Timber floors do not often give much trouble, and such problems as do arise are frequently caused by the boards being lifted, for repairs to plumbing or electrical services under them, and improperly replaced. Many of these can be cured quite easily, with a few woodworking tools and a certain amount of upheaval, as carpets … Read more
Real wood floor coverings come in a variety of types. Wood mosaic panels — fingers of wood made up into squares — are one of the most attractive, and are easy to lay in a variety of patterns. Woodstrip floor coverings are either small, solid planks, usually with tongue-and-groove edges, or panels consisting of hardwood … Read more
Vinyl floor coverings in sheet and tile form are perfect for use in kitchens, bathrooms, utility rooms and WCs where a durable, smooth and easy-to-clean floor surface is required. Sheet floor coverings are now made in widths of up to 4m (13ft) — wide enough to cover all but the widest rooms in a single … Read more
Laying carpets is a job within the capability of many do-it-yourselfers equipped with the right tools and a certain amount of patience. The most difficult part is tensioning the carpet correctly across the room, and for this reason it is probably best to lay your first carpet in a small room free of too many … Read more
Flooring is one of the most expensive decorative items, so you can’t afford to make mistakes. Be practical first, then make decisions about colour, pattern and texture. Being practical involves thinking about various different aspects of your floor covering. What is it going to cover? – (it’s not usually a good idea to put ceramic … Read more
These can provide the most comfortable and warm of coverings, but need not be really expensive. You may avoid cleaning problems later by choosing carpet with care. Consider, first of all, how much you intend to spend, and how much traffic there is in the room — high heels, children and pets can all be … Read more
Measure the total length of stair carpet required by adding the height of a riser (the upright portion of a step) to the front-to-back width of a tread (the horizontal portion that is trodden on). Multiply by the number of risers and then add the height of one more riser. Now add about half a … Read more
Original wood floorings laid in older houses were thick in section and required a great deal of expertise to lay them. But their modern counterparts, designed for the DIY market, are relatively simple to lay and most of them are no more expensive than a top quality vinyl or medium priced carpet. Provided it is … Read more
In the past wood blocks were used for the most expensive floors in our great houses. Nowadays this splendid material is used more and more because there are available thinner blocks, cheaper and easier to handle. Old block work was frequently done with wood up to two or even three inches thick. However, since wear … Read more
Large rolls of sheet vinyl can be laid just as easily as the small tiles. Of course the pieces are much larger and heavier to handle but the basic operations are the same. First we must shape the vinyl pieces to fit the floor area including making the proper shapes around any projections. This part … Read more
Vinyl is justifiably one of the most popular materials to use today. It may be used in bathrooms, kitchens, living-rooms, halls or even on stairways. Its wear strength is quite remarkable provided that the surface to which it is glued is free from projections. You can buy vinyl in large rolls or in small tiles. … Read more
Choosing your floor covering You can cover floors with paint, wood blocks, matting, carpets or plastic sheets. The traditional linoleum is still widely used, though its place is being taken over by the more modern and hardwearing vinyl. Paint has more value than you might imagine. There are varnish stains for plank or other wood … Read more
Solid floors Solid floors, whether of concrete, tile or brick are often damp and may also sink and create an irregular surface. These may crack or disintegrate, especially at the edges. Correcting these defects may not be easy, because the basic problem may be that the floor was originally put down over too shallow and … Read more
Some types of carpet (e.g. some makes of carpet tile) are recommended for do-it-yourself laying. Foam-backed tufted carpets are also fairly simple for the amateur to lay. But unbacked woven carpets (e.g. Axminsters and Wiltons) are difficult to lay, as they need to be stretched by professional techniques. Certain types of cord carpeting (e.g. sisals … Read more
By nature of their composition and construction, designed to produce an appealing soft surface, carpets are more vulnerable to wear than other floor coverings. It is therefore essential to choose a quality suitable for the room or area where the carpet is to be laid. The carpet in the living room, for instance, must withstand … Read more
Floors in the home must withstand weight and wear. Durability, ease of cleaning and attractive appearance, depending on the room and the “traffic” in it, are the factors to take into account when selecting floor surfaces or coverings. Basic constructions Hollow floors have timber floorboards laid across joists with space below, which should be clean, … Read more
Hardwood flooring is firm underfoot, good looking and hard wearing. What’s more, it costs less than a quality fitted carpet, and actually improves with age. Ordinary sanded and sealed floorboards are effective in a simple scheme of decoration — in a playroom or a bedroom with pine fur- nishings for instance. But if you want … Read more
If you want a floor covering that’s tough, good looking but doesn’t cost a fortune, then learning how to lay vinyl, cork and carpet tiles could be the answer. They’re easy to lay — all you need is a solid flat surface and a little forward planning. Laying floor tiles — cork, vinyl or carpet … Read more
Almost all modern vinyl is designed for loose- laying. The only time this will need sticking down is if you have to join two sheets, or if an edge is likely to catch and lift–.3as in a door-way, for example. In either case, this is easily done with heavy-duty double-sided tape. Vinyl sheet which is … Read more