Floors: Expert Guides and Resources

Planning the layout of your tile floor is an essential step in guaranteeing the success of your project. Ever wonder how a professional tile layer always seems to get those tiles at a perfect 90- or 45-degree angle to the wall? You can do it, too, and here’s how. ©Andrey Gonchar / Adobe StockInstall ceramic tile over a subfloor that’s no less than 1 1/8 inches thick.

Buying ceramic tile for floors requires measuring and math. Estimate how many ceramic tiles to buy by calculating the total floor area you plan to cover and dividing that number by the size of one tile. Ceramic floor tiles typically come in 4-, 6-, 9-, 12-, and 18-inch squares. First, determine the square footage of the room (don’t forget the closets!

Installing a ceramic tile floor may appear to be beyond the abilities of some homeowners, but most DIYers can handle it. Just don’t rush it — have a little patience! The materials are relatively easy to work with, and you can rent the tools, even the big ones.Install ceramic tile over a subfloor that’s no less than 1 1/8 inches thick.

To refinish a hardwood floor, the first thing you need to do is sand off the old finish. You need a walk-behind floor sander, which you can rent. You also want to rent a handheld power edge sander for sanding tight against walls and in corners and doorways. Both units have a vacuum and dust bag system to minimize the amount of sanding dust left behind.

Knowing how to stain and seal a hardwood floor properly pays off in having a beautiful finish and enduring protection. Staining and sealing hardwood floors the right way — whether you’re refinishing, refurbishing, or stripping the wood floor — results in years of enjoyment.Clean the surface of the floor.Carefully vacuum up dust and grit from the sanding process, and then wipe down the floor with a tack cloth to pick up any remaining dust.

Before refinishing a hardwood floor, you need to know how to get the floors ready for sanding. The way you get floors ready for sanding affects the final finish, so prepare carefully. The sanding process also creates fine sawdust that can permeate the house if you’re not painstaking in your preparations.Thoroughly clean the hardwood floor.

Although installing carpet isn’t difficult technically, it’s challenging because of the size of the rolls and the often limited workspace. Whether it’s cushioned-back carpet for a basement or plush carpet and pad for a living room, here is some general information to help you understand how to lay carpet in place.

If you have small areas of damage in your hardwood floors, you might not have to refinish the entire floor. You may be able to repair stains, nicks, and scratches. Stains are the toughest fix when it comes to hardwood floors. One stain or water ring can ruin the look of the whole floor. Unfortunately, refinishing the entire floor is sometimes the only way to get rid of a stain or ring.

If your hardwood floor is in generally fine shape, with only a damaged spot or two, it is easy and economical to make small repairs by replacing a strip or plank of flooring. You can also fix buckled areas of flooring and avoid having to completely refinish your floors. Most floors use a tongue-and-groove design for connecting adjacent strips.