FloorTalk – for all the latest flooring fashions

 Question:

Can I Install New Laminate Floors Over Pre Installed Laminate Floors?

Answer:

Unfortunately, laminate flooring should not be installed over existing laminate flooring. The good news is, because of the installation method of laminate, the existing will be simple to remove.

You can, however install laminate over ceramic tile if the tile is smooth, sound and dry. Laminate can also be installed over vinyl or resilient flooring that is adhered well. This is particularly useful when going over older vinyl that may contain asbestos that would be costly and dangerous to remove.

Always use the proper underlayment when installing laminate flooring. Other helpful hints are to use a professional installer and always keep mats at every entrance to keep dirt and grit from scratching your laminate floors.

To locate a floor covering professional in your area, click here.

For other posts on laminate flooring, click here.

This home features amazing travertine with lots of range. This floor was an exceptional choice for this home, especially at the front door and main traffic thoroughfare.

• The range in the floor will do a great job of hiding dirt
• The range in the floor shows off the natural beauty of travertine
• The large size tiles help the area appear larger
• Turning the tiles on the diagonal help the area feel larger
• Turning the tiles on the diagonal add a design element to keep the floor interesting
• Notice how the same stone was used as the stair riser (the stair treads can also be travertine)

Some things to remember about this floor:

• This floor should be properly maintained to last
• This floor should be sealed for protection
• If you were to order this exact same floor, it will not look exactly the same since travertine is a natural stone product
• This floor can be used with radiant heat flooring

For a flooring store locater in your area that can show you travertine samples, click here.

To visualize a tile like this in a room, click here.

To learn how to maintain this floor, click here.

To browse travertine samples, click here. (many others are available)

Why is this so exciting?

Carpet tiles are one of the greatest flooring inventions. The offer design flexibility because you can lay them straight or 1/4 turn them for more pattern. The best part is if something happens to one of the tiles, like a stain or damage, that tile can be removed and replaced! Read below to learn about new residential carpet tiles!

Dalton, GA, June 18, 2008–For the first time, Mohawk is offering carpet tile to Mohawk residential dealers.

Modular by Mohawk is part of the Aladdin Home and Office Collection.

The line features four styles and design options. The company sees residential tile as a growth area.

“Light commercial is still a strong market segment, and this lets dealers pursue business they couldn’t before, with a stylish, competitive tile product,” said Phil Stoner, Mohawk market development director.

“Not only can dealers build tile business now, but the availability of tile opens discussions for other types of commercial business.”

The tile line contains Mohawk’s Encycle backing, which is produced in an ISO_14001-certified and Clean Air Class 1 facility. Encycle is the first and only non-PVC carpet tile that can be completely recycled back into itself in a single process, which Mohawk calls “thermal re-activation.”

Encycle carpet that has reached the end of its useful life is melted down and made into new Encycle backing without ever separating the face fiber from the backing layers. Avoiding the separation process altogether reduces energy use and saves resources in the recycling process. The reclamation and recycling of Encycle tiles is all handled by Mohawk’s ReCover program.

Encycle is a 100% non-PVC thermoplastic modular backing technology. It uses a minimum of 28 percent less virgin raw materials than its previous generation PVC modular carpet tiles.

• The carpet pad actually determines the comfort of carpet rather than the carpet
• Floor Covering stores often only carry one or two types of padding because they buy in bulk. Other types can be special ordered.
• It is best to buy carpet cushion that is not too soft or too hard. Soft padding doesn’t absorb the shock as well leaving the carpet to take the rest of the impact.
• Thicker padding is not always better than thinner padding. Individual needs are more important to consider when determining what carpet cushion is needed.
• All carpet pad does not have to be the same in one house. Different rooms with different lifestyles can benefit from different types of cushion.

For more posts on carpet cushion, click here.

For more information on carpet cushion from The Carpetology Blog click here.

As a follow up to the 2 previous posts, here are some tips on how to buy carpet pad!

• Factor a good padding into your budget before looking at carpet prices
• You can buy a lower pile carpet with a better cushion and it will be more comfortable, the carpet will look better and the carpet will wear better
• Purchasing the best carpet with an inferior pad will result in premature packing of the carpet, premature crushing of the carpet and overall comfort
• It shouldn’t be too soft or too firm
• Like a mattress, the softness or firmness depends on your personal preference
• Not all carpet cushion types are the same across manufacturers, look for companies that use first quality ingredients
• Make sure that prime urethane cushion is stamped FHA approved
• The impact of foot traffic can cause the synthetic latex in the carpet backing to break down, stretch and separate the primary backing from the secondary backing and also stress on the face of the carpet fiber
• Take the cushion sample you are interested in and place it under the carpet sample you are interested in. Walk with your shoes on and walk barefoot to feel the difference.

For more posts on carpet cushion, click here.For more information on carpet cushion from The Carpetology Blog click here.