Portland & Vicinity, Maine 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 bottom of the floor are the joists, mainly 2 X 10 or larger boards that support the weight of the floor. Joists are generally 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 have to be solid and suitably supported by beams and posts. The sub-floor is nailed to the joists. Modern homes in Portland & Vicinity (since the 1970's) contain sub-floors that are made of 3/4 inch tongue and groove plywood. Older Portland & Vicinity homes often consist of 1 inch wood planks nailed diagonally across the joists.

Unless water gets into the sub-flooring, they will normally last a very long time. Most 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 prior to the floor covering is installed. Floors bounce when the joists span too large a distance for the weight applied to them. To make corrections to the problem, additional support is added to the joists and is typically installed by professionals.

Cleaning and Maintaining Floors

Carpets

It is recommended that carpets be vacuumed every day. This may not be realistic for most people, but a good rule of thumb is to vacuum as frequently as possible. When vacuuming, begin opposite the entranceway and slowly move the vacuum in long, overlapping strokes.

Hardwood, Cork and Bamboo

Most often, these types of wood floors don't need much cleaning beyond normal sweeping. Professionals suggest that a soft-bristle broom or a vacuum be used to clean these types of floors. Exposure to sunlight may alter the color of hardwood after awhile. Moving the furniture around balances the floor's Sunlight exposure and prevents this discoloration. Another pointer to take into consideration is to stay away from wearing spikes or high-heeled shoes on these floors for obvious reasons. Additionally, it is recommended to maintain a humidity level between 35 - 55%. High humidity can cause swelling and low humidity may cause shrinking.

Laminate and Resilient Flooring

Resilient flooring mostly refers to sheet or tile vinyl and linoleum flooring. These floors are very easy to maintain. Routine care is made up of using a vacuum or dust mop to remove dust and dirt. 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 recommended 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 water and white vinegar then test the solution 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 highly recommended that it be sealed every 1-2 years.