Steps for Replacing Old Flooring

The floor is the unsung hero that holds us up no matter the situation. The solid structure helps us walk from room to room and separates the different levels in our home and workplace. 

While not always a talking feature, it’s also an area that doesn’t get much love other than regular cleaning. No one notices the wear that builds up over time until something happens and our unsung hero falls apart, letting us down at the most inappropriate time. 

Although replacing the flooring can seem like a daunting task, it’s a time when you can explore different options. Maybe it’s time to change from carpet to hardwood or replace the vinyl with something more modern.

The flooring style can change the entire feel of a room. It can make it more inviting and warm or dark and cold. For example, a nice warm cherry hardwood in the study can make the space feel educational, or you can use plain white vinyl tiles in the mud room.

It’s always good to know what’s under the flooring as well. For instance, how stable is the sub-floor? 

Before undertaking any renovation project, consider the following key factors first, and make sure to book your bin rental ahead of time.

What is the floor made from?

Today, there are many reasons why new home builders use certain materials in particular areas. Several years ago, though, it was more about the feel and less about the function.

Thus, consider the room and its purpose before you decide on what materials to use as a replacement floor:

• Hardwood flooring: The benefits of this type of flooring outweigh the cons. Durable, stylish, and easy to maintain, this flooring improves air quality and is great for high-traffic areas such as bedrooms, home offices, and dining areas.
• Vinyl flooring: This easy-to-install and maintain flooring comes in large rolls and a variety of styles and colours. Being waterproof, it’s best used in “wet” rooms, such as bathrooms, kitchens, and even in the basement. 
• Laminate flooring: This is a fantastic way to imitate hardwood flooring while keeping within budget. The added benefits of being UV-resistant, scratch-proof, and durable make it great for high-traffic areas such as hallways, foyers, and living rooms.
• Tile flooring: You can get really creative with tiles. From unique patterns to simple lines, tiles are eco-friendly, water-resistant, and easy to seal. This makes them great for rooms and areas prone to a lot of water. For example, bathrooms, mudrooms, and even the kitchen can benefit from a tile floor. 
• Linoleum flooring: Durable, stain-resistant, waterproof, and with a range of colours and styles, this flooring is perfect for high-traffic, demanding areas such as laundry rooms, kitchens, and entranceways. 
• Carpet flooring: Carpets do still have a place in the home. They help to create a feeling of warmth in a room while actually keeping the heat within. Though it does require a lot of maintenance and cleaning, and it’s not suitable in “wet areas”, it can create a comfy atmosphere in a room. 

Each flooring type requires different materials to install and subsequently remove as well. When considering a dumpster rental in Ajax, reach out to the people who can help you get the bin suitable for your project and can advise you on how to safely dispose of the debris as you go.

Consider the Subfloor

All flooring is laid over a subfloor. This is a level that adds more stability to the floor, creating “shock absorbers” for people walking or moving furniture around. It forms a layer that joins the floor joists, and allows for a flat surface on which the flooring and underlay are placed on top.

While a subfloor is typically found in areas that have been expanded below ground level (additional rooms in the basement, for example), they can be found anywhere on the property. 

Once the floor is laid, there is no reason to think about the subflooring again. However, in cases where the property is older, you should prepare for extra work when you remove the old flooring. 

Over time, the subfloor, like any other part of the house, will become weaker. For instance, it could rot or become soft and moldy due to flooding. You should therefore budget for extra work required to fix the subfloor before you lay the new flooring. An ignored subfloor now can be costly later on.

The Right Tools for Replacing the Floor

Replacing the flooring is more than just picking up the old and laying down the new. You need supplies like underlay, tacks, tools, and more.

Each flooring requires different materials to help lay it down. If you want to make your home more energy-efficient and have heated flooring, you need quite a few supplies as well.

Vapor sheets are essential when putting down any floor, especially in bathrooms, the laundry, or mud rooms. This helps to prevent moisture from getting under the floor and rotting the underlay and subfloor.

It’s always best practice to buy more than you need when it comes to flooring. We recommend getting anywhere between five to ten percent of extra flooring to ensure that you won’t run out. The last thing you want is to leave one corner of the room unfinished.

Floor renovations can and generally do create a lot of debris. This needs to be cleaned up and removed carefully to prevent damage to other areas and avoid covering the home in dust and dirt.

Contact Scarborough Disposal Ltd. for the Bin Rental 

One essential tool that will help with any renovation (not just flooring) is a dumpster. Large enough to cater to any project size, and delivered right to your door and placed where you need it, a dumpster can help.

Reach out to our expert team at Scarborough Disposal Ltd. today to book the only bin you will need for your project. You can call us at 1-416-265-7979 and speak to our friendly representatives, or get a quote and book your bin online.