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Re: Replacing all floor surfaces

From: info@builderswebsource.com
Category: Flooring
Remote Name: 63.198.181.43
Date: 13 Jan 2002
Time: 10:15 PM

Comments

We have a 2800 sq foot home. We want to replace most carpet with wood floors. The wood would be installed, sanded, and finished.Sub floors under carpet is pressed wood and will be removed. Ply board is under pressed board.Kitchen, foryer, and hall way will get marble or tile. All furniture to be removed from home and all ceilings, walls, trim painted. ALL carpet in house to be removed and replaced with wood, tile, or carpet. Question? What is the progression . Where do you start.

The progression of remodeling depends often on the availability of specific contractors. However, given a choice:

1) First step is demolition and removal of all old carpeting and pressed wood; clean thoroughly and make sure surface is level.

2) Next, focus on areas to be tiled. Tiling is messy and will require a mortar base. Since the mortar base results in a sandy mess, this can damage hardwood floors if you're not careful. So, do your mortar base first.

3) Install hardwood floors over vapor barrier, making sure that the wood has adjusted to the indoor humidity level for 1-2 weeks prior to installation.

4) Sand floor, stain and protect with 3-coats of a high-quality polyurethane topcoat. Sanding floors creates a lot of dust...and the dust will stick to your walls, ceiling, etc. That's why it's best to paint last. Also, during the process of sanding the floor, your baseboards may get bumbed or scuffed with the drum sander. You may need to vacuum your walls and ceiling between sandings...doing a final wipe down with a damp cloth prior to painting.

5) After the floor has thoroughly cured (several days), go ahead and paint, starting with the ceiling, walls and trim. Make sure that all floor surfaces are thoroughly protected by drop cloths...or even cardboard. You don't want a ladder to scuff the newly finished hardwood floors...and you don't want paint drops on them either!

6)Prior to painting and finishing the hardwood floors, you can also complete your tile work. Make sure that the levels are consistent between the tile and hardwood, so you don't have an offset. If an offset is impossible to avoid, then use a transition strip that tapers down from one level to the next.

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