Washington DC, District of Columbia Flooring

When you think of floors, most often you associate this with floor coverings – carpet, tile, wood, or resilient flooring. Like walls, atypical wood-frame floor consists of several layers that work together to provide structural support.

Flooring Introdution

At the underside of the floor are the joists, mainly 2 X 10 or larger boards that support the floor weight. Joists are mainly spaced 16 inches apart, measured from the center of 1 to the center of the next. For the floor to be structurally sound, the joists are required to be solid and correctly supported by beams and posts. The sub-floor is nailed to the joists. Modern houses in Washington DC (since the 1970's) contain sub-floors that are made of 3/4 inch tongue and groove plywood. Older Washington DC homes often consist of 1 inch wood planks nailed diagonally across the joists.

Unless water seeps into the sub-flooring, they will generally last a very long time. Often plywood is used atop of the sub-floor. For many types of floor coverings such as ceramic tile, stone, or other resilient flooring, adhesive or mortar is placed on top of the plywood before the floor covering is installed. Floors bounce when the joists extend too large a distance for the weight applied to them. To correct the problem, supplimentary support is added to the joists and is ordinarily installed by professionals.

Maintaining and Cleaning Floors

Carpets

It is recommended that carpeting be vacuumed every day. This might not be doable for most people, but a good rule of thumb is to vacuum as frequently as possible. When vacuuming, start opposite the door and gradually move the vacuum in long, intercepting strokes.

Cork, Hardwood and Bamboo

Most of the time, these types of wood floors do not need much cleaning further than regular sweeping. Professionals propose that a soft-bristle broom or a vacuum be used to clean these types of floors. Sunlight exposure can alter the color of hardwood after awhile. Moving the furniture around balances out the floor's Sunlight exposure and averts this discoloration. Another suggestion to remember is to refrain from wearing high-heeled shoes or spikes on these floors for apparent reasons. Additionally, it's recommended to maintain a humidity level between 35 - 55%. High humidity may cause swelling and low humidity may cause shrinking.

Laminate and Resilient Flooring

Resilient flooring mainly refers to sheet or tile vinyl and linoleum flooring. These floors are very easy to maintain. Routine care is comprised of utilizing a vacuum or dust mop to remove dirt and dust. These floors should use special cleaning products rather than soap-based detergents or typical "mop and shine" products.

Ceramic Tile and Natural Stone

These floorings are the simplest to keep up. It is suggested not to use soap-based detergents to clean this type of flooring as well. For heavy stains on glazed ceramic tile, mix equal parts of white vinegar and water then place a sample of the mixture in a discrete area for color fastness. Clean the floor with this mixture with a soft-bristle brush. Grout joints are the weakest part of tile floors. The following areas should be cleaned with a soft-bristle brush and a mild detergent. To kill mold and mildew, mix one-part chlorine with ten-parts water. Apply this solution to the stain and let it set for 10 minutes. Scour with either a toothbrush or a soft-bristle brush. Finally, to help grout stay clean, it is strongly suggested that it be sealed every 1-2 years.