Best Flooring Tips To Transform A Home

Floors are important to any room, so you want to do what you can to pick the right one for your home or place of business. You might be thinking about getting some brand new floors, but you have no idea what to go with. You may also want to get the most out of your current floors. It can set the tone of a room, put some extra personality into an area, and can even be a talking point (all while giving you more comfort beneath your feet).

Best Flooring Tips To Transform A Home infographic

Tips on How to Get the Most Out of Your Flooring

Here are some tips on how you can get the most out of your flooring.

Match Your Furniture with Your Flooring

Flooring is the starting point for any room. So no matter what you put in the room, the floor is like a blank canvas. Not only does color matter when you're choosing furniture, but the flooring style also has a great deal of influence over what will look good. What’s in the room will have an impact on how good the floor looks or how it will look with certain items. Even if you don’t pick furniture to match your flooring, you might want to look at what you have while you’re looking at your flooring options.

Consider Getting a Rug

Best Flooring Tips To Transform A Home

Rugs are a great way to add more life to a room. This is especially true for hardwood floors, because they can add more warmth and comfort to a classic look. Rugs aren’t just great for adding more color and warmth to a room. They can also give you a way to pull a room together, so you should think about trying things that you wouldn’t expect to look good together. Layered rugs are another great way to transform a room. You can mix patterns and create a more unique feel by using a rug or two.

Keep Your Flooring Consistent

You don’t want to alternate your flooring too many times throughout your home. In fact, one of the ways to make your home feel disjointed is to have too many flooring types. Keeping it simple will make every room feel connected and comfortable, and it doesn’t just apply to regular rooms. For bathrooms and kitchens, you shouldn’t immediately think white tile (no matter how nice it may seem). Look at your options carefully, and try to make the switch feel as subtle as possible. This will accomplish the following:

It keeps the home feel more harmonious.
It makes the rooms feel more open, with one continuing from the other.
It makes cleaning a more straightforward process.

Each type of flooring has its own set of challenges when it comes to cleaning. The best approach is to find a color scheme you like while trying to make every kind of flooring stay close to that theme. This is especially true for hardwood, tile, and carpet.

Think About What Kind of Flooring Works Best for Each Room

Different flooring types will work for different rooms in your home. Having tile flooring in the bathroom is almost a must. Not only is it almost made for bathrooms, but it’s also durable. You can even go for larger pieces of tile because it makes the installation easier, still looks great, and makes the transition from the main parts of your house smoother. It also requires less grouting, which is a nice plus. Vinyl plank flooring is also gaining popularity, and it’s very practical. Not only does it have a variety of attractive options, but it’s also easy to install.

You should never forget about wood, because it’s a classic choice that will never die. It can add warmth to your home, looks amazing, and can go with just about anything. While hardwood may be more of a hassle than some other options, the extra maintenance is worth it. You can even take a more unique route by using alternating types of wood or by using colored wood (if you don’t mind stepping away from the more classical look). If you don’t want wooden floors for your interior space, there are ceramic tiles that can duplicate the look of wooden boards. But you can also find them in a variety of colors and styles.

You can match other types of flooring as well as the more elongated look floorboards and decking. Parquet flooring (which is laid in a square pattern) can work inside your home and can be replicated outside the home with patio stones laid in a similar pattern. While the materials are different, the similarity in design will be enough to connect the two spaces.

Create Continuity Between Spaces

Giving your spaces more continuity will make your rooms look bigger. If you have patio doors or bi-folding doors, the right flooring will make sure there is a smooth flow from between your garden and your interior. The decking outside and the wooden boards inside should point in the same direction, because it will make the space look much larger. Even if the doors are closed, having flooring on your patio that matches your living room will project a sense of space through the glass and will make the interior look much larger.

Take Your Flooring Outside

If you have or are planning to install bi-folding doors, your choice of flooring will help you to create flow between your interior and exterior spaces. Even when the doors are closed, having similar flooring on your patio and living room will make both areas more spacious. The openness that’s “projected” through the glass will make the interior space look larger, but it will depend on the floor covering you choose. One simple trick to getting this right is to use decking and wooden floors that are pointing in the same direction as the wooden floors inside your home. Even if they used different materials or color, aligning them will help to create a sense of flow.

Types of Flooring

Your choice of flooring has come a long way. You’re no longer limited to carpet and floorboards. Now, there are a number of attractive and durable materials that can not only add that extra “wow factor” but can also give your home that extra comfort. Some of them include but may not be limited to:

Resin — This flooring material is made from a chemical reaction between two polymers that, when combined, is fused with concrete to create a single seamless layer. The result is a floor that’s extremely tough and can make your home look comfortable.
Vinyl — This type of flooring material has been overtaking linoleum as an attractive and practical flooring option. It’s not only slip-resistant but can also give your home a warmer touch beneath your foot than stone or ceramic tile.
Reclaimed Wood — This is one of the hottest of all the flooring trends, because it fits with the popular vintage look. Reclaimed wood can come from a variety of sources (such as old wine crates, gym floors, old retail flooring, or even wooden pallets). But one of the most popular types of reclaimed flooring is parquet, which often comes from gyms or schools.
Ceramic Tile — This is a classic flooring choice and has been a staple throughout history, especially during the Victorian era (which was when they were first mass produced). Tiles are primarily used in hallways, bathrooms, and kitchens. But in today’s world of interior design, they can be used almost anywhere.

Be sure to seek the help of a flooring professional for more information.

Tools Needed to Remove Flooring

Whether your installing wood, laminates, vinyl, tiles, or carpeting, having the right flooring tools is important. Not only will it make the installation process easier, but it will also reduce your chance for any imperfections that may occur during the process. The first thing you’ll need is some protective gear, which can include the following:

Safety Goggles — This will help you to avoid any unexpected eye injuries, because you never know when a piece of flooring may come flying toward you and into your eye. Make sure you use a pair of safety goggles that meet the standards that have been set by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI).
Dust Mask and Vapor Respirator — This is one of the most important of all the flooring tools, because it will protect your respiratory system from dust and fumes that may be produced by toxic chemicals. You should never apply a finish without putting on a dust mask and vapor respiratory.
Knee Pads — This piece of protective equipment will keep your knees from becoming injured or strained, but make sure you buy contractor-grade pads that are made out of cloth and can be adjusted for a better fit. You should also avoid knee pads that are made out of metal or plastic, because they might damage the floor.
Safety Work Boots — These construction tools are necessary because they will protect your feet from potential hazards, but the shoes should be slip-resistant and capable or resisting compression. For the sake of comfort, you should choose a pair of boots that have enough cushion. And avoid the temptation of using sport shoes that may not give you enough foot protection.
Heavy Gloves — Aside from protecting your feet, you need to do the same for your hands and fingers. Heavy gloves with reinforced fingertips are the best choice. And if you can find a pair that’s made of high-grade rubber, it would be even better.
Apron or Overalls — This will keep your clothing from coming into contact with the dust, dirt, and adhesives that come with the floor installation process.

Here are some other construction tools you may need to remove flooring before the installation process begins:

Circular saw
Pry bar
Mallet
Nail claw
Curved vice finger grips
Large magnet
Shop vacuum

Before you get started, take some time to prepare the space for construction by doing the following:

Clear out any furniture and declutter the room.
Cover any light fixtures and anything that can’t be removed with a tarp, so they don’t get damaged by dust and debris.
Pull up any heating vents from the floor and remove your baseboards.
Put down tarps in adjacent rooms to keep the dust from traveling.

You will also need tools (such as a broom and dustpan) to clean up your mess afterward. And if you need more information, you should seek the advice of a professional with experience in using carpet tools and other types of equipment used for flooring installation.

Frequently Asked Questions

What kind of tools do I need for flooring?

Best Flooring Tips To Transform A Home

No matter what kind of flooring you plan to install, you should always have the proper safety equipment (such as goggles, gloves, and kneepads). Other tools you need may include:

Trowel
Flat bar
Straight edge
Floor scraper
Level
Tape measure
Chalk line
Floor roller
Utility knife

Be sure to look at the broad selection of construction tools we have at Engineer Supply.

What's the best tool for cutting vinyl flooring?

Some of the flooring tools you need for cutting vinyl include:

Carpenter’s square — For guiding straight and angled cuts.
Utility knife — A quality knife with a metal or wooden handle is preferable, because you’ll be applying a tremendous amount of downward pressure while you’re cutting. You will also need a pack of replacement blades.
Level — One that’s at least four feet long and can be used to guide rip cuts.
Aviation snips — For making curved and notched cuts.
Electric jig saw or compact circular saw — For making lengthwise cuts.
Chalk line — For marking long cuts.

You will also need a fine-tip marking pen (such as a Sharpie), so you can make certain markings as needed.

What kind of tools do I need to install wood floors?

Here are some of the construction tools you need to install hardwood floors:

Tape Measure — This tool is used to measure distance. And because it’s flexible, it can roll up into the case when it’s not being used. You can use it to measure either smaller or larger distances without extra help, which is why it’s a necessary tool for installing hardwood floors.
Broom — Because there’s going to be a lot of dust once you start using flooring tools, having a broom is essential to the cleanup process. While you can get away with using a common household broom, a push broom is a better option because you can clear up a large area in a shorter amount of time.
Chalk Line — You can use this tool to mark the location of the floor joists, because you’ll need a sturdy surface to nail in your first set of boards. And while some people think you can eyeball it, the best way to make sure you don’t go off center is to use a chalk line.
Jamb Saw — Because the blade is horizontal and parallel to the floor, this tool can be used to remove the bottom of the door casing in a home where you need to install a new hardwood floor.
Drill — The last thing you want to do when you’re installing hardwood floors is to nail directly through the wood. You’re better off using a very powerful drill to pre-drill holes you can use for the nails.
Hammer — This tool is indispensable when it comes to installing hardwood floors, because you’ll be using it to drive nails through the wood. You want to find a hammer that’s light enough to hold and use without too much difficulty but has enough weight to pound the nails in without getting tired.
Jigsaw — Cutting around the architectural elements of your home is impossible without this tool. Unlike a table saw (which can only cut straight lines), a jigsaw can cut irregular curves and lines with no problem.
Pry Bar — This heavy-duty piece of metal is curved into shape, so you can pull or pry items. It’s a lever that’s made of either titanium or medium-carbon steel. They can also come in a variety of sizes and lengths, so you can find one for both small jobs and larger projects.
Nail Gun — This tool is perfect for driving nails into the wood of your trim. It uses compressed air as a source of power, which makes it easy to use without a great deal of effort. And most of them use fasteners or nails that are attached to a long strip or placed inside a plastic carrier.
Dust Mask — While it’s not used directly for the installation of hardwood floors, you need to have one handy when you’re sanding them down at the end of the installation. Any dust that gets in the air can be dangerous if you breathe it in, which is why you need to take steps to protect yourself.
Safety Goggles — Just like your lungs, you also need to protect your eyes in case bits of wood or nails come out of the floor. Using construction tools is dangerous, because things can fly through the air at very fast speeds.
Ear Plugs or Muffs — Even though you’ll be using power tools for short periods of time, exposing your ears to these loud noises can eventually lead to hearing loss. So, you need to make sure you’re taking steps to protect yourself and your hearing.
Knee Pads — Spending a lot of time on your knees can be hard and painful, but a pair of knee pads can protect them and allow you to get up off the floor. Just make sure you use a high-quality pair that’s adjustable, because it will give you the best possible fit and level of protection.

If you’re looking for flooring tools or any other tools you can use in construction, be sure to look at what we have at Engineer Supply.

What kind of tools do I need for carpet installation?

Some of the carpet tools you need for this kind of installation include but may not be limited to: • Linoleum Knife — This tool can easily cut and slice through carpet, but you can also use it for tucking if you’re installing it on a stairway. • Carpet Seam Roller — This tool can connect two pieces of carpet after they have been seamed together. You can also use it to “fluff up” the carpet if it needs a little more life. • Large Magnet or Weight — This dual-purpose tool will allow you to “suck up” any staples that may be on the floorboard after you tear out the original carpet. It can also act as a weight that you can place over a seamed carpet edge. • Carpet Tape — When you have to seam two pieces of carpet together, you need to use this kind of tape on the underside of the carpet. • Trowel and Trimmer — Both of these carpet tools can help you tuck in the carpet against the wall so you can get a clean, crisp, and trimmed edge when you cut away the carpet. • Power Stretcher — One of the most important carpet tools is the stretcher, because it allows you to tug on the carpet for a better fit. If you’re looking for carpet tools or any other tools you can use in construction, you can find what you need at Engineer Supply.

How do I prepare a carpet for fitting

After you have scheduled your carpet for fitting, you need to make certain preparations so your home is ready when the professionals arrive. And there are several things you can do beforehand. You need to make sure that pets and children are out of the way. A lot of things can lead to injury, so you should take certain precautions to keep them safe during the construction process. You also want to make sure any pending projects are completed. This includes making sure all windows and doors are in place and that any paint, drywall, or plaster are dry. If you have any appliances (such as refrigerators, dishwashers, or stoves), be sure to move them out of the way before the carpet fitting begins. If you don’t want to move them, make sure you cover them so they don’t collect any dust or debris.