West / Southwest, Texas 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 floor weight. Joists are generally spaced 16 inches apart, measured from the center of one to the center of the next. For the floor to be structurally sound, the joists have to be solid and appropriately supported by posts and beams. The sub-floor is nailed to the joists. Newer homes in West / Southwest (since the 1970's) contain sub-floors that are made of 3/4 inch tongue and groove plywood. Older West / Southwest 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 fix the problem, additional support is added to the joists and is typically installed by professionals.

Maintaining and Cleaning Floor Coverings

Carpets

It is recommended that carpets be vacuumed each day. This is probably not viable for most people, but a good rule of thumb is to vacuum as often as possible. When vacuuming, start opposite the entranceway and slowly move the vacuum in long, intercepting strokes.

Cork, Hardwood and Bamboo

Most often, these types of wood floors don't need much cleaning further than standard sweeping. Experts suggest that a soft-bristle broom or a vacuum be used to clean these types of floors. Sunlight exposure may alter the color of hardwood after awhile. Moving the furniture around balances the floor's Sunlight exposure and prevents this staining. Another suggestion to take into consideration is to stay away from wearing spikes or high-heeled shoes on these floors for apparent reasons. Also recommended is to maintain a humidity level between 35 - 55%. High humidity may cause swelling and low humidity can cause shrinkage.

Laminate and Resilient Flooring

Resilient flooring frequently implies sheet or tile vinyl and linoleum flooring. These floors are very easy to maintain. Routine care consists of using a dust mop or vacuum to eliminate dirt and dust. These floors should use special cleaning products rather than soap-based detergents or typical "mop and shine" products.

Natural Stone and Ceramic Tile

These floorings are the easiest to preserve. 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 water and white vinegar 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. These 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 recommended that it be sealed every 1-2 years.