{"id":191,"date":"2025-12-24T18:16:55","date_gmt":"2025-12-24T18:16:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/tradybay.co.uk\/articles\/?p=191"},"modified":"2025-12-24T18:21:32","modified_gmt":"2025-12-24T18:21:32","slug":"about-floors","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/tradybay.co.uk\/articles\/about-floors\/","title":{"rendered":"Help to have flooring upgrades in your home"},"content":{"rendered":"\r\n
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Different Types of Flooring Explained.<\/mark><\/h4>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
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  1. You can find out if your floor is carpeted if the floor below is chipboard or floorboards by stamping on the floor and listening and feeling for vibration; most likely the floor will be wooden if there is a room below. You will need to lift the carpet to tell the difference between floorboards and chipboard.<\/li>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
  2. To find out if it is concrete under the floor covering, stamp on the floor to see if it is solid. Most of the time concrete floors are on the ground floor, and it is unlikely to be concrete if there is a room below.<\/li>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
  3. The tiled floor will be ruined if taken up; if you have spare tiles, you should be able to repair the damage.<\/li>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
  4. Laminate flooring and edging strips will be broken if taken up and will have to be replaced if the flooring is glued. You might be able to put the laminate floor back down if it is click-together laminate, but it is very difficult not to damage, and a tradesperson would not be able to guarantee it. Laminate flooring must have the floor in reasonable condition but does not need to be perfect.<\/li>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
  5. LVT flooring is similar in many ways to laminate flooring and often comes in a wood, stone, or ceramic tile effect. It is durable and water resistant, making it suitable for high-traffic areas or bathrooms and kitchens, and is easy to clean and maintain, requiring less upkeep compared to natural materials. It does need to be laid on a well-finished floor.<\/li>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
  6. Lino\/vinyl will most likely rip if taken up. Vinyl can be in 1 big piece like a carpet or the size of laminate floors and laid like tiles or wooden flooring. The floor will need to be perfect to lay this and might need extra preparation before laying.<\/li>\r\n<\/ol>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

    What is floor screeding?<\/mark><\/h4>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

    Floor screeding is often done to level and smooth uneven concrete floors or after underfloor heating has been laid, as it ensures an even spread of heat, and it also gives a good foundation to lay tiles or vinyl on.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

    How will my skirting be fitted?<\/mark><\/h4>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

    A. Pin and glue skirting is the most popular and cheapest method of fixing the skirting board to the wall. The walls need to be reasonably straight.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

    B. Screwing and pelting the skirting to the wall is normally done when the walls are uneven or not straight or if the skirting is being varnished, not glossed.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

    Flooring Door Bar<\/mark><\/h4>\r\n\r\n\r\n
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    A door bar is used to hide the join between the flooring between 2 rooms.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

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    • It will need replacing if the new flooring is a different material on either side of the door bar (i.e., from carpet to laminate).<\/li>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
    • May need replacing if stuck down.<\/li>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
    • Not all door bars need taking up if changing the carpet.<\/li>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
    • Larger door bars could be fitted if a carpet isn\u2019t covered by the original door bar.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

      Carpet Underlay<\/mark><\/h4>\r\n\r\n\r\n
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      Generally, you should always use underlay when installing new floor covering. Underlay acts as a shock absorber between your new carpet and the floor. Floors themselves have no give or resilience, so when you walk on a carpeted floor with no underlay, all the pressure is absorbed by the carpet, rapidly accelerating its wear.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

      When an underlay is used, it takes all the pressure, cushioning the wear and protecting the carpet.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

      This cushioning effect also adds an extra dimension of comfort to your carpet, giving it a luxurious feel underfoot. In addition, an underlay provides good heat insulation and is excellent at absorbing noise.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

      Always use the best underlay that you can afford. A top-quality underlay will make even the least expensive carpet feel luxurious and will make heavier-quality carpets feel spectacular, but there are some exceptions. For example, you shouldn\u2019t need underlay when fitting a vinyl floor that is cushioned and provides a soft surface or installing cushioned-backed carpet.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

      Most laminate and wood floors are what\u2019s known as \u2018floating\u2019 floors, which means that they aren\u2019t permanently fixed down to the ground underneath them. These are the type of floors that will need underlay beneath them to stop vapors from getting into the flooring as well as for soundproofing purposes.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

      A good indication of the state of your existing underlay can be gained by testing the amount of bounce in your carpet in an area of heavier wear (such as a doorway) and then comparing it to an area that is not used (e.g., under a coffee table or sofa). If you can<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

      Carpet Gripper<\/mark><\/h4>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

      Gripper stops your carpet from moving and tucks nicely against the wall.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

      Do you need a new gripper?<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

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      1. If you have a missing gripper, you will need a new gripper fitting.<\/li>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
      2. If some of your gripper has come loose, then you want your gripper totally replaced in that room.<\/li>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
      3. Some carpets require long pin grippers, which means you may need to change the type of gripper laid.<\/li>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
      4. You may need new gripper laying if you previously had a felt-backed carpet, for instance, and you are now having a hessian-backed carpet.<\/li>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
      5. You may need to take up the gripper if you have it down now but are now having felt-backed carpet or laminate fitted.<\/li>\r\n<\/ol>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

        Can Laminate Flooring Be Fitted on Any Floor?<\/mark><\/h4>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
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        1. To lay laminate flooring, the floor must be level. An uneven or sloping floor must be leveled.<\/li>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
        2. Small gaps, i.e., between a fitted unit and a wall, could be hard for the fitter to make look good and could take up a lot of time.<\/li>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
        3. Any bumps must be flattened, any holes must be filled, and any nails must be removed before laying.<\/li>\r\n<\/ol>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

          Can LTV Flooring Be Fitted on Any Floor?<\/mark><\/h4>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
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          1. To lay LTV flooring, the floor must be level. An uneven or sloping floor must be leveled.<\/li>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
          2. The floor will need to be near perfect before laying LTV; all bumps must be flattened, and any holes and cracks filled before laying.<\/li>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
          3. Often advised to overboard the floor to make the finish right.<\/li>\r\n<\/ol>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

            What Is Laminate Beading?<\/mark><\/h4>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

            Beading is described, and how it is used.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

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            1. Beading or skirting is used to cover the gap around the laminate flooring, which must be there to allow the floor to expand and contract with the temperature of the room.<\/li>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
            2. Beading is used when the skirting board is not being removed when installing laminate flooring.<\/li>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
            3. Beading can be matching to the laminate color or white to match the skirting board it will be attached to.<\/li>\r\n<\/ol>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

              What is Overboarding?<\/mark><\/h4>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

              You normally overboard a wooden floor, which is in poor condition, or if you will be tiling over boarding, it will stop a lot of movement when screwed down. You may need overboarding if having laminate or vinyl flooring fitted to protect the new flooring.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

              You may need waterproof boards if going in a bathroom or kitchen<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

              Why does a floor need to be level?<\/mark><\/h4>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
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              1. Any high or low point can cause cracks in the grout or even crack a tile if extreme enough.<\/li>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
              2. High or low points will eventually cause squeaks on wooden flooring, which may not happen straight away.<\/li>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
              3. High or low points can rip vinyl, which may not happen straight away.<\/li>\r\n<\/ol>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

                How to measure up.<\/mark><\/h4>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

                Learn about how to use a tape measure correctly and get an accurate measurement. Contains how to work out meters squared and cubed.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n