Tags:About, Floor, Installing, Pergo, Think.
If you are thinking about installing Pergo flooring, pay attention to these handy tips. Pergo is a laminated flooring that is installed over an underfloor by a unique system of tongue and groove fitting. There are many reputable floor installers who can install Pergo floors, and the retailer where you purchase you Pergo flooring can advise you of one, but Pergo can be installed by the homeowner fairly easily. Pergo is a complete flooring system, and you can get all of the necessary material to install your Pergo floor at your flooring retailer. These include:
Pergo glue-you must use Pergo glue to keep your warranty valid
Pergo installation kit-this will give you the proper spacers and tapping block for tight joints
Pull bar-to get a tight fit in hard to reach areas
Underlayment-to even out unevenness in the underfloor, and to give heat and sound insulation qualities to the floor
Floor clamps-make installation easier and give additional strength to the floor
Pergo sealant-to seal the gap between the floor and the wall, which will allow maximum resistance to moisture
Pergo putty-mends damage to the flooring
Installation straps-makes the installation simpler
Before you install a Pergo floor, you must be aware of certain facts. Pergo is only intended for indoor flooring use, not outdoor. It must be installed as a floating floor, and not secured in any way to the under flooring. It is critical that a small amount of clearance is left around the perimeter to allow for expansion or contraction of the floor.
Floor movement will be determined by a number of factors, including proximity to walls, staircases, pipes and other fixed objects, changes in moisture and temperature, house settling, etc. In a normal situation, the clearance should be 1/4 inch. This allowance is most critical in corners, angles or door or other openings.
The Pergo flooring should be allowed to sit for at least 48 hours in the area it will be installed, to allow for the material to acclimate to the ambient conditions. If your climate is extremely dry or extremely humid, you should allow an additional 48 hours for this acclimation. During the installation, the installation site should be kept at a relative humidity of 30-90%. A stable temperature is important, and should be within 15 degrees of the normal temperature of the home.
Pergo can be installed at, above or below grade. The planks should be installed upon Pergo Underlayment Foam or “Whisperwalk”. If you install directly over concrete, you will have to install a 6 mil polyethylene vapor barrier over the concrete. The particular sub floor you are using may have additional requirements.
Posted on 27 August '10 by admin, under Flooring. No Comments.
Tags:About, Asphalt, Maintenance, Roof, Shingle.
Roof maintenance is something many people forget to do, but can be an important part of the upkeep of a home. There are several steps that you should go through before and during the maintenance of a roof, but these differ depending on the material it’s made of. In this article, we’ll go over how to clean and maintain an asphalt shingle roof.
The first thing you’ll want to do in any roof maintenance job is clean debris from the roof. This can be anything that has built up behind HVAC units, pitch pans or pipes, and other penetrations of the roof. Since this debris tends to soak up water, and water is one of the leading causes of deterioration of the roof (especially in roofs that are primarily asphalt), you’ll want to do this two or maybe three times a year.
If the roof is collecting moss and algae, zinc control or lead control strips should be installed. All the flashings should be checked for holes, and algae and moss should be removed. If there are any shingle tabs that are loose, a little roofing cement can be dabbed under either side to secure them. Damaged or broken shingles should be removed and replaced.
Keeping gutters debris free is an important part of roof maintenance, and is necessary for proper water flow control, and pour water down the downspouts to ensure that they are functioning correctly. If there are tree branches overhanging, they should be trimmed to prevent debris from falling on the roof.
Open valley metal should be checked for rust, and if there is rust then it should be wire brushed away, and then the metal should be primed and painted. Caulking and sealants should be checked, and if any is cracked or damaged it should be scraped away and re-applied. If you have a brick and mortar chimney, check the mortar on the sides and on top, and if it is damaged it can be repaired by a mason.
Roof maintenance is often a simple matter of knowing how the weather affects your home. If you have asphalt shingles that can be damaged over time, a periodic checkup and some mild repair work is likely all that is necessary.
Keeping up with your roof can help you find problems before they work their way into your home and cause you even more stress (not to mention money) than if you took care of them outside . . .
Find out more by reading the full article which explains what you need to know about roof maintenance.
Posted on 29 July '10 by admin, under Roofing. No Comments.
Tags:About, Flooring, Hardwood, Installation, Learn, More.
Home renovation can mean different things for many people. For some, it is a fun activity, a chance to be creative and design your home. For others, it is a headache, something they would rather have others do. Whether done by yourself or by hired carpenters, there is one true thing about home renovation – the results can be worth it all. Renovating just one part of the home, such as its floors, can have dramatic results.
Floor installations are harder to do when compared to other renovations. Are you looking into installing hardwood floors? There are close to 200 hardware stores in Houston offering hardwood floors, but perhaps only a few will meet your standards. They can be purchased raw, without sanding or gloss, or pre-cut with varnish already.
If you decide to purchase raw wood, they should be stored in same room where they will be installed. Storage period should be 2-3 days to allow the wood to adjust to the room’s humidity. However, this will also depend on where you live. If you live in Houston where the weather is dryer, you can store the wood in the house or outside with the same results.
During installation time, carpenters will trace lines on certain areas of the room so that they have a basis on where to begin. This also serves as a guide for alignment. They will also trace along non-linear areas. These are areas that have edges or protruding fixtures, such as along fireplaces, columns and built-in cabinets. This is so that smaller pieces of the hardwood planks could be made since no room will be a perfect fit for all wood planks. You can also have decorative borders placed if you prefer this. Select the border from your Houston hardwood provider.
Carpenters will then do a “fit test” of all the planks you have so far by positioning them without glue or fasteners. This can take a long time and should take at least two carpenters. Houston hardwood companies will usually deploy a full team of carpenters to your home. Once this is done, carpenters will secure your planks onto the floor, using nails, glue, tape or fasteners. This will depend on the size and type of hardwood you are using.
Contact hardwood floor installation Houston specialists in order to get a free estimate of how much these services will cost. They will also be able to recommend the type and size of planks you should buy for your home.
Posted on 3 August '09 by admin, under Flooring. No Comments.