I want to get rid of all the carpet in my home but I find it safer on the stairs for children. Would it look funny to have carpet only on the stairs and laminate or tile everywhere else?
Not at all. Carpet on stairs is a safe option for children and pets as it is not slippery and provides traction for little feet running up and down. There are some beautiful carpets with colours and patterns that can match or pull out colours in your current laminate or tile. Luxury and safety can be achieved with carpet on your stairs.
Can you put hardwood or laminate in a basement? I heard it will buckle due to dampness.
In most cases we would only install engineered flooring over concrete below grade. There are steps that must be taken before to ensure a stable and solid floor. First a moisture content reading is taken of the concrete or plywood floor. This reading must be between 6 percent and 9 percent. Moisture levels can fluctuate over time, but this ensures that the moisture is at the right level when the floor goes down. If the moisture reading is outside of these levels, further action needs to be taken before you lay your floor. A moisture barrier must be placed between the floor and the subfloor. Talk to your local retailer about the best moisture barrier for your needs.
How do I transition the colour of hardwood from my main floor to my second floor by way of the stairs?
There are a couple of ways to accomplish this. One way is to install wood caps on the sides of the stairs that are the same colour and wood grain as the wood in the main floor. You can then run carpet up the middle of the stairs, flowing seamlessly to the upstairs carpet. The second way is to carpet the tread and put the risers with wood the same colour as the main floor.
Insider Secrets
Want to give your floors that “like-new” shine or remove a stain from your carpet? Try these cleaning techniques that are sure to bring new life to your floors!
Ceramic Tiles: Make old tiles look new again by cleaning grout and restoring them to their natural beauty. We recommend Aqua Mix Tile & Grout Cleaner.
Fresh Carpet Stain: Don’t scrub, you’ll just make it worse! Mix 1/4 of vinegar into four cups of water. Dab the area repeatably working from the outside of the stain in. Dry the carpet by using a white cloth to soak up the water solution.
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