Answering Some Common Questions About Installing New Flooring in Your Home
New flooring can make your entire home seem updated and modern, and may even increase the value of the home. Removing old carpeting can also make the home more hygienic, as those carpet fibres might be holding quite a bit of dust, dirt, and other debris that can't be cleaned with everyday vacuuming. If you're in the market for new flooring for your home, note a few questions you might have about your various options, and this can help you narrow down those choices to something that is functional yet attractive for your home.
Can radiant heating be installed with any flooring system?
Radiant heating refers to coils that are installed under the floors, and which heat up or circulate warm water, making the floor warmer. This type of system can usually be installed with just about any flooring system, but this might depend on the level of heat you get from those coils. Overly hot coils could soften adhesives used for flooring tiles, and might also dry out hardwood floors, causing them to become brittle. Your flooring contractor can usually work with you to choose the best type of radiant heating that is right for your new flooring system, so the floors are warm but protected from potential damage.
Do area rugs damage wood or tile floors?
You may have seen timber or tile floors that have been scuffed by area rugs, but note that this usually happens with rugs that are very "scratchy" at the bottom. An area rug made of wool or another nubby material, and without a rubber or foam backing, is meant for use over carpeting, and not timber or tile. If you do want to add an area rug to hardwood or tile flooring, choose a rug with padding on the underside to protect your new flooring system.
Do old floors always need to be removed before a new floor is installed?
Depending on the condition of the home's current flooring, you may not need to remove old tiles or timber slats; in some cases, new flooring can even be installed right over your home's carpeting! Floating timber floors can often be placed over carpeting with low nap, and old tile can actually provide a solid base for new tiles or timber floors. If you're concerned about the cost, mess, and time it takes to install a new flooring system in your home, talk to a flooring contractor about leaving the current flooring in place, and having a new flooring system simply installed over it.