Before installing new floor coverings, it is necessary to prepare the floor. According to the major renovation standard, the old floor covering, common joists and even the old cement underlayments must be removed. Typically, it takes one or two days, and it is one of the most painstaking and dirty jobs. As a rule, in many local homes several quintals of sand, oakum and construction waste were put under the flooring for extra heat and a sound insulation. So, this waste may fill up a whole dumpster.

Once the old floor covering is removed, it is time for the underlayments - a 2 cm thick cement layer that is put on a reinforced concrete floor and is the base of any flooring. Today self-aligning underlayments or filling floors are widely used: a cement mixture is evenly put on the floor. After it hardens within 2-3, the floor is ready for a further installation. The choice of materials depends on a floor covering type. For example, installing tiles requires special tile glue and floating joints. To install laminate, carpet and linoleum coverings, a thin synthetic substrate, building adhesive and tapes are needed.

The above method of removing floor coverings gives a high-quality result though it is expensive and time-consuming. Therefore, there are other methods for inexpensive refurbishments. For example, in case of economically reasonable repairs, linoleum or carpet could be put on top of the old covering. Instead of complete removing the old floor covering, some material replacement without making new joints can be done.

• Carpet
• Linoleum
• The History of Linoleum
• How to install laminate flooring : a tutorial on laying a new floor and re-installing the basebaords
• Parquet and Laminate Floors

read comments (0)