If you’re adding to your home, it’s only natural to have questions as things start to come together. In this post, we’re answering questions regarding the flooring and tile installation process.
As remodeling experts here in the Birmingham, AL area, we’re sharing the same straightforward answers we give our clients when they want to know about this part of the process.
So, this information comes from real, experienced professionals.
Let’s jump in.
How do I know which type of flooring works best for each room?
If you’re looking for your addition to be more soundproof, then we recommend carpet or something soft (like vinyl flooring). It’ll still be noisy, but it won’t be as noisy as hardwoods or tile flooring.
And if you’d like your addition to have a warmer floor when it’s cold outside, carpeting may be the way to go (if you don’t want to install a space heater or use a rug).
If you’re adding a bathroom, you want something that’s water resistant. This could be a vinyl flooring or tile. No carpet (for obvious reasons).
Is there such a thing as completely waterproof flooring?
No. Water can still get underneath the flooring through the joints. If water sits on this flooring for hours, it can still get in through the edges. And if water gets underneath your flooring, it may need to be pulled up.
The amount of time water can sit before it becomes an issue depends on your specific flooring.
The most waterproof option we have is tile. We install a waterproofing membrane underneath your tile that should not leak. But water can still get through the floor joints (but we’ll make a seal, so liquid shouldn’t get in).
So, no flooring is completely waterproof, but we’ll take measures to ensure water stays out.
How long does flooring and tile installation usually take?
It depends on the scope and the type of flooring used.
The time it takes to install tile depends on two things:
- The size of the area
- The evenness of the floors
We can often install carpets in a day.
Hardwoods are often a multi-day process, with 1-2 days for installation and 3 days for sanding, finishing, and waiting for the polyurethane to dry.
But hardwoods need to sit a week before we install them. So, once they are delivered, we’re going to put the hardwoods in each room that you’d like them, so the wood can get to room temperature. The wood needs to adapt to the different temperature and moisture content of each room before installation can begin.
If the floors aren’t level, that will add time to the process. We need to ensure the floors are level before we begin installation, because uneven floors can cause the tile to be misaligned and crack.
Is there anything else I should know?
Know your budget. Know how you want your addition to function. And know if you want a heating element for heated floors.
Your flooring installer will also need to know if you want to stain or paint your shoe mold (also known as quarter round).
Regarding vinyl flooring, you should be aware of LVT (Luxury Vinyl Tile) and LVP (Luxury Vinyl Plank). These are luxury vinyl floors that are softer than hardwood, tile, and stone, but they look similar to these materials, and they tend to be more affordable.
Wrapping Up
At Little Cahaba Remodeling, we believe you should know what to expect when adding a new room to your home.
We hope this post helps any questions you may have regarding the flooring and tile installation process.
If you’d like to learn more about our services, give us a call at (205) 894-5621.