When choosing new flooring for your home it is important to first look at the needs and objectives you are attempting to accomplish with the project.  Just looking to remodel your outdated floor?  Is re-sale value or prospective buyer attraction your motive? Laminate flooring is best installed in areas such as dining rooms, hallways, family living rooms and bedrooms.  Since free floating laminate flooring is prone water damage if not cared for properly, we recommend avoiding placement in kitchens and bathrooms.  Having a new laminate floor installed does not necessarily increase the value of your home, however, it may raise the rate of appeal to buyers looking at your home if the existing floor covering is old and worn looking.  The cost of having a laminate floor installed in the home is reasonable, with installation prices roughly at $1.75 to $2.50 per square foot for labor and materials ranging from $.99 to $3.00 depending on make and style.  Again you must determine your budget and required flooring needs.

Hardwood is the only flooring that will actually increase the value of your home at appraisal.  Although slightly more costly compared to laminate flooring installations, it is considerably a better buy.  Hardwood floors are very durable, highly attractive and greatly desired.  Hardwood flooring will do well in every room of your home with the exception of the bathroom (bathroom’s are best with ceramic tile or sheet vinyl as a floor covering).  A properly maintained hardwood floor will last through the entire lifetime of your home.

Unlike laminate floors, hardwood can be refinished, stained and treated.  If laminated floors are installed in high traffic areas and poorly cared for, their lifetime can be drastically cut short.  Once a laminate floor is put in your home, it can’t be refinished.  Some areas may be repaired, but the process is not always easy.  Hardwood flooring is an overall better investment for your home.

Hardwood floors range widely in material cost.  Size, manufacturer and type of wood used are price determining factors.  Costs between $1.00 and $7.00 per square foot of material are not uncommon.  The cost of a contractor’s installation may be between $2.00 and $5.00 depending on the process and needs of any sub-flooring issues.  Long term solutions and budget factors are the key to making informative decisions regarding your home’s flooring needs.

When installed correctly, ceramic tile can create a very durable easy to maintain surface.  Ideal for bathroom showers and kitchen backsplashes, ceramic tile comes in many different color patterns and sizes and can be installed in the home for a number of applications.  Being so versatile and relatively affordable to install, most homes today have ceramic tile either in the bathroom or in the kitchen.  Quite often homes have tile flooring in the kitchen. 

If your home has a tile floor and you have been living there a number of years, then you’re likely to have a chipped or fractured tile.  Fortunately ceramic tiles are fairly easy to replace.  You should have some replacement tiles on hand, or you may have to find some from a local vendor.  Also you will need to have the proper adhesive and grout.  As well as the correct tools, grout remover, hammer and chisel, and applicators for the bonding adhesive and grout lines.

A tile floor in the kitchen may break when something gets dropped on it, usually a heavy glass cup or other dropped item that will often result in a surface chip.  Large cracks and fractures in tile flooring are normally attributed to a settling foundation or improperly installed tile and underlayment.  Whatever the reason, the removal process is the same.  Replacing a tile is simple and easy if done correctly.

Removing ceramic tile is delicate work and should be done carefully.  Using a grout removing tool, cautiously scrape along the grout lines of the tile to be removed.  Be sure to remove all the grout that you can without damaging the adjoining tiles. 

Dust out the lines using a small bristled brush or use a vacuum to clean the debris.  Check to be sure that all the grout has been removed by going around with the grout remover again.  The cleaner the line the less likely you are of damaging a neighboring tile. 

Taking a hammer, lightly knock on the tile and begin to crack it into removable pieces.  Using a small chisel may be required for stubborn tiles.  Clear out the tile pieces and old adhesive.  Use a painter’s tool or scraper to remove the adhesive glue from the subfloor.  

Once the area is clean and clear of debris, test fit the tile in place to ensure a proper fit.  When ready, apply the adhesive thinly onto the subfloor and also on the back of the replacement tile itself.  Set the tile into place, press firmly and hold fast for one full minute. 

Allow tile 24 hours to set and fully cure before applying grout.