The floors in your home receive the most wear and tear of all surfaces. They are put to the test daily with spills, dirty shoes, pet claws, and sweepers.
They eventually take their toll and need replacement. Luckily, there are several things you can do to ensure you have a smooth floor replacement experience.
1. Cost
The price of replacing your floor heavily depends on the material you choose, the size of your home and whether you want to do it yourself or hire a professional. Generally speaking, carpet and laminate are the least expensive, while hardwood, natural stone, ceramic or porcelain tile are the most expensive options.
Replacing your floor is a big project, and it’s important to have an estimate of what it will cost before starting. It will include the cost of the material and installation, but it won’t include any other associated costs like moving your furniture or removing baseboards to get to the subfloor.
When you replace your floor, the first step is to remove the old flooring. This can be a big job, and the price will depend on how much flooring needs to be removed and the difficulty of the removal.
You can also replace your subflooring to ensure your new floors have the support they need. This will help keep your floors from buckling and warping, and it’s an important part of the overall project.
If your foundation is sinking or the subfloor has issues, you’ll likely have to pay for repairs before installing your new floor. This can be an additional expense, but it’s worth it to avoid potential problems down the road.
2. Design
One of the most important things to consider when replacing your floors is what kind of product you’re buying. Not only does it affect how it looks but it can also make a huge difference to your utility bills and health. The best flooring options are energy efficient, and can help you save on your heating and cooling bills throughout the year.
It’s no secret that your floors are a big part of the overall design scheme of your home. Whether it’s your bathroom, kitchen or even your bedroom, your floors will be the anchors of those spaces. So, it’s no surprise that you’ll want to choose the right material and color for your new floor. Thankfully, there are many choices to choose from so you can ensure that your new floors fit the bill. The first step is to pick the style that’s right for you and your home. From there, you can start shopping for the best price and the most interesting colors to complement your decor. So, don’t hesitate to get started on your new home improvement project.
3. Durability
Durability is one of the most important aspects of product quality and a key factor in the success of your project. You want to choose a material that is highly durable, which will prevent any issues with corrosion and weather damage.
The durability of your floor can also have a direct impact on the cost of replacing it, as well as the time it takes to complete. If you’re using metal, it’s best to consider a high-quality carbon steel that will not crack or break under normal use and abuse.
Similarly, when you’re storing materials, you want to make sure that the bins are as durable as possible so they don’t break and spill out all over your floor. This means ensuring that your material handling bins are made out of a very strong, sturdy type of steel that can handle the harshest environments without breaking down.
Durability is a crucial aspect of a product’s quality and it’s an area that is often overlooked by people in the manufacturing industry. However, it has a wide range of implications for both the product and its end users, so it’s a good idea to understand how it works and why it matters.
4. Maintenance
Floors are one of those things in your home that need maintenance on a regular basis. From track-in dirt to grit and scratches from shoes, floors can get pretty beat up.
Fortunately, there are some easy ways to keep your flooring looking great. For example, a quick vacuum and a few drops of mild neutral cleaner will help keep your linoleum or tiled floors clean on a regular basis.
If your hardwood floor needs a little more than just a good cleaning, you can use a specialized product like floor wax to give it that extra bit of sheen. Also, be sure to keep a dry mop handy for those inevitable spills and stains.
The right maintenance plan will not only save you money on future repairs and replacements, it will also maximize the life of your flooring. Creating a regular routine that includes inspections, cleaning and repair will help you keep your floor in tip-top condition. You may even find that you can reduce your future maintenance costs by rehabilitating a damaged floor as opposed to replacing it altogether! You can even consider hiring a floor maintenance professional to do the heavy lifting and keep your floors in top shape.
5. Safety
Safety is a very important consideration to take when you are looking to replace your floor. It is crucial that you protect yourself from injuries by wearing the proper gear during the process.
Aside from this, you need to be sure that you have your floor properly marked to help warn employees or visitors of any potential hazards. These can be things such as gaps, loose surfaces or even missing steps, among others.
The coefficient of friction between the foot and the surface is a big factor in determining whether a slip or fall happens. This is usually higher for dry surfaces than it is for wet ones.
It is also essential that the walkways and aisles are well lit to improve visibility of any unforeseen obstacles. This can be done by installing floor lights, spotlights or luminous or reflective guide tapes.
All of these safety measures are necessary for ensuring the safety of your workers and visitors. By taking these precautions, you can greatly decrease the chances of any accidents happening while working on your new floors. You can also get free quotes on replacing your floors and hire a professional for the job.
6. Environment
One of the most important things to consider when replacing your floor is how the material is sourced and the environmental impact of its manufacture. Materials that are made or harvested locally or responsibly reduce transportation energy costs and greenhouse gas emissions.
It’s also a good idea to select materials that are low in VOCs (volatile organic compounds) and other pollutants, since these chemicals can cause health problems and are a part of the building blocks of smog. In addition, choose water-based adhesives and finishes instead of solvent-based ones to reduce toxicity and emissions.
The best flooring material to use in an environment where moisture is a factor is hardy wood, like oak, or natural stone like linoleum tiles that can be easily cleaned and sanitized. It’s also a good idea to install water-resistant floors to prevent flooding or leaks in wet areas.
Another thing to consider is how your new floor will look with other home decor and furnishings in the room. Be sure to remove all artwork and mirrors, as well as any furniture that is likely to break when the floor is installed. This will help ensure that the room is a pleasant place for your family and visitors to stay while your new floor is in place.
7. Installation
Aside from choosing the right flooring type for your space, proper installation is essential to the long-term success of your new floors. A good floor installation will ensure that your floors look great, feel comfortable, and are durable. If you’re looking for a reputable flooring company to install your new flooring, you can find Ascent Epoxy’s location on their epoxy flooring map listing.
A professional floor installer will also ensure that all the necessary steps are taken to make sure your floors are installed properly. This includes removing any furniture, cleaning out the room, and more.
Remove any items that are breakable or heavy enough to damage the floors or baseboards in the room, such as mirrors and glass, lighting fixtures with ceramic bowls, artwork, and other items. This step will help your flooring professionals install the floor faster and without damaging your valuable belongings.
Before the installation begins, verify that the new floor height is appropriate for the doors in your home. This will ensure that your new floors fit snugly beneath the door jambs, resulting in a more refined appearance.
Next, you’ll need to remove any baseboards or trim molding around the room. This will allow for a smoother fit of the floor and will keep your walls from looking cluttered and sloppy once your new floors are in place.
