Flood Damage on Different Types of Flooring

Have you ever experienced flooding in your home? If so, you know it can be a nightmare to deal with. Whether your basement has flooded due to inclement weather, or you’re dealing with water damage from an overflown toilet, here is what you need to know about replacing your flood damaged flooring as well as some practical flooring options to help homeowners living in flood-prone areas.

Indoor Carpet: Carpeting is a popular choice for basements because it’s warm and insulating, but it’s the most challenging to deal with after water damage. Carpet will need to be removed as quickly as possible after extreme flooding. If it’s left on the floor, it can quickly grow mold or mildew, which can possibly ruin your subfloor. The good news is though it can be saved if you call professional cleaners within 24 hours.

Outdoor Carpet: If your outdoor carpet is on a concrete subfloor, water damage may be held to a minimum. By sucking out the standing water and allowing it to dry thoroughly you can probably save the carpeting.

Hardwood and Laminate Flooring: Unfortunately, wood and laminate floors are often permanently damaged after flooding because they are porous. Engineered wood and laminate flooring are good options for basements in areas that are not prone to flooding though, because they are dense and more moisture resistant than solid wood.

Ceramic and Porcelain Tile: These tiles only absorb about 1-2% of standing water because they’re made of stone, making them the most waterproof floors available. Tile is especially good for areas with warmer climates, as they keep homes nice and cool.

Vinyl: If there are water pockets below the flooring, you can typically remove and replace the flooring once the subfloor is completely dry.

With any flooring, the key is cleaning the area from top to bottom after water damage has occurred. Mold growth is not something to be messed with. Homeowners can mitigate the damage, cost and stress of flooding by choosing flooring that is durable and low-maintenance. To learn more about our carpet and hardwood  flooring or for any other flooring questions or needs, feel free to call us at (804) 527-2929 or contact us here.

Content Source: Flood Damage on Different Types of Flooring

Carpet Can Improve Air Quality

Carpet is not typically associated with improved indoor air quality, but surprisingly it has a very positive effect on the air in your home. This is because gravity causes common household particles, like dust, pollen, pet and insect dander, to fall to the floor. Here’s where the benefits of carpet come into play. Carpet traps these particles, removing them from the breathing zone and reducing their circulation in the air, which is not the case with hardwood flooring. Proper carpet cleaning with a good vacuum cleaner then removes these dust and allergen particles from the carpet and keeps them out of the air we breathe.

The Asthma and Allergies Myth

It’s a common misconception that people with asthma and allergies should avoid carpet in their homes. In fact, the opposite is actually true. Studies have shown that properly cleaned carpet helps reduce symptoms and is the best flooring choice for people who suffer from allergies and asthma.

Mold Misperceptions

If carpet is kept clean and dry, mold cannot grow on its synthetic fibers. Carpet is recognized as one of the lowest emitters of volatile organic compounds among flooring choices and interior finishes.

The bottom line for Costen Floors is we have it all, wall to wall, when it comes to your flooring needs. Still family owned and operated, Costen Floors is committed to providing quality through every step of the flooring process-and backs this commitment with a level of personalized service that’s unmatched in the industry.

To learn more about our carpet or hardwood flooring or for any other flooring questions or needs, feel free to call us at (804) 527-2929 or contact us here: www.costenfloors.com/contact/

Top 7 Benefits of Laminate Flooring

Choosing new flooring can be an overwhelming and exhausting task.  If you’re searching for something affordable and durable that still looks amazing, laminate might just be the answer. To help make your decision a little easier, we want to tell you the top 7 reasons why laminate flooring could be the perfect solution for you and your family.

Laminate flooring is much less expensive than hardwood, but it doesn’t fall short on quality and appearance. If you’re on a budget, yet you love the look of hardwood, laminate flooring allows you to get the look without the breaking the bank.

Flooring Installation Va

Laminate is protected by a tough external layer and resin coating, which makes it strong, scratch-resistant and highly durable. It’s also resistant to fading from sunlight. If you have small children and pets, or you need flooring for an area that involves high traffic, laminate is the perfect choice.

Easy to clean. Unlike hardwood, the stain resistant nature of laminate flooring makes cleaning up spills easy – no special cleaners required. Just be sure to clean up spills quickly however, as laminate is not waterproof.

Easy to install. Laminate boards are designed to interlock, making them very easy to work with. They can also be put over most existing floors, saving installation time. The process is so simple that many homeowners install laminate themselves.

Style Variation. You can find laminate flooring in a variety of styles, from wood to stone and tile finishes. All of these are available in different colors, surface treatments, thickness and plank styles.

If anyone in your family suffers from bad allergies, laminate flooring is an excellent choice since there are no places for dust and other particles to become trapped. The underlayment provides a moisture barrier that not only protects the floor from damage, but also prevents mold from forming.

Subfloor Versatility. Laminate can be installed on nearly any type of subfloor, from concrete to pre-existing vinyl floors. When hardwood isn’t compatible with a subfloor, laminate is a smart option.

As you can see, laminate is a great option for many different rooms in your home. It’s important to note, however, that it isn’t a good choice for rooms with a risk of serious water leaks, like your laundry room or bathroom. Laminates are built to be moisture resistant, but not waterproof.
 

To learn more about laminate flooring or for any other flooring questions or needs, feel free to call us at (804) 527-2929 or contact us here https://www.costenfloors.com/.

How to install hardwood floor at home by yourself?

Hardwood flooring installation is easy but time-consuming and energy consuming task. If you are planning to renovate the flooring of your homes, you can easily install the hardwood by yourself, all you need is below tips:

1. Uninstalling old floor and remove the doors:

It is up to you that you want to install hardwood on the existing floor or you want to uninstall the existing floor first and then go for new installation. However, first make sure that the use and conditions of the room won’t have a negative impact on the flooring during installation. The benefit of former is you will be relieved from messy job and disadvantage is it will raise the level of your floor making it weird.

2. Preparing subfloors:

The wood floorings are generally raised with wood framed sub floor surfaced with plywood. The sub floors need to be clean, dry, and flat at the proper level, squeak-free and clear of bumps. You can check all the deviations with the help of straight board and carpenter’s level. Cover the ground with 6-mil black polyethene, overlap the sheets and then tap them together.

3. Concrete slab:

The wood floor can be installed on concrete floor if it is at-least 2 months old and moisture tested by the professionals. The slab must be flat, without high or low spots. And it must have a trowel finish that is clean.

4. Preparations before hardwood flooring materials are delivered:

You and your home should be prepared for hardwood flooring before all the material is delivered to your house. The wood flooring is one of the last installations during a remodel. To avoid physical damage to the surface, be sure it is done after all construction and completed installation of any fixtures and appliances that will not sit on top of it.

5. Heat and Humidity factor:

The wood flooring gives in easily to moisture and humidity, especially solid hardwood. Make sure the hardwood adjusts to the humidity of your house to prevent expansion of the wood or contraction. It could be the spoiler of the job. You have to remove all the packaging and stack it for several days in the room where it will be installed. Do not store it in the garage or an exterior patio. All plastering, concrete work, drywall, texturing, and painting of primer coats should be finished and dry to avoid introducing excessive moisture into the air.

6. Layout planning:

The direction of joists matters because it supports the flooring and also plans the installation accordingly perpendicular to them. Learn to install the hardwood from the YouTube videos or research about it on net. It will help you out with the planning.

If it doesn’t work out, contact Costen flooring for the expert installation of hardwood floors.

7. Cutting floor:

To rip the floor into your desired size, mark the points and use the power saw that has fence such as job saw or table saw. Be sure all end cuts are precisely square. For making curved or irregular cuts, you can use a portable sabre saw (jigsaw). The blade on this type of tool cut on the upstroke, often splintering the top surface.

8. Laying the first row:

You have to specially take care while laying the first row. For the first three rows choose straight boards. The board should vary in length by 6 inches. Use a measuring tape to measure from the guideline to the board’s edge to double-check that it is the same distance at both ends. For second and third, where you can fit the flooring nailer in place, you’ll have to do this blind-nailing by hand with a drill, hammer, and nail set.

9. Completing the installation:

During the time of finishing the installation dry fit five or six rows of flooring, sorting and positioning the boards for a pleasing pattern and appearance.  At the end of each row, cut boards to fit as it is smart to pull flooring from several different packages or boxes to mix up any variations in wood color and grain.

Important tip: Floor sanding is incredibly dusty work, and a drum sander can leave visible marks and ridges on the floor. If you are not experienced at this job, strongly consider Costen Floors, Inc. for the job as they are the best in Virginia.