repair laminate floor – Tips On Laying Laminate Flooring On An Uneven Surface
Tips On Laying Laminate Flooring On An Uneven Surface
Laminate flooring has become a remarkably popular flooring option for many homeowners not only because of its stylish finish but also because of its low maintenance quality. Laminate timber flooring is amazingly durable, is available in such a wide variety of styles, colours and finishes that it is easy to find one that suits any taste or decor.
Laminate flooring is simply a plank of composite wood with a layer of resin on top that has been imprinted to appear like a real timber finish. Laminate timber flooring is much cheaper than hardwood timbers and requires less maintenance to keep up its great appearance.
Most laminate flooring systems are relatively simple to install using its simple tongue-and-groove locking system. As this flooring is usually a floating floor system, this means it’s connected to each other plank, but not attached to your walls or floors. It is vitally important when you are planning to install your own laminate flooring to prepare the floor surface correctly before you lay your flooring.
If you have existing flooring already installed, remove it completely. If you previously had carpet, then pull it up and dispose of this and the old underlay padding beneath it. Take particular care to remove any tack strips around the edges of the room that would have secured the old carpet in place. Some floors may need to be scraped back to remove any excess padding or other items stuck to the floor.
Be sure to clean the floor thoroughly, either with a vacuum or a stiff bristled broom. Once the floor is clean and clear of debris you will be better positioned to determine if the floor is even or not.
When installing laminate timber flooring, it is important you create a floor surface that is as even as possible. Laminate is quite thin, so any imperfections or bumps will be noticeable beneath your flooring. Without taking adequate care to level the sub floor beneath your floating floors, you may find the floorboards may dip or bow in areas that are uneven.
If you have a concrete floor and you notice that the surface is uneven or pitted with holes or other imperfections, you can skim on a layer of thin set to create a flatter surface. This thin set is like a very fine gypsum underla
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yment that you simply pump over your existing floor and level out using a spirit level to ensure your screed layer is evenly spread across the floor. Once this has set, you will be left with a very smooth level surface that will be ideal to install your laminate onto.
However if you have a plywood subfloor, you may need to spend some time repairing any damaged sections you find in the plywood. Plywood can absorb moisture and break down over time, which then causes the damaged section to bulge, creating an obvious bump in your floor. In order to repair sections of plywood subflooring, you may need to cut out the damaged section and replace with new plywood.
By: Derek Rogers
Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com
Derek Rogers is a freelance writer who represents a number of UK businesses. For tips on installing your flooring, he recommends Completely Flooring, one of the UK’s leading suppliers of Laminate Flooring.
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Not All Apartment Leases Are Created Equal
by: Dan The Roommate Man
Before signing any lease:
Take a walk through the unit that you are renting to make sure it is in good repair.
Be sure to read the lease completely. All leases are not the same.
What should be included in your lease:
All verbal promises should be reduced to writing within the lease.
Are there provisions for a job transfer within the lease?
How and when do you give notice to move? Must you give notice even when the lease expires and you wish to move? Can you go month to month at the expiration of you lease?
How long does the landlord have to return your security deposit once you have moved.
Who is responsible for the repairs to the apartment? If you move into an apartment complex, there are usually maintenance people to take care of all needed repairs. On the other hand if you are renting from a private landlord, you may be responsible for part or all of the repairs.
Are late fees addressed in the lease?
Who is responsible for the utilities?
What happens if you cause damage to the apartment?
If you want to make a change to the lease, cross out the clause in question. Then both you and the landlord must initial the change for it to be binding.
About The Author
Dan The Roommate Man
Since 1989 Dan The Roommate Man has helped 1000’s of people find rooms,apatments or roommates. Need help? Contact him at http://www.roommateexpress.com
When I moved into my home, the floor in the living room had just been refinished with beautiful honey toned laminate flooring. It was beautiful and it fit my decor perfectly. The only problem was the fact that one of my chair had popped a cap, unbeknownst to everyone involved, and it wasn’t until a few weeks later, when I went to rearrange a few pieces of furniture, that I noticed it. Much to my horror, the gleaming floor beneath the chair had become a scratched mess and I shuddered at the thought of having to fix them.
Now, I’m sure that I am not the only person who has had to deal with scratched laminate flooring. In fact, I’m almost positive that the problem is universally shared. The simple truth is, if you are going to own laminate flooring, at one time you will own scratched laminate flooring. Most people would simply sigh and shift the furniture around to cover the evidence, something that I actually did for a few months, but laminate flooring can be fixed without having to tear out pieces and replace them.
Most repairs in laminate flooring are pretty minor. A glass may have fallen and gouged a small hole or the kids may have scraped a toy car, minus wheels, across a small section. The scratches and holes are simply surface damage but they definitely detract from the once shiny beauty of your floors.
With minor damage, you will only need to do minor repairs to your laminate. Unfortunately, as with most repairs, there is nothing regularly stocked in your shelves that will fix the floors. You will need to make a run to the local home hardware or flooring store to pick up a repair kit. Some manufacturers will make repair kits for their flooring so the best place to start is the store where you purchased your flooring.
If you aren’t sure of the manufacturer or the manufacturer does not have a repair product, simply purchase a generic repair kit. A repair kit usually consists of a tube of putty or wax. This is your actual filler. Some repair kits have colored putty while others have paint that you mix to create the matching floor color; this you mix with the putty before applying. Both are perfectly fine to purchase and you will usually run yourself about ten to twenty dollars.
Some repair kits come with putty knife and everything else you need but if it doesn’t simply pick up a putty knife while you are at the store. Popsicle sticks work perfectly for applying the putty to the crack.
Before you start repairing your scratches and dents, make sure the area is clean of any debris and is dry. There is no sense repairing a spot if a patch of dog hair is going to be glued into the floor. Once the area is prepared, it’s time to get mixing.
If you went with a colored putty that matches your floor, all you will need to do is spoon in the putty, but if you went with a mix, you will need to match and create the desired color. Once you have that, spoon in the putty and smooth with the putty knife. Remove any of the excess putty so you have a smooth surface. Lastly, wipe the area around the scratch, being careful to not touch the repaired scratch with a clean cloth to wash away any residue.
Once it dries, your laminate flooring should look as good as new.
Sometimes, you will find the occasional scratch that is too shallow for the putty to work properly. If this is the case, the best product on the market is ScratchAway. This is a spray on treatment for any small scratches on laminate and other wood flooring. All you need to do is spray the area and then buff until it is dry.
So with a few little tricks of the trade, there are very few reasons why you can’t enjoy scratch free laminate flooring for years to come.
Sirena Van Schaik is a professional writer who provides information on wood flooring and laminate flooring for A1 Wood Flooring.
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