Click for Flooring Guide
Why buy hardwood
floors?
Why buy laminate
floors?
What
preparation is necessary?
Does
my old floor need to be removed?
Should
I buy prefinished or unfinished material?
What
are the different types of Wood Flooring?
How
Much Flooring Should I Buy?
How
Much Should I Spend?
Why buy wood floors? Go
to Top
- Wood floors are an easy, inexpensive way to add value
to your home.
- They are easy to maintain and last for decades. Long
after carpeting or vinyl has been ripped out and replaced,
you will still be enjoying your wooden floor.
- 90 percent of realtors say that wood floors help
a home sell faster and for more money.
- Wood floors are available in a wide range of species
and finishes to complement any decor. They don't go
out of style.
- They are ideal for people with allergies, asthma
or other respiratory problems. Unlike carpeting, dust
particles, pollen and dust mites stay on the surface
where they can cleaned and disinfected.
- Hardwood and engineered wood floors can be refinished
after many years of use,to restore it to its original
condition.
- Hardwood and engineered floors can be re-stained any
colour you wish to change the look of your room.
- Many solid wood and engineered wood floors are available
pre-finished so installation does not require any sanding
or finishing, making it easy to live with while its being
installed.
Why buy laminate floors? Go
to Top
- Laminate floors are an even less expensive option
to capture the look and feel of hardwood flooring for
a fraction of the price.
- Laminate floors are very easy to care for and can
withstand lots of abuse from kids,pets,and an active
lifestyle.
- Laminate floors are available in a huge assortment
of colours to compliment any decor.
- They are ideal for people with allergies, asthma or
other respiratory problems. Unlike carpeting, dust particles,
pollen and dust mites stay on the surface where they
can cleaned and disinfected.
- Laminate floors can be installed over virtually all
surfaces including wood, vinyl, concrete, etc.
- Laminate floors are pre-finished so installation does
not require any sanding or finishing. This makes it easy to
live with while its being installed.
- Laminate floors are the most popular flooring option
on the market today.
- Some brands of laminate floors have limited warranties for up to 30 years
What preparation
is necessary? Go
to Top
The amount of preparation necessary depends on the condition
of your old floor,and the type of flooring you decide to
use. With our professional floor preparation, engineered
wood and laminate flooring can be installed on almost any
surface, even concrete. Solid wood flooring requires a sound
wooden subfloor in order to hold the staples required for
proper installation. RMI Floors can help you decide on the
best flooring option for your situation. We will make sure
your floor is installed properly for years of carefree use.
-
If we determine a subfloor is necessary, RMI Floors will
examine your current floor and recommend the most practical
subfloor and material to use. We make certain that:
- Our experts make sure you don't make any costly mistakes
- If you are installing a solid wood floor, you need
a solid subfloor. RMI Flooring will prepare and/or install
the subfloor to give you years of trouble free enjoyment
of your floor.
Does
my old floor need to be removed? Go
to Top
- This depends on the type of floor you are installing.
Many laminated or engineered floors can be installed
over other surfaces. If we do determine that a subfloor
is required, this is not a place to scrimp. Some things
to consider:
Should I buy prefinished or unfinished material? Go
to Top
Prefinished Floors
- Modern prefinished floors are a much better option
than in past years. Properly installed quality prefinished
floors are less messy to install and can be walked on
immediately after installation.
- Factory applied finishes can use industrial finishing
materials, such as Aluminium Oxide, that are more than twice as durable as site applied finishes,
although some factory applied finishes can be very difficult
to repair if damaged.
- Prefinished floors can be installed faster, since
you do not have to allow for finishing and drying times.
- Your home can be occupied while the floor is installed.
Some site applied finishes use materials that emit strong
odors until they dry. They must be applied by workers
using respirators while the site is unoccupied
- Prefinished floors are less costly to install than
site finished floors..
Site Finished Floors:
- Site finished floors give you more finish options
and, since the entire floor is sanded, it can offer
a smoother surface with all boards sanded level.
- If we need to match an existing floor, we can finish
the floor for a compatible match.
- Site finished floors are sanded flat as an entire
floor surface. There will be no bumps or irregularities
where the wood surfaces meet.
- Site finishing fills all cracks and joints with the
finish.
- Material costs are lower, but installation costs
can be higher.
What are the different types of Wood Flooring? Go
to Top
Laminated Wood Flooring (also called Engineered Wood
Flooring)
Laminated Wood flooring is composed of 3 to 5 layers of
wood glued together in a cross-grain lamination that is
covered with a thin veneer of wood. This construction makes
it very resistant to expansion and contraction from temperature
changes and moisture. As a result, engineered wood is the
only wood flooring that carries a stability warranty. While
the wood finish is thinner than solid wood flooring, engineered
wood choices are much more stable and can be installed over
concrete. The better grades have a veneer that is thick
enough to be refinished if necessary.
Laminated Flooring
Laminated floors are made from layers of wood coated with
a melamine plastic image of a wood surface. The surface
of the flooring is not real wood. The better versions of
this material can be very durable, but there is a wide range
of quality. Laminated floors can be installed as "floating"
floors. They do not have to be nailed to the subfloor. A
disadvantage to laminate flooring is that it cannot be refinished,
sanded or stripped. Some of the better brands however have
very long warranties. This type of flooring is often referred
to as Pergo flooring, after the Swedish company that invented
the product.
Solid Wood Flooring
Solid wood flooring is made from wood strips nailed side
by side. Usually these strips are 3/4 inch thick and 2 1/4 to 5 1/2 inches
wide. They are milled with a tongue on one edge and a groove
on the other edge. They are applied to the subfloor using
nails or staples that are hammered into the grooved edge
using special floor nailing machines. By nailing the floor
in this manner, the fasteners do not show. The strips are
shipped in a variety of random lengths. Material that comes
in longer lengths is usually more expensive.
How Much
Flooring Should I Buy? Go
to Top
Measure each room, multiplying length by width. You will
need to buy extra material to compensate for waste when
boards are trimmed or when damaged material must be cut
from a board. Waste is much less with the better grades
of wood. For Clear grade flooring you will need 3% to 4%
extra material. For Select grade you will need 5% to 7%
extra. For No. 1 Common or No. 2 Common, you will need 10%
to 12% extra. Laying the floor diagonally, or using other special patterns can increase the amount of material required by another 10%.
Don't forget that you will also need to buy
moulding, transitions and thresholds. We are happy to provide
you with an accurate estimate of the material you will need
when we prepare your quotation.
How Much Should I Spend? Go
to Top
The real question may be, "Have I spent enough?"
RMI Floors has built a reputation for offering the best
value in the market. We do the job right. We make sure that
each job is quoted properly. We don't take shortcuts that
show up later as problems.
Repairing a poorly installed floor later can cost much more
than properly installing your new floor now. Professional
installation, selection of the proper materials for the
job, thorough subfloor preparation, completion of the work
promptly and our pride of workmanship are all included in
the quote you receive from RMI Floors. If you are working
to a budget, let us know your target and we can help you
select the most economical solution for your floor.
You will live with your floor for twenty years or more.
A poorly installed, poorly finished, squeaky floor lowers
the value of your home and can ruin your enjoyment of the
room. Your floor from RMI Floors will be a source of pride
every time you walk on it.
If your flooring project is in Vancouver or the Lower Mainland, call us for a free, no obligation quote
at 604-716-0956 or click here and fill out the form for a prompt quotation.
|
262852 |
Links Wood Floor Links Request an Estimate About Floors About Wood Floors Wood Floor FAQs Galleries Wood Floor Projects Information Glossary About RMI Floors Services
