How to Install Wooden Flooring over Concrete?

Hard wood floors are a one-time investment, and designed to make your home look clean and classy at all times.  

Hard wood floors need very little maintenance and are very easy to clean. Masonry contractors in Chicago strongly advise that installation of hard wood floors should be done systematically in order to get the best results.

Read on to know more about the procedure off installation of hard wood floors – 

1. Removal Of Old Flooring

New flooring can only be installed when the old is removed completely.  If the floor has carpet should been pulled up completely. All traces of foam, tack strips and nails should be removed from the site.

2. Removal of the Baseboards

Most flooring experts will suggest re-use of the base boards in order to save the cost of buying new ones. By giving them a fresh coat of paint or polish, they are as good as new. The removal of the top of the board from the wall should be done with the help of a utility knife.

3. Floor Preparation

If the concrete below is painted, it needs to be removed in order for the adhesive to stick properly. A grinder can be used for the removal of paint. Once the concrete is paint free it needs to be vacuum cleaner.

4. Application of the Moisture Barrier

The moisture barrier is applied with the help of a V-notch trowel at an angle of 45 degrees. Let it rest for at least 24 hours and avoid walking into the room for that period. Remember to open the windows as it has a very strong odour.

5. Execute the Layout Of the Floor

Place the flooring by starting parallel to the longest wall in the room. Always start in a corner so that you can leave out once done. The pieces can be cut there and then.

6. Apply the Adhesive to the Floor

The next step is to start applying the adhesive to the floor in small manageable sections, using V-Notch trowel. Execute small sections at one time. Keep taping the seams together using a painters tape. Keep a damp cloth handy to keep wiping the adhesive of the surfaces.

7. Finish by installing the base boards

After a day remove the tape and install the base boards to keep the flooring in place.

 
 

Tuckpointing Old Mortar Joints – What You Should Know?

Mortar joints can be damaged due to the elements of nature and need a tuckpointing job regularly. Buildings that were constructed in the 1900’s were constructed with very little use of mortar. There were no or very few joints for expansion. As a result the mortar cracked faster due to expansion and contraction of the joints. Some buildings had unstable foundations that lead to cracks in the joints further. For older buildings the first step in tackling the problem is to fix the joints before application of mortar by tuckpointing.

Lets read a little more about the best suited treatment for fixing old mortar joints – 

1. Raking Of Old Joints

Old mortar joints should not be raked more than half an inch. It basically implies the removal of mortar that is damaged from the joint. It can be removed with the help of a hand grinder or a specialized raking tool. Tuckpointing contractors in Chicago, warn that care should be taken to not to cut the brick while raking. All loose pieces should be removed before tuckpointing is started.

2. The Right Selection of Mortar

The mortar that is selected should match the existing mortar in terms of color, texture and hardness. Most experienced brick repair specialist will first run a test to check the proportions. Finding a proportion that resembles the old Portland cement might not be easy, so look for the closest.  

3. The Finishing Touches

Tuckpointing contractors in Chicago, advsie that tuckpointing might be done with a modern approach, but it is the finishing that matters in buildings with old mortar joints. Once the tuckpointing is complete a stiff brush should be swiped over the bricks in a diagonal fashion in order to remove all extra mortar. Now with the help of a V shaped mortar tool the mortar should be pressed down firmly. 

To know more about Tuckpointing related  issues click here to contact Fortune Restoration.