Wood Floor Installers, Mesa, AZ

Study of the Internal Structure of a Floor

 

When you need to change the floor in your home, pay attention to what is needed to go below the new surface that you choose. Every floor has its own anatomy for which a guide is given below.

 

You can avoid the sagging or squeaking of floors if you understand the structure of your floor and how the new covering will be affected by what lies beneath it. Here is a look at what makes up the structure of a floor.

 

The frame of the floor is made up from cross beams or joists which rest on the foundation of the building structure of your home. When you go to upper floors, these joists can also act to support the floors themselves and act as a skeletal framework. According to National Association of Home Builders Research Center and its director of applied technology, John Peavey, most homeowners have complaints about floors, with the major one being about their being bouncy, squeaky  and noisy. As per this expert, the floors will make noise, when joists are not installed correctly, and can lead to floors that bounce. 

The function of a subfloor, which is made up of composite material or plywood,is to protect the joists from damage and ensure that the floor covering has a base that is stiffer. 

Some space is left in the subfloor, so that there is some allowable deflection and the right amount of vertical space for the floor covering to move in.Every floor covering will have its own requirement for this spacing, and anyone who wants to install floor must refer to building codes which will elaborate on the grading of wood or lumber needed for subfloors, and what the right spans should be. As per Peavey, spans are what determine the spacing between different parts and the size of lumber that is required. 

The underlayment helps to make for soft walking on the floor and deadens sound. The material that is used for underlay is either cork or foam. You will require such underlayment  when you are installing floating floors that are not attached to subfloors, like floors made of engineered wood or laminates.

When you are using natural stone or ceramic tile that will need to be grouted, the underlayment will have to be one that is resistant to moisture, something that is asserted by Tom Jennings who is the former chairman and presently technical adviser of the World Floor Covering Association. He says that this is necessary as grouts can form pinholes and allow for moisture to get through. You may not see this if you have carpet covering the floor,but the finished product quality does get affected. 

This is the part that makes up the design of the chosen floor and what you will see when you walk on it. Coverings for floor can be carpet, stone, tile, hardwood,laminate, or vinyl. Most material costs are between three and four dollars a square foot,regardless of the material chosen. Costs for installation can be affected by the joists and their condition, the subfloor and the underlayment that you require. 

According to Jennings, floors rarely wear out, and they look out of date, when they go out of style. The existing condition of a floor, may at times dictate the product that is most suitable for the floor. It is necessary to inspect the floor  for its existing condition. You may not get the right results if you install your own floor. If manufacturer's instructions are not followed correctly, warranties  can be affected.