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When spilled on carpeting, beer has a tendency to immediately stain. Remove beer from carpet with help from a carpet cleaning professional in this free video clip.
Carpet padding needs to be dried in a very specific way, especially after a water leak in your home. Dry carpet padding after a leak with help from a carpet cleaning professional in this free video clip.
Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) roofing is a plastic material designed for flat roofs. It can be laid down as a single layer over most common roofing materials, including asphalt torch-down roofing. However, you can’t lay PVC directly on asphalt. To lay a PVC roof over a torch-down asphalt roof, you must first put down an insulating layer to prevent chemical reactions between the PVC and asphalt roofing materials.
Concrete slabs poured without the reinforcement of either rebar or reinforcing wire are more susceptible to cracks. The surface of non-reinforced slabs tend to deteriorate quickly, necessitating resurfacing or even replacement of the non-reinforced slab. Although it seems unnecessary to reinforce a concrete slab that is merely a walkway or driveway and not the foundation of a building, it will have a much longer and useful life if you install concrete reinforcing wire when pouring the slab. This job is labor-intensive, so the help of an assistant is recommended.
Carpet manufacturers commonly bind loose carpets and commercially produced rugs. Types of unbound carpets include those that do not need binding because of the method of using or installing them, and those that require binding. Purchasing sections of unbound carpet may be cheaper than buying professionally bound carpets, but you may need to bind the carpet yourself or install it in a way that ensures the unbound edges are not a trip hazard.
Noise in your home can disrupt your concentration, contribute to stress, affect your sleep and even harm your health. Reducing noise levels can improve sleep and quality of life, according to Georgia Tech University's website. When you install carpet padding for soundproofing, you create a more relaxing environment. The carpet padding absorbs vibration and dampens sound, helping to cut down on sound traveling downstairs and to adjacent rooms. Carpet padding not only makes footsteps quieter, but it also helps absorb other noises within the room.
Latex-backed drapes -- also called rubber-backed drapes -- help to insulate your windows. The latex backing keeps cold air from entering your home while preventing the heat from escaping. These thermal curtains can also lower your utility bills. Unfortunately, improper care and cleaning may damage the latex backing. However, you can repair the latex backing with a replacement.
Carpeting on stairs protects the steps from the gradual wear and tear of routine use. Decorative carpeting also enhances the appeal of the surrounding room and soft carpeting reduces the sound of footsteps. Installation is straightforward on steps that aren't curved or have exaggerated corners, but a few additional steps are required when the stairway is angled.
While no hardwood flooring manufacturer would recommend installing its product over carpet padding, there may be circumstances that make doing so a desirable option. For instance, perhaps the padding is glued to the subfloor and difficult to remove, or the subfloor needs the extra sound or heat insulation provided by the carpet padding. The installation procedure isn't much different from that for laying hardwood to a bare subfloor. Unless the padding is very thick, you shouldn't need longer cleats, but the cleats you use definitely should be barbed. The padding will compress as you drive the cleats, and the barbs…
Brazilian walnut is a durable hardwood commonly available as an engineered floor. With an engineered floor, three-quarters of the thickness is made up of a lesser grade wood while the top quarter or third is made up of the finished wood. The two wood types are laminated or engineered together at the factory. The engineering process also allows the manufacturer to control other features of the wood to make the product easy to install. A concrete floor is a good base for a hardwood floor if it is completely dry and in good condition. Usually, the floor is glued directly…
Several styles of staircases may be covered with wood-like laminate and accented with carpeting, from sweeping, curved designs to utilitarian straight staircases. Choosing to partially cover laminated stairs with carpet is a good option because with heavy use laminate stairs can become dangerously slippery. Choices for partially carpeting stairs include non-skid carpet stair treads and rug runners.
Poor wood under carpet identifies itself when you feel sponginess instead of the solid support normally found on a wood floor. Although the carpet may hide the damaged wood, the problem will not correct itself and sooner or later, you will need to replace the bad boards. The process is not terribly hard to correct unless the damage extends over the whole floor. If you find that the damaged floorboards are covering bad floor joists, you may need to hire a professional to assess the situation to see why the boards are damaged and how extensive the repair may be.
Wall-to-wall carpeting has become fairly commonplace in many homes. A pad is installed on the subfloor underneath the carpet to provide cushioning, while the carpet is held in place around the perimeter of the floor with tacking strips. These are wooden strips with tacks extending diagonally from them. The tacking strips are nailed to the floor with the tacks facing up, so they can hook into the underside of the carpet.
If you have a plywood subfloor, over time, it can become warped, or it may even break. Water damage, and just general wear and tear can have a detrimental effect on this subfloor surface. In order to repair the subfloor, you will first have to roll back the carpeting to reveal it. This is not a project that can be accomplished without this step. Expect to spend about four to eight hours on this project from start to finish.
A concrete block foundation can work very well as a do-it-yourself project. Once the foundation hole has been dug out and the proper materials ordered and delivered, getting the hang of using cinder blocks and mortar comes quickly. Unlike poured concrete foundations, using blocks requires less specialized labor, and a competent amateur can accomplish this project successfully.
If you would like to add a splash of decoration to a staircase in your home or provide more traction on slick stairs, such as laminate or hardwood, carpet stair runners can accomplish both tasks in one turn. Installing a carpet runner on a straight staircase is a straightforward task, but installing a runner on an L-shaped staircase is slightly more complicated. Approach the task one section of stairs at a time to make it as simple as carpeting a straight stairway.
Although fully carpeted or runner-covered stairs both add a dash of elegance to any home, the two styles of carpeting create distinctly different looks. Examine the pros and cons of both options before committing to one type of carpeting. Consider the home’s residents, such as children and the elderly, by making safety a major priority in the decision-making process.
Exposed to wear and tear and heavy traffic, carpets are bound to stain, tear and fray at the edges. Save on expenses by repairing the carpet yourself instead of seeking professional assistance. Repairing a carpet requires a steady hand and attention to detail so the patched section blends in with the surrounding area. While repair shortcuts save time and effort, the damage is apparent when the carpet is spread on the floor.
Patterned carpeting can add a decorative element to your stairway for less money than a total renovation. Patterned carpet is generally more durable than plush carpeting because it doesn't get matted down or compressed over time as much as its plush counterpart. Laying patterned carpeting on your stairs requires a few hours of work to get it done right. However, the project is a realistic do-it-yourself endeavor that only requires a few basic materials.
A vinyl runner is ideal when you wish to protect the carpet on your stairway from dirt and damage. The transparent plastic runner allows a view of the carpet underneath, is durable and requires little maintenance. You do not need prior experience to install a vinyl runner on your stairs because the process is straightforward. You can complete the job in a few hours with tools that are available for rent or purchase from a home improvement store.
Carpet on stairs enhances the décor of a room while protecting the treads from dirt and damage. Professional carpet installers often charge considerable amounts for this service, but you can complete the job yourself with the appropriate tools. Reduce the cost of installation further when you use carpet remnants from other rooms in your home. The process of installing carpet on a flight of stairs may appear daunting in the beginning, but it is a straightforward project that you can complete in one afternoon.
While a carpeted stairway adds a warm and cozy touch to the indoor space, removing old, stained, worn out or torn carpeting becomes necessary when you want to update the interior decor. Replacing the carpeting with hardwood gives the stairs a new look and cuts down on routine maintenance. Hardwood floor planks are available in different shades, allowing homeowners to choose the one that blends with their interior design. Take accurate measurements of the tread and risers so the planks you cut fit properly.
When you want to give your stairs a brand new look, or when you are simply worried about slick wooden stairs, a carpet runner is a natural choice. Underneath the runner is the carpet pad, which gives both a layer of softness and a layer of resiliency between the carpet and stairs. Before putting down your carpet, install the carpet padding for your stairs.
Spiral staircases have been an architectural phenomenon since medieval designers built them into castle turrets -- while you may not have to worry about castle crashers storming your loft apartment, interior decoration is another matter entirely. Carpeting your spiral staircase may pose a challenge in itself because unlike with traditional staircases, spiral staircases are typically composed of open-backed steps that do not have risers between them. This means that instead of using a typical stair runner, you have to measure and cut individual carpet pads for each step.
Builders often install foam board insulation in combination with moisture barriers on a home’s exterior. But some varieties of board insulation are suitable for installation in interior wall cavities. To install them, you cut them to size and nestle them between the studs of the wood frame of a wall or ceiling. After that, you can install drywall over the board insulation.
Carpet underlays are an integral component of any soundproofing strategy for a home or business. It's also important to select the correct underlay materials to address the specific noise problem within a given room or floor. Troubleshooting the source of airborne noise in a home or business can help maximize the effectiveness of carpet underlays.
The damp-proof membranes installed in concrete floors to stop moisture rising through them can be ineffective. As such, it’s vital you seal your concrete floor properly before laying any carpet. Any moisture that does reach your carpet can cause it to become moldy and start to rot.
Building your own patio steps is a simple way to make your patio area more accessible, especially if your yard is sloped. You do not need to have the skills of a master mason to build patio steps -- you simply need to make the proper preparations and follow the correct procedure. After pouring a concrete foundation and laying your first row of bricks or concrete block, the rest of the process should flow smoothly.
Installing concrete can be a complicated job involving several different tasks that, when combined, can create a walkway, patio or floor. In some cases, an asphalt driveway or walkway may already be in the location where you want to pour concrete. In some cases it might be possible to pour the concrete over the existing asphalt, but there are some considerations.
Curved or winding staircases are a decorative feature of many homes. The placement of mid-staircase landings, or angled steps, redirects the path of the staircase, which allows it to turn corners, or just add a bit of style to an entryway. Carpeting curved or winding stairs involves providing enough carpet to make the turns and cover the steps properly, while hiding any details of the installing from sight.
Upholstering furniture yourself saves money and allows you to update the style whenever desired. While straight edges and square corners are easy to cover, upholstering rounded or curved shapes requires some skill. You want a clean round edge that looks neat and professional, and appears as a continuation of the straight edges. Form identical pleats to cover the span of the curved section of the sofa or chair so they give the piece of furniture a clean look.
Don't cut corners when it comes to buying a vacuum cleaner for a shag carpet. While it may be tempting to purchase an inexpensive vacuum cleaner, a quality vacuum is an investment that pays off by extending the life of your shag carpet, keeping it fluffy and luxurious for years.
Carpet pads are usually made from rubber, foam or woven fibers and come in several weights and thicknesses. A blue plastic covering on the carpet pad usually indicates that the carpet has been treated to resist moisture. The carpet pad may have anti-microbial properties to resist mold, as well.
The type of padding you select for a concrete floor is perhaps even more important than the type you use in rooms upstairs. Concrete is usually used as the subfloor for basements in homes, and since most basements are below ground level, this makes them prone to dampness. Spend time to select padding that’s appropriate for installing on concrete to protect your carpeting and help it last as long as possible.
Poured concrete, one of the most frequently used construction materials, creates strong foundation walls and flatwork. Laying concrete next to the house, whether you’re constructing a sidewalk, or a pad for an air conditioner or patio, requires attaching the new concrete to the existing foundation using steel pins. Once the pins are in place, you can pour the concrete just as you would any other slab.
Jute padding is attached to the back of automotive carpeting. Most carpeting is cut and premolded to fit the interior of the car for which it is designed. There are several types of materials that can be used under the padding for special use such as reducing the interior sound absorption while deadening the outside-induced noises, or reducing the heat transmitted through the floor.
New carpet is a home improvement that can make a big impact in your home's overall appeal. To ensure proper installation, you must secure the edge of your carpet to tack strips that outline the perimeter of your room. A tack strip is a thin piece of wood, studded with sharp tacks, that anchors a piece of carpet to the floor. There are several reasons why you might have trouble hooking new carpet to a tack strip.
Leaks from the plumbing behind your insulation can end up being a very serious problem. Moisture doesn't have a lot of places to go inside a sealed wall cavity, which means it tends to stagnate and contribute to the growth of mold. Corroding pipes in the walls are less likely to be a problem with newer pipes, but houses with very old pipes could be at risk for this problem.
Homeowners apply tape to their carpets for a variety of reasons on an irregular basis. These reasons include taping ground sheets to the carpet when painting, making designs for children's games and even dividing a room that two children share. Select a type of tape that is strong enough to adhere but won't damage the carpet's threads.
Soundproofing or reducing the noise that travels from room to room is helped with the addition of a carpeting underlay. Several different types of underlay are available, and all address differing problems of noise reduction. Voices, noise from feet hitting the floor and noise from electronic equipment travel. Selecting the right underlay will reduce those sounds. After the underlay has been installed be sure there are no gaps between the insulation and the base molding and that the underlay is seamless in order to prevent noise from escaping. A tightly fit carpet underlay is the best protection against escaping noise.
The beauty of using carpet tile is the very reason for limited padding options. Tiles are easy to remove and replace when they become soiled or damaged, making the tiles an ideal choice for homeowners with pets, kids and a lot of foot traffic. But standard roll padding can cause problems when paired with carpet tile. Knowing more about carpet tiles can help you understand why manufacturers offer attached padding options that are worth exploring.
Staircase runners are narrow lengths of carpet that cover the center portion of the treads and risers. The runner covers only the part of the treads that is walked on while leaving the outside edges uncovered and visible to allow room for balusters that extend upward to the underside of the handrail. Staircase runners sometimes begin at the landing at the top of the stairs and, as such, must be installed onto the open floor area. The process of installing a carpet runner on a landing requires some general DIY skills and a few basic tools.
If you have wood stairs in your home, you can install a carpet runner to protect the stairs from scratches, weathering and discoloration from sun exposure. A stair runner also provides traction and prevents injuries due to falls. Stair runners are available in two standard widths, or you can hire a professional to create and install a custom-designed stair runner for your home.
Installing padding under a Jacuzzi bathtub serves two primary purposes. The first is to create a cushion between the tub and the ground, preventing roots or stones from damaging the Jacuzzi bottom. The second purpose is to create a smooth and even surface, preventing the tub from moving when people enter and exit. While placement of the padding isn’t a difficult process, some preparation is necessary before you can put the pad into position. An assistant is also required to help position the pad.
One of the last steps when installing a carpet is to install a metal transition along the edges of the carpet where it meets flooring made of a different material, such as hardwood, tile or cement. The metal transition not only serves an aesthetic purpose but also locks the carpet down onto the floor and prevents people from tripping over it.
If you've mastered the art of putting down your laminate floor throughout the main portions of the room, the only thing left is applying the trims and transition pieces to finish your floor off. There are various transition bars and trim options to finish your floor -- some of which transition between two different types of flooring or cover the edges of stairs for a finished look. When transitioning between a laminate floor and carpeted stairs, you come across two issues -- you are going over the lip of the stair but also coming to a flooring of a different…
Hollywood style carpet, commonly referred to as a stair runner, can transform the look and feel of stairs by making them softer and less slippery. Carpet is usually rated for light, medium or heavy wear. Carpet with a heavy wear rating is recommended for stairs, since they generally have a lot of traffic. If you can’t determine the rating of a carpet you want, roll a corner of it around your finger. Heavy-wear carpets should expose very little--if any--of the carpet backing when you do this.
To properly fit carpet to stairs, it is important that you measure and precut your carpet carefully to avoid imperfections. Fortunately, you don’t have to be a professional for your stair carpet installation to go smoothly. Choose the precutting method that makes you feel the most comfortable, as there are different ways to precut carpet for stairs. Two basic ways include cutting a length of broadloom carpet that is long enough and wide enough for your stairs. Broadloom carpet comes in one long roll. Conversely, you also can choose carpet tiles, which are smaller individual pieces cut to fit your…
If you have a set of stairs in your home that are elderly or worn, take the time to update them. While pulling out stairs and putting in new ones is expensive and time-consuming, you can cover your old, worn-out stairs to give them a brand new look. The cover can be permanent or it can be a stop-gap measure until you find the time to replace the stairs entirely. Choose a stair cover method that suits your tastes and your home décor.
Removing the carpet from your stairs in favor of a hardwood and runner combination turns your staircase into a focal point of the home. The carpet removal often leaves behind remnants and spots requiring small repairs to bring the hardwood back into shape. The runner installation process requires specific steps to produce a smooth, straight surface that stays put.
