DIY Flooring - with Lynn!

Did you listen to Lynn from Lynn Vaneck Contracting on CBC Edmonton? She gave tips and tricks for DIY flooring! 

Different types of flooring:

There are lots and of course, some are more appropriate for specific spaces ie: no one should have carpet in the kitchen!

-Laminate
 -Hardwood
 -Vinyl Plank (glue or click)
 -Linoleum 
 -Marmoleum
 -Carpet
 -Carpet tile
 -Cork
 -Bamboo
 -Rubber
 -Tiles  

What else should you consider when choosing flooring?

-The 4 things to mainly consider are; the look, the use, the install, and the budget.

-Consider the space you want flooring in, is there moisture present?
 -Are there a lot of windows in the room? This will make more movement as the sun comes in during different seasons and times of the day.  

-Do you want a tile, plank, or a solid look? (vinyl can be any shape and size now)
 -What direction will you be laying the flooring?
 -Do you want a floating floor (similar to laminate or vinyl) or glue down?
 -What type of subfloor do you have under the current flooring? 
 -Do you require an underlay?  

Supplies Needed:

It depends on what type of flooring you're installing, check to see the list of general supplies!
 

Dealing with substrate or subfloor properly:
 

-­Depending on the substrate you have, you will need different types of prep involved.
 -The subfloor can be concrete, wood, metal, and ceramic.
 -For instance, the wood substrate will require better plywood to be installed that is designed to have certain types of flooring installed on it. 
 -With concrete, you may need a leveling compound to ensure the floor is smooth and ready for flooring
 -All substrate should be tested for moisture  
 

Removing flooring:

-Make sure to first remove all the baseboards throughout the area you wish to install new flooring.

-If it's laminate or click-in vinyl you can start at one edge of the material, lift it up and it will bend up and unclick. 

 Let's talk about carpets:

 -If you are removing carpet you will want to cut it and the pad underneath into manageable pieces. I usually go with an arms width so it's easy to roll up and carry out of the house without damaging walls. 
 -Finally, you will need to ensure there are no staples or glue left on the floor.

 
 Working with sheet goods that are glued down:
 
 - Removing sheet goods can be a bit more work depending on the material and the glue used. 
 -You may be able to install over it if it's in good shape.
 -You are allowed to install two layers of flooring, but by the third, it is best to remove all layers and start from scratch.
 -You may need to rent a mechanical scraper like an eddy or samurai. 
 -If you can remove it by hand, cut it into small strips as it will be easier to remove. 
 -Then you will have to scrape off all the old backing or glue. 
 -It's best to use a patching compound over old glue to ensure a proper bond with the new adhesive if any will be used.  
 
 Trends in Vinyl Flooring:

 -Trend #1: Mixed Width Tiles
 -Trend #2: Wide Planks
 -Trend #3: Wood Look
 -Trend #4: Light Colours  
 

DIY Installing Vinyl Plank Flooring: 

 -After you prepare the floor surface so it's flat, even, and clean. Undercut all door jams where possible it will allow the flooring to slide under the jam for a nice tight fit and a better finish product.
 -Find the more prominent wall in the room (the longest wall) preferably an exterior wall. If that wall is straight and true you may go off it with a plank or laminate. 
 -If you have a tile shaped flooring to install you will need to square the room. You do that with 3 points to make an L. ( Remember Pythagorean Theorem.)
 -If the material you are installing is glued down you will spread the adhesive at this time. 
 -If the material is not glued down you may begin installing planks tight together in a random pattern. It is best to keep the joints as staggered as possible it will help with the strength of the floor. 
 -Follow all Manufacturing recommendations for spacing on the walls to ensure proper movement for planks.
 -Re-install the baseboards