Northwest Minnesota, Minnesota 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, normally 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 a structurally sound floor, the joists are required to be solid and properly supported by posts and beams. The sub-floor is nailed to the joists. Newer houses in Northwest Minnesota (since the 1970's) contain sub-floors that are made of 3/4 inch tongue and groove plywood. Older Northwest Minnesota homes often consist of 1 inch wood planks nailed diagonally across the joists.

Unless water seeps into the sub-flooring, they will mainly 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, extra support is added to the joists and is as a rule installed by professionals.

Maintaining and Cleaning Floor Coverings

Carpets

It is recommended that carpets be vacuumed each day. This might not be viable for the majority of people, but a good rule to follow is to vacuum as often as possible. When vacuuming, begin opposite the entranceway and slowly move the vacuum in long, overlapping strokes.

Cork, Bamboo and Hardwood

For the majority of the time, these types of wood floors don't need much cleaning beyond normal sweeping. Professionals propose that a soft-bristle broom or a vacuum be used to clean these types of floors. Sunlight exposure can change the color of hardwood after awhile. Moving the furniture around balances the floor's exposure to the sun and prevents this staining. Another tip to take into consideration is to avoid spikes or high-heeled shoes on these floors for apparent reasons. An additional recommendation is to maintain a humidity level between 35 - 55%. High humidity can cause swelling and low humidity can cause shrinking.

Laminate and Resilient Flooring

Resilient flooring mostly refers to sheet or tile vinyl and linoleum flooring. These floors are easy to keep up. Routine care contains using a vacuum or dust mop to get rid of 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 preserve. It is highly 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 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 1-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's recommended that it be sealed every 1-2 years.