep for whatever new floor would be a ... | |
| laminate flooring | 6/14/2007 |
| Q: We just had laminate flooring installed in our living room, bedroom and hall. My concern is the ... A: Yes your rocking action will cause damage. Trying to come up with the simplest solution, a terry ... | |
| laying ceramic tile in an upstairs bathroom | 6/5/2007 |
| Q: Dave, My experience as a DIY has been 1100 SF of ceramic tile layed on concrete slab in my last ... A: My opinion is that the previous finished floors need to be remove. The previous floors do allow a ... | |
| Where to begin for flooring | 6/2/2007 |
| Q: I am just getting started to do put in a new floor (parquet-laminate). Problem is I know nothing ... A: There are very few good adhesives. Bosch is my favorite. Keep in mind, you do not want to attempt ... | |
| Where to begin for flooring | 6/1/2007 |
| Q: I am just getting started to do put in a new floor (parquet-laminate). Problem is I know nothing ... A: This can be a tricky floor to lay. You will need to do a complete layout of the room and hallways ... | |
| subfloor for hardwood | 5/22/2007 |
| Q: I'm going to be installing either 3/4" or 5/16" solid hardwood in a bedroom. The subfloor is a 2 ... A: You are going to do alot of work to get this solid. You will need to glue a layer of 5/8" T&G ... | |
| ceramic tile installation concerns | 5/22/2007 |
| Q: A friend is installing inexpensive ceramic tile in his carport. The surface is concrete which has ... A: The concern I have is more related to the painted concrete. The paint is not allowing a cementous ... | |
| whats on my floor? | 5/20/2007 |
| Q: i was wondering whether you could help me the problem is i am in the middle of decorating my living ... A: It may be an attempt to glue the carpet down on a previous install. I would try scraping up a small ... | |
| ceramic tile | 5/20/2007 |
| Q: I have some cracked tile and a couple of broken tile that have come out of the floor. Is it ... A: Clean the area completely, back to a sound plain concrete floor. You can make a small batch of ... | |
| tile | 5/19/2007 |
| Q: do i need to lay anything over concrete and it not level what do i use A: When installing tile over concrete, the main issue is level and sound. If you have highs, or low's, ... | |
| tumbled marble backsplash | 5/17/2007 |
| Q: My tubled marble backsplash behind my outdoor grill looks terrible after repeated degreasing. How ... A: Many times I wish I could do House calls on the advice I am asked for. Guessing is alot of what we ... | |
| ceramic floor | 5/17/2007 |
| Q: we had ceramic floor put in our hallway and into our kitchen , the grout is cracking and coming out ... A: You need to find the cause. Are the tiles loose, as movement will continue to remove grout. Was ... | |
| thresholds for wood floors | 5/14/2007 |
| Q: I am installing 3/8" engineered wood floors in my Kitchen and living room. I am doing a glue down ... A: If you dont do the proper prep, dont expect the best results. Do not glue to linoleum. It will not ... | |
| saltillo vs. ceramic | 5/13/2007 |
| Q: I am making plans to put new flooring in my home (entry hallway, living room, kitchen, and a ... A: There are so many looks to saltillo, that it is hard to explain. Some are very thick and irregular. ... | |
| Premium laminate flooring buckling | 5/13/2007 |
| Q: WE HAVE A NEW HOUSE WITH LAMINATE FLOORING. AFTER WE MOVED IN IN FEB. OF THIS YEAR, WE NOTICED THE ... A: IF,,,the laminate was installed in a cold house...It may be expanding beyond the perimeters ... | |
| leveling floor for laminate flooring | 5/8/2007 |
| Q: I have a room that I want to install laminate flooring. The room has linoleum and I was told the ... A: There are of lot of possibilities for part of it being high or low. You have the ability to do some ... | |
| new hardwood floors | 5/8/2007 |
| Q: I want to put area rugs in front of doorways to keep the floors cleaner, but every small rug I see ... A: Wax your floors heavily and put down whatever you want. If you can find a UV related wax, better ... | |
| TILE | 5/7/2007 |
| Q: DO YOU NEED A GOOD INSTALLER A: Everyone needs a good installer. The trouble is finding one that is more than he says he is.... I ... | |
| hardwood floor bulging/deflection | 5/6/2007 |
| Q: I am purchasing a home (7 year old) and my inspector noticed bulging and deflection in the front ... A: I will have a different by similar conclusion, You dont have TJI's you have standard 2x floor ... | |
| hardwood floor bulging/deflection | 5/5/2007 |
| Q: I am purchasing a home (7 year old) and my inspector noticed bulging and deflection in the front ... A: TJI's have a maximum campher of 1/8". If you have one upside down to the other...a combination ... | |
| Granite Tile | 5/5/2007 |
| Q: I would like to do granite tiles for my counter top as a cheaper alternative to granite slab. Is ... A: You might exercise the option to have an assortment of granite tiles edged and bullnosed by a ... | |
| Tumbled travertine | 5/5/2007 |
| Q: Dave, I am looking into replacing the ceramic tiles around my gas fireplace with a 12x12 Tumbled ... A: I think I would want the recesses to be filled in for the cleaning purposes. Dirt and bugs would ... | |
| grout cracking upon installation in shower | 5/4/2007 |
| Q: Two days ago, our contractors put white grout on white subway tile on one wall of our shower. No ... A: Unsanded grout can be topped off within a reasonable time. It does tend to shrink, and actually ... | |
| non-rectified marble | 5/4/2007 |
| Q: Dave, I bough 2400 ft2 of Sunny Light 24x24x3/4" marble to install in my house. When the installers ... A: Contact the store where purchased and get the facts. If it is irregular tiles....then the installer ... | |
| cracked ceramic tile | 5/3/2007 |
| Q: I hope you can help me out . I had a house built 2 years ago recently I was washing the ceramic ... A: I am so sorry to hear this story. Now your next call is the is the Contractors board. You are now ... | |
| Hardwood floor refinishing | 5/3/2007 |
| Q: Dave, I am looking at refinishing the hardwood floor in my 1955 home. Unfortunately some where ... A: You have two real possibilities. If you can get a grinder and grind off the top of the staple, then ... | |
| self-sticking tiles for garage floor | 5/2/2007 |
| Q: I was thinking about putting maybe vinyl cheap self-sticking tiles down in my garage (no car will be ... A: PLEASE do not use the self stick tiles. It is the worst product available. If you want a smooth ... | |
| Konecto | 5/2/2007 |
| Q: We are replacing the floor covering in our basement. We were going to do laminate but may change to ... A: What little research I have done with it...it needs a stable environment. If you make the basement ... | |
| laminate flooring transition to carpetting | 5/2/2007 |
| Q: I just had carpetting installed in my living room and I'm about to install laminate snap n lock ... A: First off let me warn you about laminates. Do not get a cheap brand or style...it will haunt you. ... | |
| Flooring | 5/1/2007 |
| Q: We are planning to install laminate flooring in our new house. The measuring contractor mentioned ... A: Your first caution is NOT install the Laminate. It will not react well with that indicator. It ... | |
| douglas fir floor | 5/1/2007 |
| Q: We ave an old Bungalow/cottage style home in SanFrancisco with a linoleum kitchen floor. I removed ... A: Douglas fir is a very tight grain, sorta red to almost white in color. Pine is white to yellow and ... | |
| douglas fir floor | 4/30/2007 |
| Q: We ave an old Bungalow/cottage style home in SanFrancisco with a linoleum kitchen floor. I removed ... A: Douglas fir has many good features, but it is not a hardwood, actually it is one of the softer ... | |
| vinyl flooring in basement | 4/30/2007 |
| Q: i am preparing to sell my parents house for them, they are very old, and they have 9x9 tile on a ... A: Unfortunately that is the time frame that some of those tiles were made with asbestos. I would say, ... | |
| Porcelain Tile for outdoor deck? | 4/29/2007 |
| Q: Wondering if I can put porcelain tile on an outdoor deck. The deck is 10 feet off the ground, ... A: The key is to have a sufficient masonry/concrete base for the bonding of the tile, then a really ... | |
| Tile prep | 4/29/2007 |
| Q: I started a bathroom tile job, tub and floor, myself a few months ago and got too busy/frustrated to ... A: Prep takes the longest of all the project. For me to say they are taking too long....without being ... | |
| HELP - PHOENIX FLOORING | 4/27/2007 |
| Q: we are building a home in phoenix and the second story of our home will have a lot of exposure to ... A: Some contractors and archs and engineers are funny. A wood floor can easily be protected with a UV ... | |
| marble tile floor grout line | 4/21/2007 |
| Q: I am installing a marble bathroom tile floor. The 12" square marble tiles are being installed over ... A: 1/16" is fine for a NON sanded grout. I will also suggest using the latex additive in the grout to ... | |
| marble tile floor grout line | 4/21/2007 |
| Q: I am installing a marble bathroom tile floor. The 12" square marble tiles are being installed over ... A: I did not see that you put down a cement board. It is critical that tiles be bonded to a cementous ... | |
| Armstrong Bond Oozing thru Hartwood Parquet Floor | 4/20/2007 |
| Q: 2nd owner of a Armstrong-Hartco, Hartwood Parquet, solid oak hardwood & acrylic impregnated floor ... A: Wow this hurts. Contractors have a 4 year window to make good on workmanship complaints. You ... | |
| oak flooring.... | 4/20/2007 |
| Q: Is it better to install pre-finished oak or unfinished (3/4in) flooring? Advantages / disadvantage? ... A: It is always prefered to install unfinished solif flooring and do the finish in place. However a ... | |
| Vinyl installed over VCT | 4/17/2007 |
| Q: What is the standard? Can vinyl sheet goods be installed over VCT?? A: If the VCT has no wax, is free of oils...semi rough finish, you could prep and install vinyl over ... | |
| kitchen remodel | 4/15/2007 |
| Q: We finally decided to take the giant leap and remodel our kitchen. I am confused about which ... A: All flooring can work in a kitchen as long as the prep and care is in the process. Even tho it can ... | |
| hardwood in a bathroom? | 4/15/2007 |
| Q: My full bath is 6x6 approx. I purchased BRUCE hardwood interlocking pre finished flooring from ... A: That is a pretty good floor. After you get it down..oil it heavily with a furniture oil or polish. ... | |
| Uneven wood flooring | 4/13/2007 |
| Q: I submitted this question to Bryan and I don't think he understood my questions as his answer was ... A: The best information I can give you, contact the builders agent and post a complaint. If they bring ... | |
| Laminate flooring | 4/12/2007 |
| Q: Our new home is open concept and we had Pergo laminate put into the entire space (approx. 500 sq ft) ... A: It sounds like it was poorly installed. It is possible, in some cases, to remove and reinstall. I ... | |
| wood floor finish | 4/11/2007 |
| Q: We have red oak 3/3 " hardwood floors that have been sanded and refinished once already. The high ... A: I would suggest that you use masking tape and border that area, then use a 0000 steel wool and ... | |
| glue down or floating installation | 4/7/2007 |
| Q: I would like to install wood flooring in my new two-story home; approximately 1300 sq. feet. Both ... A: Consider that Engineered floor systems are a thin layer of real wood, prefinished and ready to go. ... | |
| Laminate Flooring | 4/6/2007 |
| Q: I have a question. I am about to use wood laminate on an entry way that measures 61" x62". The ... A: I would start against a wall. Probably going across the hall. Normall installation tells you to ... | |
| temporary vinyl flooring | 4/5/2007 |
| Q: I have a 6x5 bathroom that part of the tile floor was taken up to repair a problem with the toilet ... A: Do yourself a big favor and do not install self sticky vinyl tiles. It is the biggest mess ever to ... | |
| Konecto | 4/2/2007 |
| Q: Can a floor heating system be instalaled under the Konecto Plank collection A: A passive floor heating system can be installed under any floor. It is the prep that is required to ... | |
| Laminate flooring | 3/31/2007 |
| Q: We installed laminate flooring last fall about 6 months ago and it has starting raising in places. ... A: I have been warning alot of people lately about laminate floors. There is so much going wrong with ... | |
| Laying Linolium | 3/31/2007 |
| Q: A year ago I had new linoleum placed in my bathroom. I used a contractor who was not certified in ... A: I would strongly suggest that you NOT overlay a new floor on an old floor. If you want to ... | |
| Engineered wood floor---crackles!!!! | 3/27/2007 |
| Q: We bought a Rottlund spec home where they installed 15K worth of engineered wood floor. It ... A: Your next best avenue is to contact your State Contractors board. This sounds like a workmanship ... | |
| vinyl ???????????? | 3/21/2007 |
| Q: Doing some remodeling in an older home planning on putting down some yinyl tile in kitchen and ... A: Professionally speaking....DO NOT PUT DOWN SELF STICK tiles. The worst product ever made for ... | |
| Repair hard wood floors | 3/21/2007 |
| Q: I am buying a house that had radiators and they removed and installed baseboard heat and left the ... A: It is not easy to replace planks, as I am sure you know. It will require actually destroying the ... | |
| vinyl flooring | 3/18/2007 |
| Q: are there others options than laying another layer of underlayment when installing vinyl flooring. ... A: I am curious why you are looking for another moisture barrier between floors. If you have a ... | |
| installation | 3/15/2007 |
| Q: My fathers living room carpet needs to be replaced due to his cats pissing on it whenever they feel ... A: If a vinyl floor is a good option, then do it the simple way and use full glue down sheet goods. It ... | |
| Konecto Flooring | 3/14/2007 |
| Q: I am remodeling some rental props I have and usually I remove most of the carpet and put in tile ... A: Because you are talking rentals....avoid anything that you cant fix easily. Tiles...not ... | |
| floor prep | 3/5/2007 |
| Q: I've pulled up vinyl flooring (installed in the 1970's) from the bathroom floor. There are areas of ... A: Take heed....avoid the self stick tiles if you have any choice at all. it is the worst of all ... | |
| Tile floor preparations. | 3/3/2007 |
| Q: I'm planning on installing a tile floor in my kitchen. I've gone to the home improvement store and ... A: You really dont have the choice you want. You need the 1/4" cement board to bond the tile to, you ... | |
| Installing laminite wood floors | 2/18/2007 |
| Q: Dave, I have a two part question. I ripped up my carpet and my floor beneath is not completely ... A: AS long a we agree on the names...laminates are generally plastic, and engineered is generally ... | |
| flooring choice | 2/14/2007 |
| Q: My ten-year-old house is in desperate need of new floors, but I am having a terrible time deciding ... A: Tile is prefered at any entry way, but carpet is the cheapest to replace as it wears out. If you ... | |
| ceramic tile floor | 2/6/2007 |
| Q: Even after I wash the floor it looks only so so. It has been in for about a year. Should I buy a ... A: I would consider something like soft scrub and do a small area somewhere to see if you can get the ... | |
| refinished floors | 2/6/2007 |
| Q: Coil: We recently had our hardwoods (now about 14 yrs old) refinished for the second time. Again, ... A: It sounds like the finish was put on too thick. If it is in thin layers, it is allowed to expand ... | |
| wood laminate flooring | 2/2/2007 |
| Q: I spilles some tea in my floor at some point during the night and did not realize it until the next ... A: You have a problem that is not repairable. Your flooring was not a glue joint installation. This ... | |
| Hardwood on stairs | 1/9/2007 |
| Q: Dave, I'm planning to remove the carpet on my stairs and going with wood. Also I need to be cost ... A: You always start at the bottom. As for the nosing....that is a hard topic. Consider that foot ... | |
| flooring | 1/9/2007 |
| Q: I received a call from a friend that wants to replace her 15 year old vinyl sticky tiles with new ... A: That peel and stick tile is a nightmare no matter what gets involved. It is one of the stickiest of ... | |
| Laminate flooring | 1/6/2007 |
| Q: I was thinking of putting down laminate flooring in our kitchen. How do I determine wether I can ... A: My first caution,,,,do not waste money...if you want a laminate floor, spend the money on the best ... | |
| bamboo flooring over existing oak floors | 1/5/2007 |
| Q: Dave, I am about to install bamboo floors in our dining room. The house is approximitaly 50-60 ... A: It is called Kraft paper. It is asphalt coated but brown on the working side. It is common under ... | |
| Dupont Lam. (Tuscan) stone look | 1/4/2007 |
| Q: Dave, my wife and I are getting an education in Laminants. We were ready to bite the bullet and go ... A: I will probably agree with him 120%. Laminates were a great idea when they first were designed. ... | |
| New Laminate floor squeaks bad! | 12/27/2006 |
| Q: New "floating" floor laminate installed in brand new home squeaks and is not going away like I was ... A: I would be concerned about any noise. The laminate should be a very quiet floor and even quieting ... | |
| Hardwood flooring against a granite fireplace surrond | 12/27/2006 |
| Q: Dave, I am upgrading a fireplace hearth and flooring in a family room. The hearth is 3/4" granite ... A: I would suggest that in most cases the hearth is not in a traffic area, and thus the true need for a ... | |
| hardwood project | 12/26/2006 |
| Q: My wife and I want to remover the 15 years old ceramic tiles and install hardwood to match the rest ... A: You are really into a project. AS for removing the screws...you may have more problems than you can ... | |
| tile floor substrate | 12/24/2006 |
| Q: I'm hoping you can help me. I am remodeling my bathroom and about to put down a new tile floor. My ... A: Screws or nails will hold hardibacker in place, but the idea is to bond it to the subfloor as much ... | |
| spacing carrera subway tile | 12/19/2006 |
| Q: I understand. Is 1/32 inch too small if not, then 1/64 inch? Bearing in mind your reply about ... A: The only way to use a grout line less that 1/16" would be to grout as you install. Putting the ... | |
| how to remove old stickie tile from floor | 12/14/2006 |
| Q: I need to remove old press down tiles from my floor some are coming up and there is another layer ... A: I hear so much of this. This type of flooring is really an ugly mess for everyone. It is such a ... | |
| transition pieces | 12/9/2006 |
| Q: I installed 5 inch tounge&groove, three quarter inch thick in my living room. The living room has a ... A: You should be able to get a plastic wood grained piece at a Home Depot, Lowes, or a flooring center. ... | |
| Cultured marble vs Tile flooring | 12/8/2006 |
| Q: We are building a new home and have chosen most of the flooring as engineered hardwood in the 1st ... A: Engineered flooring is great for the downstairs. Making sure is it installed properly, and sealed ... | |
| Continuing Length of Laminate Floor | 12/7/2006 |
| Q: I sure hope you can give me some insight. I had "Dupont Real Touch Elite" Laminate flooring ... A: If you plan to maintain the snaplock character, you are out of luck. Taking it up and starting at ... | |
| laminate flooring | 12/5/2006 |
| Q: but I am a bit confused as to what you mean by planning far enough ahead. Also, does the moisture ... A: The moisture barrier is not always required. Up the walls is never an issue. It is an East coast ... | |
| laminate flooring | 12/5/2006 |
| Q: I am about to put some laminate floors in my living room and dining room. When I pulled the carpet ... A: It sounds like you are in a bit of luck. The only area is where you start or end. That area my ... | |
| installing solid oak floorimg | 12/3/2006 |
| Q: I'm installing 500 sq feet of solid oak and in my preparation I've had to remove old oak flooring ... A: If I found this in a repair job...I would be upset too. Wrong material in the wrong place. If you ... | |
| Laminate and transition pieces at thresholds | 12/2/2006 |
| Q: I've gotten two quotes to put in some Armstrong Laminate flooring in Yorkshire Walnut throughout my ... A: You only need transitions where there are transitions. Differences in elevations, or differences in ... | |
| Flooring | 11/30/2006 |
| Q: What is the general problem with cork. It says that it can be "resealed" "resurfaced" and poly ... A: Cork is a flexible product, it is absorbant, it will atract dirt and debris, it will require high ... | |
| Hardwood flooring repair | 11/28/2006 |
| Q: No the boards cant be saved, some are very damaged by termites, and others are deeply cracked and or ... A: When you use the word termits....it usually means there is more damage than you know. Unless you ... | |
| Hardwood flooring repair | 11/27/2006 |
| Q: I have a home I'm renovating to sell. the HW flooring has some spots where it needs repair. Is it ... A: It sounds like you are taking on a project beyond the necessary. Are the boards repairable? Can ... | |
| Mud to Underlayment transition | 11/27/2006 |
| Q: I'm in the process of tiling an entryway and hallway to match them to a dining and kitchen area. ... A: Hardibacker is a cement replacement for wood floors. If you already have a concrete slab....that is ... | |
| water damage on laminate flooring | 11/24/2006 |
| Q: I had water damage to my lamiante flooring and it has 'lifted' the top layer of laminate ( it is ... A: To my limited knowledge, once the laminate delaminates from moisture....it is history. It is ... | |
| Hardwood vs. laminate | 11/22/2006 |
| Q: We are looking to have installed wood flooring in our living, dining and kitchen. We are stuck ... A: A real wood floor is always the best choice for durability and resale. If you go with a solid wood ... | |
| ceramic floor tile installation | 11/21/2006 |
| Q: It was reccommended by the representative at the Home Improvement Center that I use a Multi Purpose ... A: Multi purpose adhesives are for carpets and linoleums. Moveable flooring. If you put down ceramic ... | |
| Floating floor advice for near the door jams. | 11/20/2006 |
| Q: I know you can always put up trim later so you can leave 1/4" to allow expansion below the trim but ... A: That 1/4" gap is a nuisance. It creates more problems than it could relieve. I put my flooring up ... | |
| tile | 11/20/2006 |
| Q: Is there a difference between floor tile and tile that I would like to do the inside of my shower ... A: You do need to be carefull wht you choose for inside a shower. Some materials are not suited for ... | |
| install laminate flooring but really bad squeaky floor | 11/19/2006 |
| Q: Ok. I check it very closely. Wall is not the problem as it is atleast 1/2 inch above the sub fllor. ... A: If you havent laid the floor yet..start making access holes to get to the root of your squeak. Now ... | |
| Water Damage | 11/17/2006 |
| Q: My humidifier leaked and water was everywhere seeping into our laminate flooring. Now the floor is ... A: Unfortunately, I cant imagine a fix for particle board that has gotten wet. If it is ... | |
| Marble bathroom floor | 11/17/2006 |
| Q: I just had a black marble floor installed in my bathroom (not grouted yet)and the joints are uneven ... A: 1/16" is the maximum deflection on elevations. If you have any thing over that...the installation ... | |
| Marble tiling fireplace surround facing | 11/17/2006 |
| Q: Im a newbie (sorry!). Our 17 year old fireplace has the original black front facing ( I guess its ... A: You will need to remove the existing facing to see what the support structure is. You need a sound ... | |
| floor leveling | 11/16/2006 |
| Q: I would like to install laminate flooring in a poorly built addition. I pulled up the carpet - and ... A: I did a job like this in Boulder City Nv. We actually took 3/4" plywood and used an electric plane ... | |
| cement slab floor vs. wood | 11/15/2006 |
| Q: What is your opinion on whether the cement slab is a problem with people walking and living with it ... A: Not many people ask this question, and it is a very interesting answer. A concrete slab and its ... | |
| Hardwood floor installation | 11/12/2006 |
| Q: I own a capecod and would like to install red oak hardwood floors in the second stoery bedroom. It ... A: Remove the old tile first....I recommend a glue and nail job, it removes the squeak element, and the ... | |
| grouting 1/2" joints in large (24"x24" slate tiles | 11/11/2006 |
| Q: I've laid some beautiful 2'sq slate tiles in my kitchen and can grout tomorrow. Joints are 1/2". ... A: Home Depot does carry "grout bags". Very similar to you icing description. One of the easier ways ... | |
| Question asked on November 7 | 11/10/2006 |
| Q: I asked about tile in a bathroom and problems with the wall tile that goes to the floor. I received ... A: It is very possible that My computer glitched. If I recall, you have wall tiles going to the floor ... | |
| looking for "wood" alternative | 11/8/2006 |
| Q: I'm looking for options for a "wood" floor for the entire first floor of my house which includes 1/2 ... A: Laminates vs. wood vs Engineered flooring. Education time. Laminates are basically a plastic ... | |
| concrete prep | 11/7/2006 |
| Q: 1) What is the best solution to remove black mastic and vinyl glue on my concrete floor? 2) What is ... A: I use a razor scrapper like a wallpaper scrapper...4" wide blade. There are many concrete patch ... | |
| particle board underlayment | 11/7/2006 |
| Q: Someone else touched on this elsewhere but I would like more clarification. Want to install Costco ... A: I dont like the particle board underlayment, but the pneumatic nailer will help with its ... | |
| cement backer board | 11/6/2006 |
| Q: How do I attach the cement backer board to a slab floor? Do I liquid mail it to the cement? I am ... A: Normally you would not use backer board on a slab floor. It is a cementous layer for wood floors. ... | |
| install laminate flooring but really bad squeaky floor | 11/5/2006 |
| Q: I bought this house few months a ago. This home is almost 11 years old so there are no squeaks ... A: You may need to cut in some access holes in the floor to insert some support blocking. Fortunately, ... | |
| transistions | 11/2/2006 |
| Q: I am installing 3/4in hardwood floor. It is going to meet ceramic tile at the same height. Do I put ... A: Normally you would put a piece of tape on the wood edge and grout to the wood. Tape being a water ... | |
| laminate flooring | 10/29/2006 |
| Q: We just bought a house and 1 week before the movers are to come to move us in, the "friend" that was ... A: Find out how square the room is. It is critical to start with a square pattern. Get some lines on ... | |
| kitchen floor tile | 10/24/2006 |
| Q: I have a kitchen floor, not older than 6 years in age. Some tiles are cracked to the point where ... A: I use a really small screwdriver and slowly chip away the grout surrounding the tiles. Then I ... | |
| Laminate Flooring | 10/18/2006 |
| Q: We recently had a free floating, lamininate floor installled in our kitchen. Our problem is that is ... A: You found the flaw. That is the biggest problem with a floating floor. Hollow sounding. The ... | |
| Laminate florrs | 10/17/2006 |
| Q: Sir, I had a general contractor come to my house and give me an estimate on installing laminate ... A: Please contact the contractor as soon as possible. HE is in charge of the issue for the purchase ... | |
| flooring and stairs | 10/16/2006 |
| Q: We are moving into a rehab. Brick Bunglow in Chicago in a few weeks. Basement is finished except for ... A: The laminate flooring is a good choice for the basement, and not a good choice for stairs. I would ... | |
| Tile Setting | 10/11/2006 |
| Q: I am remodeling the bathroom and buying a very expensive porcelain tile. How should the tile guy set ... A: Hardibacker is a prefered method for the walls. The floor IN a shower is another matter. A shower ... | |
| Parquet flooring - swelling | 10/9/2006 |
| Q: We have rather old parquest flooring and parts of it swells especially in summer. Can I fix these by ... A: It is possible but not fun. It takes patience to figure the method to pull them up and take them ... | |
| tile grout sealing | 10/5/2006 |
| Q: I just had a porcelain tile floor installed and they said I have to seal it, however the grout is ... A: If they do it right, there is NOT residue on the tiles. There may be a "thin" layer of dust that ... | |
| Laminate flooring dips and humps | 10/2/2006 |
| Q: Dave, Thanks for the info on this problem. I am finally crowbarring off the old parque, a lot of ... A: Now you may be doing more than needed. The foam underlayment does not need a clean surface, it is ... | |
| Hardibacker install question | 10/1/2006 |
| Q: Yesterday I covered the floor of a 5 year old bathroom that had 3/4" ply over 2x12's 16" OC. The 1/4 ... A: If you fear a compromise, think screws and counter sink the heads. As for the seams...not a worry. ... | |
| Tile over concrete | 9/30/2006 |
| Q: I have a question regarding installing tile over a concrete slab in my basement. I have sanded the ... A: If the sanding did not expose the original concrete, then an installation of 1/4" hardibacker is a ... | |
| Flooring | 9/29/2006 |
| Q: I plan,(or at least hope to)put down laminate flooring. The floor currently has carpeting. As I ... A: The planking direction is largely a perception. Which is the longest run and will your laminate ... | |
| painting sub-floor | 9/29/2006 |
| Q: We are actually planning to cover the existing subfloor with 4'x8'x0.25" sheets of plywood. We just ... A: It makes alot more sense and should work. I strongly suggest glue down and finish nails. As for ... | |
| Tile Sub-flooring | 9/28/2006 |
| Q: I want to tile a small floor area (5'x5')where there is now carpet. I have pulled back the carpet ... A: You should not lay tile directly over any wood flooring. You should either float in a masonry ... | |
| Installing wood floors and kitchen cabinets - which order? | 9/27/2006 |
| Q: Dave, My husband and I are having a house built by a local builder. In the kichen, the builder had ... A: It saves alot of money to not put flooring under cabinets. It also allows the cabinet bases to be ... | |
| laminate versus hardwood | 9/27/2006 |
| Q: I just spoke to a flooring contractor to get a quote on wood flooring. He suggested that I install ... A: I am an old carpenter...from the East (OHIO) we had solid wood flooring throughout our home. Cant ... | |
| granite tile kitchen countertops | 9/26/2006 |
| Q: we are wanting to install granite tile for new countertops. Ihave a few questions/concerns about ... A: I would recommend a grout joint...1/16" which would only require a minimum of unsanded grout. You ... | |
| wood flooring vrs ceramic Tile | 9/22/2006 |
| Q: we are building a new home, wood floors come standard however we would like to know which is cheaper ... A: With all the stories I hear...it is nearly dead even. Alot depends on the price of the tiles vs the ... | |
| Application of gaged marble | 9/21/2006 |
| Q: I want to use gaged marble for covering a wood platform, covered with hardibacker to support a 300lb ... A: You dont have to have a grout joint, but it is strongly suggested. A 1/16" joint will allow enough ... | |
| Porcelain tile installtion methods | 9/19/2006 |
| Q: What is the best method of installing Porcelain tile on a kitchen floor. We were givin 2 quotes: 1 ... A: YOu cant beat a wire mesh job that is done correctly. It is solid, sound, stable and permanent. On ... | |
| Tile installation | 9/16/2006 |
| Q: My husband and I took our bathroom to bare studs. We reboared the walls with greenboard in the tub ... A: Well Mrs and Mr. California....you are OK..Hardibacker is a 1/4" cement board that you can affix to ... | |
| Floor Options | 9/15/2006 |
| Q: Dave, I have a walkout basement on a concrete slab. Has always been carpet. House built in 70's. I ... A: I would suggest WilsonArt in stead of Pergo. More element compliant. More plastic in volved which ... | |
| vinyl flooring | 9/12/2006 |
| Q: we had heavy vinyl flooring installed over concrete its been awhile and now vinyl is curling on some ... A: A Long time ago they were selling a vinyl flooring that was a perimeter glue only. Supposedly you ... | |
| flooring question | 9/9/2006 |
| Q: In my basement, which is finished, the wood flooring in the kitchen area is wobbly because the ... A: Advertising is a funny thing. Some people believe what they see and hear. Floor levelers are for ... | |
| ceramic tile | 9/8/2006 |
| Q: i removed my tile due to some loose ones and now i have a concret floor with thin set allover it i ... A: This is not an easy remedy. I start with a hammer and screwdriver to get a start. Depending on how ... | |
| Engineered Hardwood Installation | 9/6/2006 |
| Q: We are building a new home and will be having engineered hardwood (Bruce Turlington) installed over ... A: They do not make a toxic glue anymore. It may have a odor...but everything does. You cannot have a ... | |
| bamboo floor | 9/4/2006 |
| Q: I would like some advise on how should i installed bamboo floor over a wood sub floor, I have 550 sq ... A: I am going to make some assumptions to start with. Your bamboo is prefinished. It is 3/4" thick ... | |
| Vinyl removal | 8/31/2006 |
| Q: I have a question about removing vinyl/tile installation. I've installed tile 4-5 times in the past ... A: The concrete needs to be as clean as you can get it. If there is paint or texture residue, the tile ... | |
| Tiles lifting from concrete floor in AZ | 8/30/2006 |
| Q: I live in Phoenix, AZ and had 800 SF of 18" ceramic tile installed over concrete subfloor approx 7 ... A: If your concrete was poured in difficult weather, it is possible that a sealer was sprayed on while ... | |
| vct finish | 8/29/2006 |
| Q: I had Armstrong Commercial (Exelon) installed and finish is very dull. Contractor said I need to ... A: There is a very slight difference from the top vs the bottom. Most of the time it is a physical ... | |
| peel-n-stick vinyl tile | 8/27/2006 |
| Q: I saw on a home improvement show, for vinyl tile they had a peel-n-stick "grout" that outlined the ... A: This is not a good idea. The 1/16" tiles do not give sufficient space for grout. Peel-n-stick is ... | |
| Laminate Flooring | 8/26/2006 |
| Q: I am going to be installing laminate flooring soon - currently we have oak accents (ie: cupboards, ... A: Costco has a pretty good product line, so I wont cast aspersions. The type of laminate is pretty ... | |
| Laminate vs Tile | 8/25/2006 |
| Q: I would like to upgrade my flooring in the main level which includes about 1000 sqft of kitchen, a ... A: If you can afford the tile....that is way prefered over the laminates. Laminates are the cheap way ... | |
| Marble or Granite Grout Joints | 8/16/2006 |
| Q: Dave-one last question.....if the 1/8" or less grout joint is an industry standard grout joint for ... A: Most boxes of Custom Blend Unsanded Grout specify grout joints of 1/8" or less. The 1/4" grout ... | |
| installing tile over linoleum | 8/8/2006 |
| Q: i read your previous postings and still need clarification. Is it safe to install 1/4 inch cement ... A: Safe is a good word. The reason I caution against laying tiles on linoleum is the flex factor of ... | |
| How to Prep Concrete Foundation For laminate Flooring | 8/7/2006 |
| Q: I just removed ceramic tile, carpeting, and carpet tack strips from my concrete foundation. I wish ... A: First off, we need to discover the difference between laminates and manufactured flooring. ... | |
| Floor Prep for Laminate Flooring | 8/6/2006 |
| Q: I am considering to install laminate flooring in my basement, I think I have a good understand of ... A: If the floor is purposely sloping to a floor drain, it is not a good idea to put a laminate floor in ... | |
| How to clean travertine bathrooms | 8/6/2006 |
| Q: What do you mean by "rated for shower walls?" Do you mean that we shouldn't have used it inside the ... A: I have not seen travertine used in a shower anywhere. Only on floors. Marble is not a good shower ... | |
| carpet on lanoliem removal | 8/5/2006 |
| Q: we have carpet that is glued down to lanoliem. and the lanoliem is glued down to plywood. we want to ... A: No matter what method you choose, it is going to be messy. A scraper is going to work, but it will ... | |
| Sealing Laminate Flooring | 8/5/2006 |
| Q: I am installing a Glueless Pergo floor in my Kitchen, should I use a Glue or sealant on the floor? ... A: I ALWAYS use glue with these laminates. They are water resistant, not water proof. I use Elmers ... | |
| Laminate flooring dips and humps | 8/4/2006 |
| Q: A few months back, I had a few friends who are side contractors install some affordable glueless ... A: It sounds like alot things happened. The original parque was breathing, and now it cannot. It can ... | |
| Marble Grout | 8/3/2006 |
| Q: I am having 18 x18 white marble installed in my bedroom. They finished the installation yesterday ... A: There is no risk, just a large dust and dirt collector. Is it possible for you to fill the joints ... | |
| Fixing water damaged hardwood tile floor | 8/3/2006 |
| Q: A window was accidentally left open during a recent storm, leading to water sitting on the floor for ... A: It sounds logical. If the water got under the flooring, and capilary attraction took its course, ... | |
| Solid Hardwood | 7/31/2006 |
| Q: My builder is installing 3/4" solid hardwood by gluing directly to the slab. What kind of assurances ... A: The process is unique, so if he knows how, it can be simple. The key is to not do a large area at a ... | |
| Vinyl Tile | 7/31/2006 |
| Q: I would like to spruce up a bathroom. Spending the money on fully tiling the walls isn't ... A: I will give you my Personal and Professional opinion. Vinyl peel n stick is a huge mistake for all ... | |
| when to replace the subfloor when installing marble tiles. | 7/31/2006 |
| Q: We live in a 35 year old townhouse. We asked a friend of a friend who reportedly had experience ... A: Preparation is everything. If the new subfloor was not done properly, it will be impossible to get ... | |
| laminate protection | 7/28/2006 |
| Q: We have just installed Quick Step laminate in our den and kitchen. We don't want the furniture to ... A: Every great idea has its problems. Those wonderful slippery surfaces are easy to clean, because ... | |
| wood floors | 7/28/2006 |
| Q: I am installing (3/4"} unfinished oak flooring. When it comes to sanding this before the stain, ... A: The prep depends on the amount of defection when installed. Some gymnasium floors have a deflection ... | |
| Floor Leveling Compounds | 7/25/2006 |
| Q: In our kitchen we have a particle board subfloor that's very uneven and the nails are starting to ... A: I need to ask a type of question. Is the subfloor particle board or OSB. They do get confused. If ... | |
| Tile on a new screened in porch | 7/25/2006 |
| Q: I would like to install tile on the floor of my screened in porch. I line in Minnesota, so it does ... A: I would start with 3/4"Marine playwood, then a layer of 6mil plastic, then use 1/2" wonder board and ... | |
| Grouting Brick Pavers | 7/24/2006 |
| Q: I have laied brick pavers in several rooms of my house and have sealed them, but am having trouble ... A: I have never heard of brick pavers "in" a house. I would consider them to poarse for an interior ... | |
| Subfloor | 7/20/2006 |
| Q: So I use thinset to fill in lowspots before I put down the 1/4" hardiboard? Do I need thinset to ... A: As far a brands, I use what Home depot carries...I think it is just Custom Blend. The thinset will ... | |
| laminate (slats-wood) installation | 7/20/2006 |
| Q: i am having laminate floors installed in my house. my question is, How should the the slats be ... A: I would look at it from a doorway perspective. Perpendicular to the doors...as much as possible. ... | |
| ceramic tile installation | 7/20/2006 |
| Q: I was hoping you can answer a question i have about installing ceramic tiles over an existing vinyl ... A: I will caution you that if the backer board is not affixed to the floor, the tiles will float and ... | |
| Procelain Floor Grout Joints | 7/20/2006 |
| Q: Dave, We just installed over 500 sq. ft. of procelain tile in our house. The grout joints (approx. ... A: Wait at least 7 days...damp mopping each day. Create a good hard cure. After that...any named ... | |
| problem with ceramic tile grout cracking | 7/19/2006 |
| Q: I have recently installed ceramic tile 12x12 on my entire 1st floor (approx 1,000 sq ft. my ... A: Since I dont know what he did, I will tell you what needed to be done. Depending on the subfloor, ... | |
| newly installed grout cracks | 7/19/2006 |
| Q: ok i just put down brand new tile .over brand new subfloor. done this before,yet customer had wanted ... A: Usually it will crack from too much water in the mix. As the water dries/cures..it shrinks and thus ... | |
| Tile Saw | 7/19/2006 |
| Q: I have a few home tiling projects and I am trying to figure what saw to buy and keep the cost at ... A: I use the cheapest wet saw I can get. I consider them disposable to the job. I pay $89 and its a ... | |
| Laminate installation problems | 7/19/2006 |
| Q: I'm installing laminate into my sunken living room. I'm starting against a railing as if I start ... A: I would consider glueing them as the first resort. Complications deem the unusual, so do what makes ... | |
| countertop tiling over uneven concrete board | 7/18/2006 |
| Q: We are trying to lay tile in our kitchen over the cabinets. my husband attached 3/4 inch plywood, ... A: At this point I would try to save what you can. Mix a small portion of thinset...wet down the ... | |
| Concrete Prep | 7/18/2006 |
| Q: I'm trying to get my concrete floor ready for tile. It's a small bathroom that had carpeting and ... A: You can, but I dont recommend it. Get a wallpaper scrapper, and just scrape off the old whatever ... | |
| Subfloor | 7/18/2006 |
| Q: The 3/4 inch plywood is under the tub and not all in one piece, so removing it would be difficult. ... A: If you have a 4' level or longer, that would help, you can mix a small amount of thinset, and use ... | |
| floor prep on second floor bathroom | 7/17/2006 |
| Q: My children and I want to lay porcelein tile in our second floor bathroom. My question is what, if ... A: I strongly recommend the 1/4" hardibacker board and use thinset and screws to bond it to the current ... | |
| lifiting ceramic tiles | 7/17/2006 |
| Q: Our 10" ceramic tiles were installed 18 years ago and today we noticed a lifting of 2 rows of tiles ... A: The most logical are expansion and contraction of the slab and/ or the tiles. Movement will break ... | |
| porcalan tile | 7/17/2006 |
| Q: I had home depot come to my house to install some tile in my front landing and in my living room to ... A: Yes, yes and more yes. The installation was totally wrong. Home Depot has some of the worst ... | |
| Jerusalem Stone Travertine | 7/17/2006 |
| Q: Is it normal for the height of the floor to raise 1 1/2 inches when placed over a cement slab? It ... A: This is strange. Are you implying that the whole floor is now 1 1/2" above what it was when the ... | |
| removing vinyl from hardwood floors | 7/17/2006 |
| Q: how to best remove vinyl (glued down; black tar-appearing glue) from hardwood floors? House ... A: The only two options that I know work, even with alot of effort, are lacquer thinner and mineral ... | |
| Laminate flooring is cupped | 7/16/2006 |
| Q: the flooring is Wilsonart, it's a wood composite as far as I know, snap lock style. The entire floor ... A: Tomorrow morning you contact your state Contractors board and open a claim of defective workmanship ... | |
| Laminate flooring is cupped | 7/16/2006 |
| Q: I wanted to check with someone knowledgable is this area because I feel I'm getting the run around ... A: I applaud you in your research. I will make some assumptions that arent necessarily true. Your ... | |
| Acid Etching Poured Terrazo Floor Before Tile Install | 7/15/2006 |
| Q: I have asked a question in the past on the need for acid etching of poured terrazo floors before ... A: I have had differing advise on this myself. Some say it is a 10/1 mix, some say 50/50. As long as ... | |
| marble floors | 7/15/2006 |
| Q: i am planning on remodeling a beach apt. currently the floors are 12 x 12 shiny marble tiles with ... A: This is a bit unusual. If I understand, you are not likeing the shine of the marble, is the color ... | |
| hardwood floors | 7/13/2006 |
| Q: I have Brazilian cherry wood floors in my kitchen, hall and living room. Recently I had an installer ... A: You have certainly gone the normal route. I am curious as to what the footprints are. Cement, ... | |
| vinyl flooring | 7/12/2006 |
| Q: I am having trouble deciding between Tarkett Granit and Mannington Biospec commercial grade ... A: This is not a fair comment for me, but I stay away from Mannington anything. I have installed their ... | |
| Concrete slab preparation for engineered wood floor installation | 7/10/2006 |
| Q: Dave, We are installing (glue down) a three ply engineered hardwood floor over a concrete slab. ... A: You have the standard mess. A wallpaper scrapper is what I use. It will take the floor right down ... | |
| vinyl tile | 7/9/2006 |
| Q: I have taken up an old carpet and it left behind adhesive. I have used adhesive remover and now gone ... A: Unfortunately, the rougher surface is going to be enhanced thru the vinyl tiles. The floor levelor ... | |
| Marble Tile | 7/4/2006 |
| Q: I have several marble floor tiles that have a hairline crack. I am concerned that if I try to ... A: Not knowing the color of your marble, I may be a bit off. If you can get some unsanded grout that ... | |
| old ceramic tile floor cracked from | 7/4/2006 |
| Q: I have a bathroom ceramic tile floor which (1) is an ugly color and (2) is cracking at the edges ... A: Of course a floating floor will work. The key is to make all cuts tight to the walls or baseboard ... | |
| painted floor | 6/25/2006 |
| Q: i want to paint a previously carpeted floor. it is in the bathroom area ,which has the ... A: This might sound strange, or it might make perfect sense. If you can get some "bondo" or sometimes ... | |
| Oil based polyurethane on hardwood floors | 6/16/2006 |
| Q: About 2 weeks ago I got my hardwood floors sanded to bare wood, stained and refinished with an oil ... A: It sounds like the wax was not totally removed, and in fact is trying to come thru the surface. Is ... | |
| flooring | 6/16/2006 |
| Q: I am installing 3/4" hardwood floor. Can I use a pnumatic gun using 2in. long staples with a 1/2" ... A: You dont have to use nails. The staples are acceptble as long as you gauge the gun correctly. Not ... | |
| hardwood over VCT tile | 6/12/2006 |
| Q: I am looking to install hardwood. We have a main floor currently carpet over tile over concrete. ... A: Several concerns here. Yes the tiles could have been made with asbestos. The good news it, it is a ... | |
| OAK FLOOR | 6/2/2006 |
| Q: Dave HI, There was water damage done to my oak floor. How to I repair and replace pieces of an oak ... A: If you dont have leftover pieces, you are in for a challenge. It would take me days to make a ... | |
| Hardwood install on concrete | 5/22/2006 |
| Q: I bought 3/4” X 3.5” Solid Brazilian Cherry from the Floor and Décor and they told me that I can use ... A: I will only warn you that the concrete needs to be clean. No overspray, no compound residue, no ... | |
| Wavy floor decking..... | 5/17/2006 |
| Q: This is a rather unique problem I have. About 5 years ago we had some dryrot happening on our ... A: You might be ahead to take up the plywood floor, out the perimeter of the walls and make whatever ... | |
| Saving money on building model home | 5/6/2006 |
| Q: I'm buying a model home and will be deciding on what upgrades I will want for the home such as ... A: When you are buying from builders stock....take NO upgrades at all. If you can buy it with out ... | |
| VCT Tile Removale | 5/3/2006 |
| Q: We are going to be removing very old VCT tile (12x12) that is on concrete and replacing it with ... A: It is conceivable that the old adhesive....if that old, is a better bonding agent than the mortar to ... | |
| white vinyl with blue spot | 4/26/2006 |
| Q: I have a white vinyl bathroom floor that has a blue spot or stain that is about 1 square foot. It ... A: Mold can range from black to purple...glue discoloration is usually a yellowing. It could be the ... | |
| Changing birch floor to tile | 4/24/2006 |
| Q: I have a prefinished yellow birch floor in my foyer, great room and dining room. It scratches and ... A: You may have a warrantee issue to deal with. If that flooring is less than ten years old....it may ... | |
| Hardwood floor instalation (follow-up question) | 4/7/2006 |
| Q: it is appreciated very much. Your coments obout vapour barrier made me realise thet I was not ... A: The prefered vapor barrier for flooring is a kraft type with an oiled interior and or back side. ... | |
| Wood floors | 4/5/2006 |
| Q: We are planning to install a Wood floor in our living and dinning rooms,approximately 330 sq.ft. We ... A: Most hardwoods are manufactured and kept at 15% humidity, so you are in the appropriated atmosphere. ... | |
| laminate flooring | 4/5/2006 |
| Q: My lamintae flooring is bubbling up in a few places. Is there anything I can do to have the bubblles ... A: Because the term "laminate" is so widely misused, I can only tell you some situations that might ... | |
| Hardwood flooring | 3/19/2006 |
| Q: I am trying to determine which is the best for my new home: (1) new 3/4" oak harwood and to finish ... A: You can bet the bank on the 3/4" oak flooring. It will outlast and outwear anything. The trick is ... | |
| squeaky floors | 3/10/2006 |
| Q: How canI get rid of squeaks in our floor. We have hardwood that was installed about 5-6 years ago ... A: If you can make access under the floor, you can get to the joists at or near the squeaks and adjust ... | |
| Wood floor installation | 3/7/2006 |
| Q: My husband and I are installing new, prefinished, 3 1/4 inch wide maple flooring in our kitchen, ... A: I assisted my church in installing a 2 1/4" maple floor, with a power hand nailer. It took nearly a ... | |
| Tile flooring-grout | 3/5/2006 |
| Q: When trying to clean my newly installed tile floor, dirt gets in the grout and I can't clean it. I ... A: I will recommend a method that might help. If you can get "OXYclean" the powder, make a solution ... | |
| Subfloor preparation | 3/4/2006 |
| Q: I am interested in installing laminate flooring in my home. The subfloor is wood (second story). ... A: If you had said 1/2" I would be a little concerned, but 1 1/2" is scary. No matter what your plan ... | |
| hardwood floors and pools | 2/27/2006 |
| Q: I live in Florida, one story, concrete sub-floor home. I am remodeling and would like to install a ... A: Sales people are the worst people to listen to. Part of the answer deserves some explaination. ... | |
| 35 year old oak flooring | 2/22/2006 |
| Q: Most was in great shape. There was an area that had a long, relatively black streak, that may have ... A: I wish I was more of a chemist. It sounds like you have used too much acid, considering oak is a ... | |
| existing ceramic tile floor | 2/20/2006 |
| Q: I have an existing ceramic tile floor. I want to put down vinyl flooring. I have a dillema. the ... A: The problem with an overlay is the method of fastening the underlayment. If you try to fasten the ... | |
| Ceramic Tile Deck | 2/15/2006 |
| Q: Dave, I just purchased a home that was built 5 years ago. I have a 10'x 14' screened in deck (2nd ... A: This is what I would do. Start with the 40mil membrane that is used for shower pans. It is PVC and ... | |
| Wood Floors | 2/14/2006 |
| Q: How would I strip and refinish a floor? A: It can be messy but a good paint stripper may be a good way to go. It lets you control the amount ... | |
| removing ceramic floor | 2/13/2006 |
| Q: I have a floor that has 13"X13" ceramic tile(pretty thick 3/8'to1/4")that is set in thinset over a ... A: A hammer and chizel are the first choices, however there are tools you can rent that will help. As ... | |
| FRENCH OAK FLOOR | 1/28/2006 |
| Q: I am an American living in the Netherlands with my Dutch husband. My husband and I have been ... A: If the oak is NOT finished and is still raw lumber....anything will help. If it is ... | |
| ceramic tile | 1/25/2006 |
| Q: I have a kitchen that has linolium tile down over cement board (which is glued). Can I lay ceramic ... A: NO. The plain and simple fact is the ceramic needs to be installed onto a cementous layer, either ... | |
| underlayment | 1/21/2006 |
| Q: I'm finishing my basement and plan to put in a bathroom. This is a 2 year old town house in ... A: "They are called sleepers". If you can install some 1x4's on the floor, either with glue or ... | |
| cement porch | 1/18/2006 |
| Q: I have an old house that has a cement or concrete porch. I was able to get the lovely green indoor ... A: In case you are open to another suggestion...try a power washer. You should be able to rent one. ... | |
| stepdown living area with radius / curves on step | 1/18/2006 |
| Q: How would I install hardwood / pergo flooring on a sunken living area that has a radius / curves on ... A: You may need to use a carpet strip instead of a wood trim to be able to bend around the radius. ... | |
| linoleum installation problems | 1/16/2006 |
| Q: My husband and I just recently had sheet vinyl installed in our kitchen (Mannington African Slate ... A: Only if the installer is licensed....he is fully responsible for the finished install. If He messed ... | |
| self stick tiles | 1/16/2006 |
| Q: Is it okay to put self stick tiles over existing linoleum or vinyl flooring in a kitchen after ... A: I do my very best to try and help people make this mistake. Those self stick tiles are the worst ... | |
| Two Collies & Prefinished Hardwood floors | 1/15/2006 |
| Q: I am planning to install prefinished BR111 brazilian teak in our whole house. I am wondering how ... A: If you have an active dog....it will scratch the finish...moderately. It may not actually get ... | |
| Locating toilet flange | 1/15/2006 |
| Q: I'm undertaking my first tiling project in a small 15 sq. ft. half bathroom. Is there a quick and ... A: Where the hole should be cut depends on where it is on the floor. Is it supposed to be 15" away ... | |
| Hardwood floors - some areas of our pine floors in the kitchen | 1/10/2006 |
| Q: have worn off the finish, down to the original wood. It's not all over the floor, just in a few ... A: If the pine is still in good condition you can lightly sand the raw areas and apply a new finish ... | |
| shower unit | 12/15/2005 |
| Q: my house is 7 years old now and my shower unit(not a bathtub) has had 3 leaks so far. The shower ... A: YOu faired better than I. I bought a brand new house. In 2 months the shower drain broke. After ... | |
| grout | 11/15/2005 |
| Q: I have here limestones (kind of natuaral tiles) installed less than a year ago. The grout is ... A: There is an "add mix" that is used for bonding. If you were to use this and add it to another grout ... | |
| Scratched Hardwood Floor | 11/6/2005 |
| Q: Do you know anything about hardwood floors? I moved into my new house yesterday and when my friends ... A: If you have some handyman skills, you probably do a reasonable job of fixing it. Take a steam iron, ... | |
| Shower Base | 11/3/2005 |
| Q: I am trying to get a second opinion on installing Swanstone shower base in a different direction ... A: You might be dollars ahead to order a shower pan to fit your exact need. Custom shower pans are not ... | |
| ceramic flooring | 11/2/2005 |
| Q: I have ceramic tile in my kitchen. I hate it. Is there any kind of flooring I can put down over it ... A: It is uncommon for ceramic tile to be on floors...and I guess you can understand that. Most ... | |
| woodfloor laminate | 10/24/2005 |
| Q: We have a home that needs some fixing. One project I would like to do is replace the vinyl flooring ... A: A little education is called for. Laminates is a reference to plastic floors. Engineered floors ... | |
| laminate flooring | 10/15/2005 |
| Q: I wish to lay laminate flooring in a hallway with five doors. I understand that I have to leave a 10 ... A: First and formost...ignore that warning of space around the edge. The manufacture cannot predict ... | |
| hard wood flooring | 10/6/2005 |
| Q: Dave-- We just bought a 17 year old house in St Louis and we want to replace all the carpet with ... A: You may have some luck with Home Depot contractors...but dont hold your breath. Nevada Home Depots ... | |
| Hardwood Floor Finish | 9/27/2005 |
| Q: We just sanded our hardwood floor (beach and maple) and put a good penetrating stain on (lightly) to ... A: YOu are in the ideal condition to do this right. Varnish or Shellac will exceed your expectations ... | |
| tiles are buckling | 9/23/2005 |
| Q: We put down a subfloor, spread a layor of linoleum tile adhesive to seal the floor, then layed down ... A: You would be far better off...not using the self adhesive tiles. If you went to the commercial VCT ... | |
| Tile on tile | 9/20/2005 |
| Q: I am in Thailand and have a 500 sq. foot tiled living room floor which I would like to change. Here ... A: There are two issues with this situation. Is the current floor soundly installed? If you have ... | |
| American Cherry Hardwood Floor | 9/2/2005 |
| Q: I just ordered American Cherry Hardwood Flooring and was a bit disappointed that most of the planks ... A: Start with Clorox as strong as you can stand it. 50/50 will work, but stronger is better. Pour it ... | |
| wood flooring | 8/23/2005 |
| Q: I am buying a house and want to put wood flooring in the living room and dining room. I am not sure ... A: The definitions range widely. Different manufacturers want to sound like they are "in" the newest ... | |
| ceramic floor | 8/21/2005 |
| Q: I installed a ceramic floor (12'' sq.) over existing vinyl floor which has a plywood underlayment. ... A: I have been telling clients for years...you dont lay tile over any soft surface. Tile layers still ... | |
| Hardwood Floor Installation | 8/17/2005 |
| Q: Dave I am getting ready to install a hard wood (3 1/4 prefinished bruce) floor in my home. ... A: Any location that may allow moisture in to any hardwood floor needs some special attention. The ... | |
| Glued Wood Floor Repair | 8/12/2005 |
| Q: Last week I installed about 350sf of Bruce 3" plank engineered wood over old terazzo. Since I live ... A: I have two thoughts on your problem. The glue may not be bonding to the terazzo, or the terazzo ... | |
| hardwood flooring tounge and groove | 7/29/2005 |
| Q: how do i check a room for being square thank you A: Generally you would measure from corner to corner and the measurements should be equal. It is not ... | |
| The right flooring for a sub-basement room | 7/19/2005 |
| Q: Dave, I live in a tri-level house. I'm looking to make-over my bottom floor family room, which is ... A: Even tho I am not a fan of Laminates....Pergo or WilsonArt would be the best choice for this area. ... | |
| Removing tile floor | 7/14/2005 |
| Q: Considering removing the existing tile floor in our kitchen and would like to know just how ... A: Tiles do come out easy...after you practice it for a while. Getting a start point is the hardest. ... | |
| hardwood floors | 6/29/2005 |
| Q: i own a home built in the fifties. i sanded the floor and got it smoothed out. in some places all ... A: If you gave it a "fine" sanding...it could be ready to refinish. The most popular, (not the most ... | |
| wood filler | 6/12/2005 |
| Q: I have 2 large wood poles that support a little roof in my deck. They developed very large splits ... A: I will offer a second remedy. Use an exterior spackle, then go over that with a latex caulking. ... | |
| removing vinyl backing from concrete floor | 6/4/2005 |
| Q: I removed a 25 year old solarian vinyl from my kitchen floor. The paper backing did not come up, ... A: Asbestos is not a problem. In the early 70's it was removed for the industry. Removing as much as ... | |
| water damage on hardwood floor | 6/3/2005 |
| Q: i put down a vinyl remnant in the hall while doing some wall repair to protect the floor. the dogs' ... A: I am so sorry to tell you...not repairable. Hardwood is a wonderfull floor, but not forgiving. A ... | |
| Scratches in finish on hardwoods | 6/3/2005 |
| Q: We have prefinished hardwoods all throughout the house and have a dog who has scratched them up ... A: Depending on the extent of the area...surface fixes are fairly easy. Using a 300,400 grit wet/dry ... | |
| grout and tile | 5/25/2005 |
| Q: I just finished tiling my shower; however, I screwed up b/c at the bottom I have about a half inch ... A: I would try the grount first...several layers to prevent cracking...you cant do a one fill process ... | |
| Hardwood Finishing | 5/15/2005 |
| Q: Dave, I had hardwood floor installed in several rooms about 1 1/2 yrs ago. The installer used a ... A: Those "combinations" are NOT floor worthy. They are mostly for furniture and nick nack stuff. ... | |
| Oak flooring | 5/15/2005 |
| Q: Dave, thanks for your time. I removed some oak flooring. I would like to reuse it. What is the best ... A: It totally depends on the previous installation. If nailed only...pry bar will most likely do the ... | |
| cement basement floor finish | 5/15/2005 |
| Q: I am working on our parsonage renovation, house built in the 50-60s. The basement needs to be ... A: The industry is changing so fast that I dont have enough answers for this job. I will start with an ... | |
| Installing new laminate floor on an vinyl floor | 4/27/2005 |
| Q: I am considering installing laminate floor over our kitchen vinyl floor. I'd greatly appreciate it ... A: First off, you idea of screwing the floor down is a good one. You are going to cover all the screws ... | |
| Wood flooring | 4/24/2005 |
| Q: I am wanting to install wood flooring in my kitchen. I have an island that I am planning on moving ... A: Time is Money, Quality is Money....both add up to a better longer lasting job. The floating floors ... | |
| Bathroom laminate | 4/23/2005 |
| Q: I am going to install laminate wood flooring in my bathroom. I've read that I need to put a bead of ... A: Mis information is what messes up a good job. NO expansion joints are necessary unless you are ... | |
| flooring | 4/20/2005 |
| Q: i am constructing a new house and is stuck between choosing different options available for ... A: Because you have a dog....stay with ceramic/porcelain. The marble is a natural product and will ... | |
| fixing a driveway curb that has a large "dip" | 4/16/2005 |
| Q: my curb in front of my house has a large "dip"...it really bangs the car wheels when they go over ... A: FYI...in Summerlin and Sun City Anthem in the NW they complained to the HOA....they hired their ... | |
| Hardwood Flooring | 4/9/2005 |
| Q: Dave, We just had new wood floors installed. it is white oak and we stained with a very light ... A: To differentiate, a sealer from a finish. Sealer is no more than 2 coats. It seals the grain from ... | |
| counter top | 3/23/2005 |
| Q: I have a client who wants ceramic tiles on the kitchen counter. Would it be better to use caulking ... A: Personally I hate ceramic countertops...but..to each his own. You have the right idea...the grout ... | |
| Hardwood | 3/23/2005 |
| Q: I recently moved into an apartment that had been completely renovated, including hardwood parquet ... A: The adhesive is water base when wet...oil base when cured. The instructions for clean up call for ... | |
| Flooring installation | 3/19/2005 |
| Q: ) We are considering installing a hardwood or laminate floor, but since it seems fairly expensive, ... A: It does take alot...alot of sawing...learning from mistakes, planning, layout for square, door jamb ... | |
| paint | 3/16/2005 |
| Q: I reasently painted my son's bedroom in a patriotic theme. I have the walls blue trim is red and ... A: You do have a couple of options. If it is a wood floor, coat it with a floor leveler, and then it ... | |
| floor covering | 3/9/2005 |
| Q: Dave i have a slab floor, and would like to replace the old carpet. i'd like to know what kind ... A: Tarquet is a relatively new seal for floors. It was widely used in Gymnasiums as a cushion and ... | |
| particle board | 3/1/2005 |
| Q: what is the easiest way to remove particle board from a floor. There is vinly glued onto it, and old ... A: I am so sorry to inform you that the problem is labor. You need to excersize Patience. A screw ... | |
| Pergo vs other vinyl | 2/27/2005 |
| Q: Looking for a vinyl that is similiar to Pergo but even more durable. Want to put it in kitchen, ... A: I have seen several good wood grain vinyls. The good ones cost more...but are really nice. Avoid ... | |
| hardwood flooring | 2/26/2005 |
| Q: I live in Connecticut. Have to lay about 400 sf of (prefinished) strip oak flooring in a new ... A: The size of the room is not substantial to worry about swelling or shrinking. The temp will relate ... | |
| vinyl flooring | 2/24/2005 |
| Q: and do i need to have some sort of roller to push out any air pockets or just rubbing it with my ... A: A good notched trowel for spreading the glue, and a good utility knife to cut it in to corners and ... | |
| vinyl flooring | 2/23/2005 |
| Q: i wanted to know what is all involved in replacing vinyl flooring. what tools would i need, and ... A: Assuming that you have one to remove, a good putty knife or chizel is the main ingredient for ... | |
| Splintering hardwood floor..... | 2/1/2005 |
| Q: Red Oak hardwood floor from 1915, recently sanded/refinished in 2003 is splintering in some areas ... A: Aged oak does tend to get brittle. It has had a lack of moisture and increased movement from ... | |
| Hardwood | 1/31/2005 |
| Q: My wife would like hardwood floor in our kitchen. I have been leaning toward pergo for the reason ... A: The first warning I will give....prefinished hardwood floors are crap. They advertise How ... | |
| Flooding with Laminate Flooring | 1/19/2005 |
| Q: We've had leakage in our basement, and there is now moisture under the edge of the room. I am ... A: There are all kinds of suggestions to try to resolve this from the inside of the room. None are ... | |
| Tile Grout Discoloration | 1/11/2005 |
| Q: I just grouted the 18" tiles on my kitchen floor with a brown grout. I mixed the grout carefully ... A: There are occasions where the colors in the box are not well mixed and the colors are not "as" water ... | |
| Remove glued wood flooring & prep for tile | 1/6/2005 |
| Q: I want to remove wood laminate flooring from a concrete slab and replace part with new glued down ... A: There is no easy way out...hammer and chisel is the best. You need to get as much glue up as ... | |
| Laminate flooring | 1/2/2005 |
| Q: I have a kitchen floor which is being labeled by the manafacturer rep as installed without proper ... A: Your description leads me down the "faulty path" as well. But product being the cause. If the ... | |
| Hardwood floor damage | 1/1/2005 |
| Q: Well, I'm swallowing as much embarrassment as I can on this one...I made a terrible error in ... A: A lesson learned is SOOOOO valuable. I think your biggest problem was not knowing that the sand ... | |
| hardwood flooring | 12/10/2004 |
| Q: My primary question concerns acclimating the wood before installation: An attached addition to my ... A: Acclimating is important, except that if the flooring is cooler that the ambient room temp..it will ... | |
| laminates | 11/10/2004 |
| Q: I have decided on laminate to replace carpeting as I care for a handicaped husband and carpeting is ... A: There are so many reasons for the cost variables. The composition of the laminate, the thickness of ... | |
| wood or laminate | 11/6/2004 |
| Q: Could you please tell me the difference between hardwood and laminate? I'm looking at a Home Depot ... A: Laminates are getting so popular that confusion is the order of the day. Laminate means severaly ... | |
| Carpet | 10/12/2004 |
| Q: The situation is the carpet keeps moving and bunching up. It's an apartment and has wall-to-wall ... A: Unfortunately your attempt to make a bad situation better...well it backfired. The existing carpet ... | |
| flooring | 10/7/2004 |
| Q: We have bought the laminate wooden floor, but now we got to install this flooring, this is a ... A: You will need to find out the direction you wish the boards to run. Find a straight wall to start ... | |
| wood flooring | 10/4/2004 |
| Q: Dave, We are re-building a thirty year old house with a concrete slab foundation. There are ... A: My number one recommendation, to prevent any possible movement complications, Install 1/4" marine ... | |
| Subfloor | 9/28/2004 |
| Q: I am starting a tile job in my bathroom. As of now I removed all the tile. I am on a second level of ... A: There are several products for that purpose. It kind of depends on your ability to Mend. Pourstone ... | |
| Carpeting the basement | 9/23/2004 |
| Q: One of my relatives gave us their old carpet & I'd like to install it in our unfinished basement. ... A: A utility knife, a good hammer, a bunch of carpet tack strips..match the lineal footage of the ... | |
| workshop flooring | 9/21/2004 |
| Q: I am planning on subdividing a new home addition into a workshop. It would be first floor, ... A: For the weight involved it sounds like you would need either a concrete slab or VCT. The VCT will ... | |
| hardwood flooring | 9/13/2004 |
| Q: I just acquired my parents house. I want o fix it up and rent it. It is a single family house in a ... A: I will assume that you have solid oak floors, and not the current trend for laminate/engineered ... | |
| BASEMENT FLOOR | 9/7/2004 |
| Q: NEED TO PUT NEW FLOOR IN BASEMENT PLAYROOM. OCCASIONALLY GET SOME WATER PUDDLES ON THE FLOOR. ... A: You have several issues that I recommend dealing with. Find the source of the water. Fix this ... | |
| Replace underlayment/subfloor | 9/4/2004 |
| Q: I am replacing all the flooring in a home I just bought and found the particle board under the vinyl ... A: First thing is to varify...1x6 or 2x6. With the 2x6,all you described is perfect. If 1x6, you will ... | |
| Pine or Oak Plank Flooring | 8/30/2004 |
| Q: I am in the process of re-habbing an old converted gas station with cement floors. The present ... A: I hope I understood correctly, you wish to install wood over vinyl tiles. Not a good idea. You ... | |
| Hardwood Floor | 8/30/2004 |
| Q: My house was built in 1947 and has oak hardwood floors. I am remodeling the kitchen and would like ... A: Depending on the direction of the grain, you may be able to re machine a couple of boards to allow ... | |
| Hardwood Floor restoration | 8/30/2004 |
| Q: I have wall to wall carpeting at present. I would like to remove it and use the hardwood floors ... A: There are various colors of wood putty and hole fillers. Pick one that closest resembles your ... | |
| SCRATCHES IN PINE FLOOR | 8/26/2004 |
| Q: I'll get right to the question. Our house is 130 yrs old and has wide pine floors. they were ... A: I will hazzard a guess...is this finish what is scratched or the pine Under the finish. Take into ... | |
| Substrate for Porcelean Tile | 8/24/2004 |
| Q: I am remodeling my 21 year old kitchen and am planning to install 18"x18" porcelean tile - the ... A: You have another option, it is NOT a better option. You could float a substrate into place. As in ... | |
| REquest for your advice | 8/16/2004 |
| Q: Could you please advice me how to do the flooring and carpet in my house. Thanks and regards ... A: For a concrete slab installation of linoleum, carpet, wood, or tile, Preparation is everything. ... | |
| Hardwood floor problem | 8/10/2004 |
| Q: I recently bought a 1941 house. Two rooms had vinyl tile, which we planned to replace. Upon ... A: Usually the glue used is an oil base type adhesive. Considering the apparent age...the finish on ... | |
| Peel and Stick Vinyl Tiles | 7/15/2004 |
| Q: Can peel and stick vinyl tiles be applied over existing ceramic floor tiles? Should the quarter ... A: Please understand this answer. Professionally I refuse to install peel and stick tiles. They are ... | |
| Threshholds and Laminate | 7/2/2004 |
| Q: I re-read my question to you and I would like to try again to be a little clearer. I bought 550 sf ... A: The primary need for transitions are the areas of change of elevations and from wood to tile/vinyl. ... | |
| New flooring - discoloration | 6/29/2004 |
| Q: Dave, We have recently installed Brazilian Cherrywood -- hardwood (not engineered)that has a 25 year ... A: I will hazzard a guess to your problem. It may have been pure friction of the rug to the floor that ... | |
| Hardwood Flooring | 6/28/2004 |
| Q: I am aware that moisture (water/dampness/etc.) are the bain of hardwood floors. Rather than use ... A: What is normally done...by a true flooring professional, a vapor barrier is installed to the ... | |
| ceramic tile-mortar | 6/17/2004 |
| Q: Being my first time doing ceramics I need to know ,with the weather being very humid , if I lay the ... A: Take into consideration the substrate that you are bonding to. IF the substrate is wet/damp, this ... | |
| Hardwood | 6/16/2004 |
| Q: I'm not sure if this question should be directed to your field or not but i thought I'd ask ... A: It is very likely that a dog will scratch the floor...however...if you have the dogs nails trimmed ... | |
| Armstrong Laminate Tile | 6/16/2004 |
| Q: Hey Dave I just ordered 12 boxes of armstrong laminate tile (looks like ceramic tile). I've read ... A: I am not yet aware of this product, but I am sure that the installation of such tiles is going to be ... | |
| Hardwood Floors | 5/23/2004 |
| Q: Is the factory rep the same is the manufacturing rep? The reason I ask is that the installer had ... A: If you have had a Representative of the flooring company inspect the floor and they are willing to ... | |
| Hardwood Floors | 5/23/2004 |
| Q: I had hardwood floors (strip, engineered wood glued to concrete slab) installed in the dining room, ... A: I would say that is the worst of all the stories I have heard of a hardwood installation. You are ... | |
| ceramic tile | 5/17/2004 |
| Q: Dave, 10 months ago we had ceramic tile installed. The grout started to break up within a week or ... A: It sounds like he started correctly...one exception....Did they glue the 1/4" fiber board to the ... | |
| Laminate flooring | 5/15/2004 |
| Q: I have a Bruce engineered wood floor. It was installed about 5 years ago. The men who installed the ... A: I repeatedly inform consumers...do not glue another flooring to vinyl...it doesnt stick and comes ... | |
| subfloor for hardwood flooring | 5/14/2004 |
| Q: We are installing tongue and groove hardwood floor in our kitchen to match up to our entryway. When ... A: This is a bit difficult to advise from my vantage point. I would suggest that the old particle ... | |
| Hardwood | 5/8/2004 |
| Q: Dave -- I am not sure if you'll know the answer to this question, and if not, that's okay. I am ... A: If the stain is too deep to sand out...you may try to bleach it out. I would not gurantee success, ... | |
| Trying for a specific look: old farmhouse-type flooring | 5/8/2004 |
| Q: ------------------------- Thanks so much for answering my question. That's what I was thinking, ... A: After the installation.... vacuum thoroughly...sand with 220 grit or finer sandpaper...white paper ... | |
| Trying for a specific look: old farmhouse-type flooring | 5/7/2004 |
| Q: I am hoping you will be able to help me. I live in a newer home(6 yrs old) and already I have to ... A: Some lumber yards still have access to T&G Pine flooring. You may also have the option of finding a ... | |
| oak floor problem | 5/7/2004 |
| Q: I have round black spots on my unfinished oak floor that range from 1/4 inch to an inch in diameter. ... A: Oak flooring will stain with water. If the surface for edges were not properly sealed..water will ... | |
| polyurethane floor covering | 5/3/2004 |
| Q: we are remodeling our kitchen and will be putting in new flooring. For economic reasons mostly, I ... A: Your question is a bit interesting. If your linoleum is glued to a particle board underlayment, and ... | |
| installing a hickory floor | 5/3/2004 |
| Q: what is the proper way to install it and what do i need to lay down before i install it on told me ... A: I will try to make this sound simple. It is time consuming but simple. Depending on your ... | |
| engineered flooring | 4/26/2004 |
| Q: we had engineered wood floor installed over concrete. A plastic type of moisture barrier was used. ... A: One of my main gripes with engineered flooring...they tell you that it is a snap lock system...no ... | |
| Refinishing and installing wood floors | 4/15/2004 |
| Q: I have a 2 story home. On the main floor, the entry, hall area and kitchen have maple floors that ... A: This is a time consuming, but relatively simple task. You can buy or rent an "orbital" sander and ... | |
| decking | 4/1/2004 |
| Q: I have vinyl type deck covering and there were spots of tar here and there over it. We've tried all ... A: A "sure fire" remedy I cannot offer...but I can recommend more attempting products. WD40, ... | |
| Wood Hardness | 3/28/2004 |
| Q: Dave, Can you tell me if there is noticable difference in hard maple and yellow birch for wood ... A: There are some general misconceptions. Hardwoods refer mostly to the idea that it is a traffic ... | |
| wood floors | 3/19/2004 |
| Q: ft. of 3/4 prefinished oak and maple to put down, all over 3/4 t & g subfloor. Here's my questions ... A: All good questions. Not in order: I only do manual nailing...you can judge the nail and feel the ... | |
| removing scratches from slate floor | 3/18/2004 |
| Q: Dave, is this something that a specific skill someone would have and have the equipment to do so? I ... A: Some, not all, glass companies have the equipment to remove scratches from glass. It is the same ... | |
| wood floors | 3/16/2004 |
| Q: I'm buying a old home with wood floors.The floors look fine,but I want to repolish them,not ... A: Polish and wax wont stick to Poly. Polyurethane is a plastic finish. You can recoat the ... | |
| installing click together laminate on uneven hallway | 3/14/2004 |
| Q: when laying down click together 8 mil laminate in my hallway there was some dips and humps along the ... A: That is one of the many selling points of the laminate flooring....it floats..on the white insulated ... | |
| Flooring | 3/14/2004 |
| Q: We installed a hardwood, Brazilian Koa in our kitchen/pantry/living room/hallway area back in 10/03. ... A: After givng this much thought...is it a manufactured flooring or a true hardwood? Is it plank or ... | |
| Hardwood flooring | 2/27/2004 |
| Q: We recently installed oak hardwood flooring in our bedroom. We "seasoned" the wood in the room for a ... A: I can take a stab at this... was it a water based urethane? The moisture content would allow ... | |
| installing wood floors | 2/23/2004 |
| Q: My wife and I are considering real wood floors for our home. This would be on one level and ... A: This info is from an Older carpenter. I have learned repeatedly the hard way. Yes I have used the ... | |
| installing wood floors | 2/22/2004 |
| Q: My wife and I are considering real wood floors for our home. This would be on one level and ... A: Sorry this took so long. If this is prefinished flooring you should have no trouble. Install ... | |
| wood flooring | 2/22/2004 |
| Q: We just finished refinishing our wood floors. We LOVE it! Under a dark finish of what we concluded ... A: KNife test. If you can mar the finish with a kitchen knife with little or no pressure.... keep ... | |
| Hardwood Floors | 2/10/2004 |
| Q: I am putting in Hardwood floors (solid Brazilian Cherry) on the main level of my house. We have ... A: You have a good start. Require of the contractor to put down "Kraft" paper under the cherry/over ... | |
| Hardwood Floors | 2/9/2004 |
| Q: I am putting in Hardwood floors (solid Brazilian Cherry) on the main level of my house. We have ... A: You are in luck. I am preparing to build my new home.... also Braziliam Cherry and having been ... | |
| flooring | 2/9/2004 |
| Q: i would love to use marble in sitting,granite in dinning and kitchen area.natural sisal in bed room ... A: I would be concerned as to the color and variations of the different tiles. I would not recommend ... | |
| flooring | 2/8/2004 |
| Q: i have a open plan loft appartment. there is one bedroom .one toilet with shower.large sitting area ... A: There is a new movement going on.... back to the old standards. Solid wood flooring is on its way ... | |
| installing marble over cement floor | 2/3/2004 |
| Q: In prepping to install marble tiles,I have removed the old linoleum tiles from my bathroom floor, ... A: First off, there is a razor blade scraper that works very well to clean that glue off. "Second" ... | |
Flooring and Carpeting
Answers by Expert:
Dave Coil
Top Expert on this page
Expertise
I can help. I have installed wood, laminates, tile, marble, ceramics, vinyl, and painted applications. I have done some stone work, but that is seldom used anymore.
Experience
My first work was in flooring and interior designs. My first job... every room of the house was a different color of walls and carpet. It can work...
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