Category Archives: Flooring

Popcorn Ceiling Removal

acoustic ceiling - popcorn ceiling

Popcorn ceilings are so ’70s. Not only are they well past their prime, bumpy ceilings are tacky. If you’re tired of living with these monstrosities, let’s talk popcorn ceiling removal.

Experts strongly recommend an asbestos check before you disturb the status quo. You can buy an asbestos testing kit or mail some scrapings to a laboratory for analysis.

In the event asbestos is present, put away your tools and contact state-certified asbestos abatement professionals. Asbestos removal is not a prudent DIY project.

Under the best circumstances, popcorn ceiling removal is a dirty job. You should wear personal protective equipment (PPE) including: face mask, goggles, close-toed sturdy shoes, coveralls and work gloves.

Gather your tools before beginning the project. You’ll need: ladder, 6″ putty knife or plastic trowel, spray bottle or garden sprayer (preferred), plenty of plastic tarps and a couple of rolls of masking tape. You may need a sander.

Prepare the room by moving contents to another area. Turn off the electricity in the room where you’re working and take down light fixtures and/or ceiling fan. Cover the floor and walls with plastic and secure with tape. Put on your PPE.

If it appears somebody has painted over the bumps, you will need to sand the ceiling before wetting.

Wet the textured ceiling thoroughly, using your garden sprayer or spray bottle. Using side-to-side motions lightly spray the same small section several times until you have properly saturated the entire ceiling. Let the water soak into the ceiling about 20 minutes.

Now it’s time to get down to serious popcorn ceiling removal business! You might want to crank up your favorite tunes. Get your putty knife and start scraping. Don’t get overly vigorous. Keep your putty knife level so you won’t gash the drywall.

There is no doubt this work is tedious, but very important. Just keep scraping until done. If it seems your work is getting harder, give that section another drink of water. Wait the requisite 20 minutes, start scraping and the “popcorn” should pop right off.

After you finish scraping, get a damp (not wet) sponge and remove any stragglers. Now, eyeball the ceiling for gouges or rips. If necessary, use drywall compound to repair the damage and conceal any nail holes. Be mindful, you’re aiming for a smooth surface, so that you will likely need to do a final sanding prior to painting.

Now, stand back and admire your popcorn ceiling removal work!

Carpet Tiles – All You Need to Know

carpet tile squares - color samples

Carpet tiles are a modern alternative to traditional carpet rolls. They may be listed as modular carpet, or carpet squares, but their overall design is generally the same. Each individual square is installed on its own and this carpet has its own unique set of pros and cons associated with it.

Carpet tiles are becoming a popular choice for both residential and commercial flooring. They are found in airports, schools, and even the rooms of a home. Since you don’t have to struggle with a traditional roll of carpet, you can use them in more confined spaces. You can even set them in rooms that aren’t an even size with ease.

These Tiles Come in Different Styles and Colors

As you look at carpet tiles, you’ll notice they aren’t all the same. Each of these tiles has variable sizes, shapes, fibers, and types associated with it. That means you can mix and match these items as needed for your business. Traditionally, these tiles are backed so that they can be installed easily on any surface you’re looking to install them on. This is usually options like fiberglass, urethane, woven polypropylene and even recycled vinyl. When you consider any tile, you’ll want to look at the backing and how well it will hold up in the room it will be used in.

The backing may also be designed to simply peel and stick, or it might require glue. While both styles work in a do it yourself setting, you’ll want to consider that the application of glue will extend the amount of time it will take to install these carpet tiles.

How to Choose Carpet Tiles

When you choose the carpet tiles for a room, think about the big picture. You don’t want to think about a single tile and how it will look. Think about the finished floor and how it will look with the layout and design of the space. You might find that one individual style or design will appear significantly different from another. Your goal is to take the time to make sure that you have the right tile size, color, and even pattern in a room before you even start to lay it.

In addition to the visual considerations, also look at the warranty associated with the tile. You’ll want to make sure you are fully covered beyond the safety aspect of it. Make sure there is a warranty in place for concerns like curling, buckling, and even shrinking. That way if something does happen, you’ll have a warranty to back you up so that you can get the tiles replaced.

The Pros of Using Carpet Tiles

When you look at carpet tiles, you’ll find that there are definitely some benefits that are associated with using them. They include:

  • The simplest installation available, often with do it yourself kits available.
  • Little prep work is required, as you can install these tiles over most other types of flooring.
  • They are simple to clean and care for. Just remove a damaged tile and swap it out for a new one.
  • There is the ability to be more creative and to design a room according to your unique needs.

Cons of Using Carpet Tiles

While the majority of the things to consider are good, you will encounter some cons when using carpet tiles.

  • The seams in this type of carpeting tend to be visible.
  • They do not do well in areas with moisture, mildew, and mold are problems.
  • They are often more expensive than traditional carpet rolls.

Where Should You Install Carpet

Carpet tiles can be used in most rooms of the home. Some spaces just have a few additional benefits.

Take for example, the basement. If you ever have a floor or want an easy to clean and install tile, then carpet tiles are the best choice. You can remove them if the area floods and this will save you time and money. More importantly, when things dry out, you can also quickly reinstall it.

Screened porches are a transitional room from the outdoors to inside of your home. Carpet tiles can be used to give the comfort of the indoors, while having a durable option that will work in most cases. They can install on a deck and if they become too worn, you can replace an individual square, rather than having to carpet the entire space all over again.

As you can see, there are plenty of benefits that are associated with carpet tiles. Take a moment to consider the right approach for your home and choose a color, pattern, and design that will meet your needs.

Our personal experience with carpet tiles started with samples from Best Carpet Value (www.bestcarpetvalue.com)

Change a Room with Carpet

carpet tileIn interior design there are few improvements that make as much of an impact as flooring. What we step on every day plays an integral role in setting the mood, and turning any drab space in to something fantastic. If you’re looking to increase the comfort, appeal, and even the value of your home, there’s no better way to do it than with quality carpets.

Hardwood flooring, laminates, and even ceramic tiles all have their places in the home. They’re perfect for kitchen and dining areas because these materials are almost impossible to stain and are a breeze to clean. However, think about you when you want to sit back and relax, how you want your bedroom to feel, and where you want to entertain guests or have your children play. In all of these situations carpet makes the most inviting spaces, and because carpets can be dyed, cut, and threaded in hundreds of different ways they’re a great way to express yourself through interior design.

Deciding which carpets you need for each room will depend on the purpose and the mood you want to create. Taking a little extra time to pick the right carpet will make the difference between a home that’s comfortable and functional, to a home that is both of these, but also stunningly beautiful.

There are plenty of options when it comes to choosing your carpets. Carpets come in different pile heights, which makes a difference as to how much actual fabric you have under your feet. A carpet with a heavy pile will provide more cushioning, but it can also mean more maintenance, and that it has more affinity for trapping dirt and debris. However, if you’re carpeting a living or comfort room then long pile carpet might be the best option.

For other spaces like offices and children’s play areas, low pile carpet is preferable. Plush carpet that is cut has a velvety texture that still feels luxurious underfoot while still being easily maintained through regular vacuuming and the occasional professional cleaning.

When you’re looking to make a statement in a special room like a games room, or a media room, designer carpets are the best choice. Carpets with multi-colored sections can work great in a space like this. If you go with something darker such as a deep maroon, or navy blue colored carpet it will look stunning with leather sofas in your entertainment suite. Carpets come in so many colors and designs that you can get as creative as you want, just be sure to settle on a look that you love.

Specialty carpets like sculpted cut carpets are perfect for bedrooms. These carpets have both cut, and regular pile height in one carpet to form embossed patterns. Imagine your master bedroom with a carpet that creates the sense that you’re in a boutique hotel. You’re only ever going to be able to achieve that look with carpet!

There are so many fabric choices, designs, colors, and textures available from carpets that they’re easily the most versatile and important home improvement you could choose. Carpets are the perfect investment that can last for a lifetime, Best of all they let you express yourself with standout interior spaces that you’ll love to live in.

Vinyl Flooring Installing-Measure Twice and Cut Once

When faced with such flooring choices as carpet, tile, natural stone, and hardwood, vinyl flooring may seem a bit mundane. The first thing to do is clear your mind of the vision of the unflattering, discolored, and bubbling vinyl flooring that you remember from your grandmother’s kitchen. Vinyl flooring has undergone many improvements and is one of the most popular types of flooring in America today. Not only can you buy vinyl that closely resembles those other flooring materials, but with a minimal amount of maintenance, a vinyl floor can last a lifetime.

Vinyl has many qualities that make it so desirable. The vinyl of today is stylish, easy to clean, durable, doesn’t need waxing, and it is friendly to the budget, but one of the biggest reasons that so many people choose vinyl is the ease in which it can be installed. Vinyl is an easy DIY project for even the most inexperienced of handymen and it can be done in under a day.

Installing Vinyl Flooring

The first thing to do is prepare the room by clearing your workspace.

Remove all furniture and appliances (including toilet if you are working in the bathroom)
If there is a door that opens into the room, remove it from the hinges.
Remove the baseboards from around the floor with a pry bar. Gently ease the pry bar in between the baseboard and the wall and insert a small block of wood behind the bar. This gives you leverage to pry the trim away without damaging the wall.
Remove any nails from the wall and trim. If are reusing the same trim, remove the nails gently to prevent splitting the wood.

Cutting Your Vinyl Floor to Fit

Vinyl flooring is generally sold in both 6 and 12 foot widths making a seamless floor in smaller rooms, such as a hallway, kitchen, or bathroom, possible. There are two methods of installing your vinyl flooring depending on the room you are fitting.

  • For rooms that don’t have many obstacles or angles, you can cut the vinyl to the measurement of the room and allow 3 inches of excess on each side and then trim it after it is in place.
  • Once your flooring has been cut to fit the room (remember to leave 3 inches extra all the way around), place it in the room and allow the edges to curl upward onto the wall.
  • Trim around any outside corners or other objects that protrude by cutting a vertical slice down the vinyl. Be sure to cut from the top of the flooring down to where it meets the floor.
  • For fitting the vinyl to inside corners, press it into the corner and make v-shaped incisions where it overlaps. Cut only a small amount at a time and carefully work downward until the flooring rests flat.
  • Press a 2×4 along the walls to create a crease where the floor meets the wall. After the crease is made, use a straight edge and a good utility knife to cut the flooring. As it rests, the floor will expand a bit so leave around 1/8th inch of space between the flooring and the wall.
  • Once you’ve made sure that the vinyl is laying completely flat, you can put your baseboards back in place and your new floor is complete.

The alternative, for rooms with recesses, angles, or are hard to fit for other reasons, you can purchase an installation kit. These kits come complete with paper for creating a template of your floor plan, a marker, a cutting blade, tape, and precise instructions for making a pattern of your floor. With these kits you simply make the template, transfer it to the flooring, and then cut the vinyl to fit before installing it.

With so many beautiful styles and colors available, combined with the ease of installation, it is little wonder that so many people are choosing vinyl flooring for their homes and offices.