 | Mike Goebel
has been involved in the construction and home improvement industry for more than 40 years and is currently the Senior Vice President of the Home Center Division at Star Lumber & Supply Co. Inc. You may contact Mike by e-mail at mgoebel@starlumber.com or by phone at (316) 942-2221. |
Home Improvement
2002-02-01 15:35:00
Changing carpet to tile
: We have Berber carpet in our kitchen. We have found that despite the variety of colors within the carpet, it still shows stains. We enjoy having carpet in the kitchen, but are unsure if it continues to be practical. Would it be difficult to change the flooring to tile or linoleum? Could we do this ourselves?
Question: We have Berber carpet in our kitchen. We have found that despite the variety of colors within the carpet, it still shows stains. We enjoy having carpet in the kitchen, but are unsure if it continues to be practical. Would it be difficult to change the flooring to tile or linoleum? Could we do this ourselves?Answer: Yes and no. The preparatory work for either product is the same. The berber, padding, and tack strip all need to be removed. Once this is done, the subflooring needs to be scraped and leveled. Carpet can be installed over slight deviations in subflooring height, while hard-surface products cannot. Once the subflooring is level, underlayment needs to be installed. Depending on the manufacturers specifications for the flooring you are installing, underlayments types can vary. Underlayment is typically 1/4 inch thick, and fastened to the subfloor with nails, screws, glue, or a combination of these. Underlayment serves two main purposes. It provides a ultra-smooth surface to install on, and acts as a stabilizer by bridging subfloor joints, decreasing movement and deflection. Now we are down to the yes and no part. Ceramic tile can be installed by the homeowner. It is a relatively simple process, the most important part being the initial layout and measurements to assure a square layout. All of the tools necessary for this are available for rental at various rental stores. Vinyl, on the other hand, does require skill and experience to lay. The only vinyl I would recommend a homeowner to lay is the 12" x 12" vinyl squares. Vinyl has to be properly acclimated, tears easily, and requires very exact cutting at the seams. I would reccommend getting a professional bid for sheet vinyl.
