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Flooring and Carpeting/Questions Answered by Expert Linda Lockwood
| Subject | Date Asked |
| Ceramic tiles popping up | 1/5/2010 |
| Q: I was wondering when you have ceramic tiles that pop up in the center of a room, on a point up ... A: Buckling tiles suggests it was installed without proper expansion space around the perimeter and/or ... | |
| Carpet Seaming | 3/24/2008 |
| Q: We moved into our brand new house in May 2007. It was built in 2005 but used as a model home. We ... A: When you say the seams popped up, I assume you mean the seams are peaked. If the seams were not ... | |
| Diagonal plank subflooring and tile | 3/24/2008 |
| Q: A month ago we had glazed porcelain tile installed in the back 2 rooms of our house, which are an ... A: If the grout is cracking and crumbling out of the grout lines it is due to movement and/or over ... | |
| cleaning ceramic tile | 3/23/2008 |
| Q: I have ceramic tile in the entrance way of my house. It was installed by the original owners some ... A: There are companies who do cleaning of ceramic tile and grout. Once clean, the grout can be sealed ... | |
| moisture build up under my vinyl tile | 3/22/2008 |
| Q: i currently own a resturaunt, which i built myself,over the past 8 months i have been noticing that ... A: If adhesive is oozing out from under the tiles, you definately have a moisture problem. Is the ... | |
| kitchen flooring and mold | 3/21/2008 |
| Q: My house is about 3 years old. I have a bay window in my kitchen and I have a mold issue. From the ... A: I don't know if your builder is responsible, you would have to contact an attorney for legal advise. ... | |
| Carpet to Tile Transition | 3/17/2008 |
| Q: It used to have vinyl in it - looked terrible, cracked, etc... The tile is nice, more durable and ... A: If you installed vinyl tile, you can purchase and install a new "tap down" metal strip; the strip ... | |
| laminate | 3/16/2008 |
| Q: My husband and I installed laminate flooring. After finishing we noticed gaps in the seams. Is ... A: 1- If you have gaps at the joints the floor may be moving; does it bounce when you walk on it, or is ... | |
| Flooring choice | 3/4/2008 |
| Q: Want to retile 2000 sq. feet. Grout is impossible to keep clean with my traffic. I like a look with ... A: I'm sorry, but I don't fully understand your question. Are you removing ceramic tile and looking to ... | |
| To remove tile or put & subfloor | 2/28/2008 |
| Q: My question is on installing a designers Image floor. It is a peal & stick 12 x 12 tile in a vinyl ... A: I recommend reading and following the flooring manufacturer's installation procedures. I'm not ... | |
| dents in carpet | 2/27/2008 |
| Q: How do I get deep dents out of berber carpets from furniture?no A: When carpet is severely indented the indentations may be permanent. The backing becomes indented and ... | |
| Wood Flooring | 2/27/2008 |
| Q: 6 months ago I had a pre finished Brazilian Cherry wood installed through half the house. Recently ... A: Don't worry, you haven't flushed $10,000 down the drain. Cherry naturally darkens when exposed to ... | |
| uneven floor between kitchen and family room | 2/26/2008 |
| Q: The problem is that in the family room which is open to the kitchen which has ceramic tile. When the ... A: If the high difference bothers you, you'll need to install a new subfloor (assuming you have wood ... | |
| Carpet over a concrete slab | 2/25/2008 |
| Q: I am replacing the carpeting in my den which is installed on top of a concrete slab. During the ... A: Upgrading to a good dense pad will keep the floors warmer. Assuming there are no real issues with ... | |
| Wood steps | 2/25/2008 |
| Q: I'm not sure if you can help or not. We recently purchased a house with beautiful wood steps going ... A: This is really not my area of expertise, however; if the wood steps are slippery enough to cause ... | |
| Type of Flooring | 2/24/2008 |
| Q: I am looking to replace the carpet in my home. I am needing a durable surface as I have a cat with ... A: I believe that ceramic Tile or Laminate flooring would be your best choice. I'm not sure about this ... | |
| replacing vinyl floor | 2/22/2008 |
| Q: can new vinyl fooring be put down over existing vinyl flooring? A: Vinyl flooring can be installed over existing vinyl floor provided there is no more than 1 layer of ... | |
| VCT over sheet vinyl | 2/16/2008 |
| Q: Can VCT be put directly on top of sheet vinyl? A: VCT can be installed over existing sheet vinyl flooring; however, you may run into a problem if the ... | |
| cork & laminate flooring | 2/14/2008 |
| Q: Can I install cork or laminate flooring over an existing cement floor. A: Cork or Laminate is a perfect choice for installation over concrete. Before installation: Moisture ... | |
| Hardwood on cement | 2/11/2008 |
| Q: I have heard that installing any type of wood on cement is not a good idea. Others say you use ... A: You can install Engineered Hardwood Flooring on Concrete. The concrete should be moisture tested- as ... | |
| re: protective sealing to backhall/kitchen floor | 2/5/2008 |
| Q: We will be laying new flooring (considering an Armstrong vinyl that interlays like pergo) from a ... A: Laminate flooring is not a good choice for high moisture areas, and there is no way to seal the ... | |
| carpet type testing | 2/1/2008 |
| Q: How can I determine if I have wool carpet or a wool blend. Can I have it tested? Where can I ... A: You can have your carpet tested to determine if it's 100% Wool or a Wool blend. I don't know where ... | |
| Konecto Vynil flooring | 12/10/2007 |
| Q: Just had the Konecto flooring installed. Love the color and it's durability. Just dissapointed in ... A: I'm not familiar with this particular product but scuff marks typically respond to cleaning with ... | |
| Joining wood floor to marble | 12/9/2007 |
| Q: We have completed the marble flooring in our house and would now like to start the wood flooring. ... A: Moisture in the concrete could cause the plywood to buckle. There are specific instructions for this ... | |
| Covering up ugly tile | 12/6/2007 |
| Q: we're moving into a large loft and the tile the owner used for the living room is ugly. We cannot ... A: You have several options: 1) Cork, wood (some hardwoods), or laminate flooring can be floated over ... | |
| laminet flooring | 12/6/2007 |
| Q: How do i meet the laminate flooring with the rugs in the bedrooms? A: You need to purchase coordinating molding (made by the laminate flooring co.) that transitions from ... | |
| Hardwood flooring | 12/5/2007 |
| Q: My house has an addition on the master bedroom, when they added the addition the floor joice's were ... A: Yes, you can install over the existing hardwood floor but you have to lay the wood in the opposite ... | |
| carpet over laminate? | 12/2/2007 |
| Q: i have recently moved into a house with cheap laminate and would like to carpet it in the lounge, ... A: I suggest removing the laminate floor because it could buckle or cup. If the carpet is over the ... | |
| want to lighten tile grouting | 11/25/2007 |
| Q: I have new "stone" tile on my bathroom floor and shower. The grouting color on the floor is perfect ... A: The only way grout can be lightened is by painting it with a grout paint, available in home ... | |
| screening or buffing wood floors | 11/21/2007 |
| Q: In our house that is about 40 years old, we have wood floors under the carpet. With 3 boys, a dog, ... A: Polyurethane is the most common- The finish will bubble with a small amount of paint remover (in an ... | |
| engineer hardwood floor problem | 11/21/2007 |
| Q: I have local contractor (central Florida area) installed engineer hardwood floor this September. The ... A: It sounds as though the nose was nailed, sometimes they are glued and nailed. The nail heads are ... | |
| porcelain tile with chiseled edges | 11/19/2007 |
| Q: I recently had porcelain tile with chiseled edges laid on my second floor condo. Its so ... A: If the design of the tile allows for a "chiseled" edge, I don't see any way of smoothing it out. ... | |
| antifracture membrane for large porcelain tile | 11/15/2007 |
| Q: I am going to install 1500 sq ft of 18x18 porcelain tile on a stable, no cracks, 20 year old slab in ... A: I recommend contacting the CTEF 864-222-2131. I'm sure they can recommend a few products that have ... | |
| black spots on carpet | 11/14/2007 |
| Q: I have wall-to-wall white wool berber carpet. I have noticed some small black spots. What could they ... A: It is unlikely the spots are due to mold. If the carpet is discolored on the tips only, the spots ... | |
| carpet removal | 11/13/2007 |
| Q: I am trying to remove carpeting from a mobile home I just bought. I have found some of it is glued ... A: There is no trick or secret to removing glued down carpet. Cut it in strips (from the face) then ... | |
| Ceramic Tile over concrete floor | 11/12/2007 |
| Q: Linda; I have pulled up the carpet and vinyl flooring from a slab floor in a half bath/laundry area ... A: You can go ahead with the installation provided the washing machine doesn't constantly overflow. ... | |
| parquet flooring | 11/7/2007 |
| Q: I purchased a house in town about 3 years ago, that I rent to tenants. The previous owners enclosed ... A: The newer section of floor appears to be buckling due to moisture and/or a change in humidity. When ... | |
| concrete floor that sweats | 11/6/2007 |
| Q: We have a lower level (basement) and we are wanting to carpet the floors. Mainly in the lower ... A: Hard surface flooring sweats when the floor is hot and the air is cold, similar to a glass with a ... | |
| cleaning hardwood floors | 11/1/2007 |
| Q: My parents have a hardwood floor in the kitchen. Over the years, they have not "really cleaned" it ... A: You may try a solvent, similar to Goo Gone (Goof Off, Afta) or rubbing alcohol. Test in an ... | |
| flooring | 10/30/2007 |
| Q: I have a family room with block paneling and I live in a moist region of the country. I currently ... A: Slate is difficult to maintain, it scales (chips), it looks dull if you don't keep it polished, it ... | |
| carpet over old commercial carpet on wooden floor in basement | 10/29/2007 |
| Q: i assume that if i want to recarpet over flat commercial low quality carpet with new 40pile and ... A: It may sound easy and logical to install new carpet over existing carpet, but it is not recommended. ... | |
| dents in vinyl | 10/27/2007 |
| Q: My new bathroom vinyl has some small dents in places. How do I get rid of them? A: I’m sorry to hear you have a problem with your new floor. If the vinyl is cut or gouged and soil ... | |
| Refinishing Hardwood Floors | 10/25/2007 |
| Q: I was wondering if it is possible to have my hardwood floors buffed out and have a new coat of ... A: First let me say that you are doing the right thing by maintaining the finish of your floor before ... | |
Flooring and Carpeting
Answers by Expert:
Linda Lockwood
Top Expert on this page
Expertise
Flooring Problems: Carpet, Vinyl, Laminate, Hardwood, Ceramic Tile Because my expertise involves inspections only, I cannot answer questions regarding cost of products, installation, refinishing, repairs, etc.
Experience
Certified floor covering inspector since 1992
Organizations
NWFA (National Wood Flooring Assoc.), NOFMA (National Oak Flooring Manufacturers Assoc.), CTEF (Ceramic Tile Education Foundation), FCITS, WFCA, CFI
Education/Credentials
NWFA, NOFMA, CTEF, FCITS, CFI
Past/Present Clients
Shaw Industries, Mohawk Industries, Beaulieu Residential and Commercial, Goodfellows hardwood, Capella Wood, Mohawk Wood, Pergo, Wilsonart
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