FLOORING

HARDWOOD

For Home Depot Purchase Info: Hardwood Flooring

Refinishing

If there is a significant amount (more than 500 sq. ft.) of existing hardwood flooring, it may be refinished, provided that the floor is level and will be in good condition once refinished.

When refinishing, only use an OIL-BASED polyurethane in semi-gloss. No stain is required. If there are pet stains, you are allowed to stain them darker so that they do not show.

If there is a significant amount (more than 500 sq. ft.) of existing hardwood flooring, it may be refinished, provided that the floor is level and will be in good condition once refinished.

When refinishing, only use an OIL-BASED polyurethane in semi-gloss. No stain is required. If there are pet stains, you are allowed to stain them darker so that they do not show.

Note: We don't use wood style vinyl in a bathroom where there is bamboo.

BAMBOO FLOORING

The only approved hardwood flooring is Horizontal Toast ⅝’’ Solid Bamboo. It comes from Home Depot and is an environmentally friendly product because few petroleum products were used in its production (unlike Laminate or Vinyl), and Bamboo is a renewable product. It is very durable and may be used anywhere in the house EXCEPT FOR the Bathroom or in a small kitchen where tile is appropriate.

THIS IS WIDER THAN MOST ALL HARDWOODS and requires less installation time.

Hardwood should be installed PERPENDICULAR to the direction that the floor joists run.

The floor should be leveled, with a leveling compound (thin-set) if needed, and roofing felt on the subfloor before hardwood is installed.

Each piece of bamboo flooring should have AT LEAST 4 flooring staples installed per full-length piece.

*When ordering, order 10% MORE than the square footage of the house; this will allow for waste.

Use any extra flooring at the next project, and make a TO-DO showing that you are taking the remaining to the next house.

STAIRS

Below is a picture of the ⅝’’ bamboo flooring we used that had been lying in Jeff’s backyard, exposed to the elements for around 6 months in the winter. It was exposed to the sun, snow, wind, and extreme temperature change (freezing and thawing dozens of times) and, as you can see, was damaged but not destroyed.

TRAP DOORS: ALL HOMES SHOULD GENERALLY HAVE A SEALED CRAWL SPACE, WITH ACCESS TO THE CRAWL THROUGH THE FLOOR. Exceptions to this are houses with basements, or houses that we have not insulated the crawl space of with spray foam. This door should be installed with your hardwood flooring, in an inconspicuous place.

The photos below show a sample of not having enough lip for floor door.

Here is an example of floor access for a crawl space

Old trap door handle style- Do not use these anymore- because they need to be routed out in the floor, and will not appear finished.

USE THESE PULLS and surface mount on the trap door. They are from Harbor Freight but

Here's the linkered on Amazon a can also be ordnd have a much more finished work for the pulls "finished look.": https://www.harborfreight.com/4-piece-surface-mounted-rope-rings-97767.html

TOUNGE AND GROOVE FLOORING INSTALLATION

Nailing the groove part of tongue and groove flooring helps to secure the boards in place and prevent them from moving around. This is especially important in high-traffic areas where the flooring is more likely to be subjected to wear and tear.

When the tongue of one board fits into the groove of the next board, it creates a very tight joint. However, this joint is not strong enough to hold the boards in place on its own. The nails provide additional support and help to prevent the boards from popping up or shifting out of alignment.

How To Install Tongue and Groove Flooring

VINYL FLOORING SCAM

Below video shows some reason why we use tongue and groove hardwood and NOT lvp. And if we use LVP, it is in a very small area of the house.

Vinyl and laminate flooring is deliberately updated every 2-3 years, forcing customers to replace entire floors rather than just repair small sections, as the click mechanisms are intentionally changed to be incompatible with previous models.

NAIL-DOWN INSTALLATION DIAGRAM

A nail down installation diagram is a visual representation of the steps involved in installing a nail down hardwood floor. The diagram typically shows the following:

The layout of the room, including the location of the starting wall, the working line, and the expansion space.
The sequence of steps involved in installing the floor, including snapping the working line, laying the first row, blind-nailing the boards, and staggering the end joints.
The type of fasteners and tools that are required for the installation.

Here is a simplified nail down installation diagram:

1. Snap a working line parallel to the starting wall, leaving a ¾ inch expansion space.

2. Lay one row of flooring along the entire length of the working line.

3. Blind-nail the first row, using appropriate fasteners.

4. Lay the next row of flooring, staggering the end joints.

5. Continue laying rows of flooring, blind-nailing each row.

6. At the finishing wall, face-nail the last two rows of flooring.

7. Fill all nail holes with wood filler. 8. Sand the floor and apply finish.

Here are some additional tips for nail down installation:

Use a level to make sure that the working line is straight.
Use a flooring nailer that is specifically designed for nail down installation.
Pre-drill the boards if they are dense or hard.
Stagger the end joints in adjacent rows by at least twice the width of the boards.
Leave a ¾ inch expansion space around the perimeter of the room.
Fill all nail holes with wood filler and sand the floor smooth before applying finish.

This video demonstrates how to put the wood floor adhesive.

tiktok vid_flooring.mp4

USEFUL VIDEOS ON FLOORING

This video shows How to Patch a Wood Flooring

How to Patch a Wood Floor.mp4

This video shows How to Cut tiles for Door Frames

How to Flooring.mp4

If you can roll a tube of caulk on the floor- it is too steep.

tube of caulk on the floor.MOV

Flooring tip for Door Jam

Flooring tip for jam door.MOV

FLOORING: LEVELING

Checklist for Floor leveling

The above link will take you to the checklist for Floor leveling. Make sure to print it each time you use it, as we may have made updates to it since you last printed it..

This is video shows how we do Floor Leveling

Floor leveling.mp4

We're pouring self-leveler throughout this area, but we don't want to pour it all in one shot. So we're using spray foam as a dam to stop the leveler from running into unwanted areas. A spiked roller really helps spread the leveler and get rid of the air bubbles. It's as easy as pouring and spreading around.

It'll find its own level, smooth like glass, perfectly level.

The video below shows how to do floor leveling using Great Stuff and screw to show a good height for the leveling.

Self level flooring.MOV

This Video shows how to check if the floor is level

#stabilachallenge

stabilachallenge.mp4

This Video show how to level a floor with self leveler

VID_20230626_215740_932.mp4

𝙵𝚕𝚘𝚘𝚛 𝙻𝚎𝚟𝚎𝚕𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚠𝚒𝚝𝚑 𝙱𝚕𝚞𝚎 𝚂𝚞𝚋𝚏𝚕𝚘𝚘𝚛 𝙿𝚛𝚒𝚖𝚎𝚛 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚂𝚙𝚛𝚊𝚢 𝙵𝚘𝚊𝚖 𝙳𝚊𝚖

Leveling out floors can be a tricky task. Check out this process using self-leveler, spray foam and a spike roller to get the job done!

𝙵𝚕𝚘𝚘𝚛 𝙻𝚎𝚟𝚎𝚕𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚠𝚒𝚝𝚑 𝙱𝚕𝚞𝚎 𝚂𝚞𝚋𝚏𝚕𝚘𝚘𝚛 𝙿𝚛𝚒𝚖𝚎𝚛 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚂𝚙𝚛𝚊𝚢 𝙵𝚘𝚊𝚖 𝙳𝚊𝚖.MOV

SELF LEVELER TILE TIP

Put a piece of tape on your drill, make a mark, and drive your screws down to that line.

Tile Floor leveling.MOV

FIXING UNEVEN FLOOR WITH SLEEPERS

Sleepers are strips of wood, typically 2x4s or 2x6s, laid flat on a surface to create a level, elevated support system for a subfloor.

Fixing an uneven floor with sleepers is a practical approach to leveling the surface and providing stability for the new flooring. This video will show you how.

Fixing an uneven floor with sleepers.mp4

SELF LEVELER TILE TIP

Put a piece of tape on your drill, make a mark, and drive your screws down to that line.

Tile Floor leveling.MOV

FLOORING: CONCRETE

Concrete Flooring

Use 2-part epoxy.

After removing Granite Grip, clean the floor with TSP and hot water. Let the floor properly dry.

Then use Rust-Oleum epoxy garage floor paint. Here's the link to Home Depot: Rust-Oleum Epoxy Shield

HELPFUL HINTS:

FLOORING EDUCATION BACKGROUND AND REASONING

For why we do things, the way we do them.

Below is the video on Backer Board Install Tips

Backer Board should have tape on all seams

NOTE: Cover a tub with plywood when installing tile tub surround.

Also, cover up drains when installing tile and the like. Please DO NOT fill our drains with debris.

How to Cut Tile (Toilet Flange)

tile.mp4

The toilet flange, also known as a closet flange, is the part of the toilet that secures the unit to the floor and connects to the drainpipe.

How to remove grout from tile.

How to remove grout from tile..MOV

This is what happens when you don't properly install the tile.

this is what happens when you don't properly install tile.MOV

WE ONLY USE “CHARCOAL” COLORED GROUT.

For any angle that the tile is on (where walls meet) or where the tub meets the tile, DO NOT GROUT. Apply a bead of “Sanded Tile Caulk."

TIP OF THE DAY: WHEN APPLYING RED GUARD

When applying that red guard.MOV

WET SHIM

Wet shim backer board is a type of construction material that is designed to be used as a substrate for tile or other finishes in wet areas, such as showers, bathrooms, and kitchens. It is typically made from a type of cement board that has been specially treated to resist water damage and deterioration.

The term "wet shim" refers to the thickness of the board, which is typically around 1/4 inch or less, and the fact that it is often used to shim or level out uneven surfaces in the installation area. Wet shim backer board is often installed on top of a subfloor or other structural surface using screws and construction adhesive, and then the tile or other finish is applied on top of the backer board using a suitable mortar or adhesive.

Wet shim backer board is an important component in the installation of tile or other finishes in wet areas, as it provides a stable and waterproof surface that helps to prevent water damage and ensure the longevity of the installation.

Wet shim.MOV

Plate protectors

Plate protectors.MOV

EPOXY FLOORING

Is epoxy flooring a good idea?

Extremely safe – Epoxy is a very safe coating for your hard floors. It's slip-resistant, shock resistant, and less abrasive than concrete and other types of industrial flooring. It's also water resistant and will protect your floor from any spills, including harsh chemicals that would harm other types of floor.

FLOORING: HOW TO APPLY SPREADSTONE ON THE FLOOR

1.Clean the floor

Clean the surface with muriatic acid to repair holes and cracks.

It is recommended that the floor is very clean and wait for the drying times that the product says.

2. Mop and Dry

The floor should be very clean and wait for the floor the dry well.

3. Primer

Apply the primer and wait 12 hours

4. Apply design tapes

5.Apply Spread stone

6. Remove the tape, touch up and wait for 12 hours of drying

7.Apply sealer and wait for 12 hours drying

SPREAD STONE ON FLOOR

STAIN & SEAL CONCRETE FLOOR

HERE'S HOW YOU DO IT

Order your materials from the home depot paint and granite grip list (here is the link)

#1. Clean the concrete really well with a lot of water.

#2. Mop the floor with some concrete clean and etch.

#3. Make sure you mop the floor again just with clean water.

#4. For better results, sand down the concrete flooring and clean it one more time.

#5. Let it dry.

# 6. Cracks: If you have concrete cracks, you can use: Quikrete 0.5 lb. FastSet Concrete Crack Repair Tube.

#7. After it dries, you can remove the excess with a spatula or something sharp.

#8. Clean up with a rag, and good to go.

# 9. Apply between 2 and 3 coats of stain and seal from Home Depot.

MATERIALS LIST

1. Stain and seal the front Home Depot.

BEHR PREMIUM 1 gal. #DCS-828 Arctic Black Semi-Transparent Flat Interior/Exterior Decorative Concrete Stain

2. Wooster 9 in. x 1/2 in. Pro Surpass Shed-Resistant Knit High-Density Fabric Roller Cover.

3. Rust-Oleum 1 gal. Concrete Etch and Cleaner.

4. Quickie Professional Wood Block Deck Scrub Brush.

5. Concrete Repairs: Quikrete 0.5 lb. FastSet Concrete Crack Repair

For the labor, as per Daniel, will depend on how much labor is needed in such concrete conditions sometimes, they need extra prep work, a lot of concrete repairs, etc.

PM's NOTE :

In my personal opinion, epoxy is a better option to have a nice smooth, and shiny concrete

You use a 9 “ roller 1/2” thick so they don’t leave a big mark of stain or heavy stain. Now, for the last coat, you can use a big 18” roller probably 1/4” thick.

Example of “run the planks of the flooring PERPENDICULAR to the direction of the floor joists”

NUTMEG HICKORY FLOORING

SUBFLOOR

This video show how to lay a subfloor

How to lay subfloor.MOV

SUBFLOOR INSTALL: No squeak floor

This video shows a practical approach to eliminating squeaks in your subfloor. Great Stuff foam is known for its expanding properties, which can fill gaps and provide stability.

Subfloor install.MOV

Installing of waterproof flooring

1. Clean area

2. Make sure you don’t have any nails coming from the subfloor

3. Install felt paper first

4. Start installing your floor, no nails required.

5. Easy to cut with a sharp blade

INSTALLING BLOCKING

This video shows a technique on how to easily install a wood blocking using a clamp to squeeze and hold it tight.

Installing blocking.mp4

FLOORING REPAIR

FLOORING REPAIR: When to refinish vs When to patch.

For scratches and discoloration, refinished with sanding.

Patch the discolored wood

How to Replace a DAMAGED Piece of Flooring

This video shows how to Replace a damaged piece of Flooring.

This would be a great visual for doing floor patch. The only other addition I have is to shoot some angle finish nails into it ((maybe five on the side that rests on top of the tongue if the remaining piece of wood) and put some filler in the holes Make sure to use a same color plank.

How to Replace a DAMAGED Piece of Flooring.mov

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