When it comes to the floors in your home, the health and safety of those you love is always a top priority. Flooring damage can often mean a safety hazard or health risk. However, the easiest way to avoid or correct any damage is to know what to look for, which is why we’ve created the ultimate flooring checklist for you to follow.
Hardwood
There are a few top issues to look out for when examining your hardwood floor:
Gaps
While gaps in hardwood floor are normal due to seasonal temperature shifts, big and irregular gaps are abnormal. They typically occur when the floor is installed when the material is too wet or when conditions are excessively dry.
Cupping and Crowning
Cupping and crowning occur when there is excess moisture beneath the boards. Cupping is when the edges of the board are higher than the center, while crowning is when the center is higher that the board’s edges.
Buckling
Buckling is when the floor lifts up completely in one or more parts of the board. Similar to cupping and crowning, buckling is the more extreme reaction to moisture.
Finish Problems
A finish that is peeling or has debris in it is a result of an error during application. Cleaning the floor before finishing is the best way to prevent this issue. Sanding the floor and applying new finish is the easiest way to correct the issue.
If you can check any of these off for your floor, Springer can help.
Carpet
A beautiful, well installed carpet can make a home. However, as with any flooring issue, a failed inspection can mean a safety hazard. A thorough inspection of your carpet will require looking for the following:
Bubbles or Humps
When your carpet is installed, professionals use equipment to stretch the carpet so that it fits with no raised areas.
Seams & Transitions
A carpet should always be well fitted. Checking for tightness around the edges and transitions should be a priority.
Gaps Around Edges
Carpet begins to shrink as it ages. If there are gaps around the edges of your carpet, this could be a sign that your carpet has shrunk over time.
Tile
When inspecting your tile, look for:
Loose Tiles
Looseness in tiles can occur due to varying levels of heat and humidity, which can weaken adhesive, or as a result of movement in the floor itself.
Cracked Tiles
Cracks are sometimes obvious, but there are also cracks that you may not notice from higher up. A close look at your tiles is the best way to evaluate their condition.
Grout Damage
Holes, gaps, cracks, or simply missing grout will lead to major problems with your tile floor. You should also be sure that your tile and grout are tile and grout are cleaned properly.
Laminate
Laminate flooring is similar to hardwood in many ways, including these potential problems:
Gaps
As with hardwood, gaps can occur in laminate flooring due to improper installation conditions.
Buckling
Buckling in response to moisture is more common in laminate than in solid hardwood flooring. This issue can be mitigated by installing a pressure-balancing layer under the flooring.
Peaking
This is when peaking appears when the laminate planks push each other and cause the joints to be lifted. It occurs when individual boards expand without being given enough room to do so.
Flooring problems are often due to wear and tear that can be slowed down or prevented by taking active steps to protect your floors. However, there are many instances when the quality of material or installation is to blame. Fortunately, Springer’s team of experts is here to help you maintain and improve the quality of your flooring. If you find any of the problems discussed above on your floors, contact us.