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Post by wildcat on Jul 16, 2006 9:07:14 GMT -6
Non-Football Related Topic
OK guys, I know that many of you are pretty handy and I was hoping for some guidance.
I rented a carpet cleaner a few days ago. After cleaning the carpet, the floor underneath the carpet started to warp badly. There are now several areas of the floor where the hardwood floorboards have raised up several inches.
I pulled the carpet up. Plan now is to repair the damaged sections of hardwood flooring, clean the floor up, and leave it a hardwood floor.
Problem is that I don't know what the hell I'm doing.
Any suggestions?
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Post by khalfie on Jul 16, 2006 10:32:31 GMT -6
Hill larry!
This is what you do.
Is the hardwood individual pieces or is it that section laminet?
Either way, its a simple piece wise mission. If single boards remove the bad boards, take them to the local lumber yard, get a nail gun, framers, and have at it.
If its laminet, go to lowes or whomever, match up as close as possible, and have at it.
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Post by blb on Jul 16, 2006 10:39:14 GMT -6
The guy who was our JV coach at my first HC job, and also our hoops coach, said: "There isn't a basketball coach in America who can fix anything because we spent our youth playing games and never learned how."
He may have been speaking for a significant number of the football brethren as well.
Personally, I just don't want to take bread out of the mouths of trades men's children.
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Post by bulldog on Jul 16, 2006 16:13:57 GMT -6
Hardwoods don't really take-up moisture and warp like softwoods. If it is truly hardwood, my suggestion would be to dry it out first. Remove the carpet and padding and rent a blower to blow air over the wood to remove the moisture. (If the carpet is still wet at all, lay it flat so that it can dry out. Get a moisture meter and check the wood compared to a section that is not warped and swollen. If you find that the boards remain swolen after the moisture is removed, you can rent a sanding machine and sand the boards back to relative flatness.
If you have a softwood subfloor (pywood, pine, OSB, etc.) - and you have any type of twisting, you will likely need to replace the subfloor. How can you tell if you have hardwood or softwood? Press on the wood with your fingernail or the head of a nail. soft wood dents easily. If you see any type of pressed board, it is soft wood.
I am assuming that you have a subfloor over some type of joist system.
1. Pull the carpet and padding. Pull all of the staples for the padding.
2. Remove all of the subfloor that is warped. Get a long level (6' -8' or better) and check it all. You can also lay the level on a long, true 2x4 and make sure that no warped subflooring remains. If you have have any glue on the joist, scrape it off with a putty knife or paint scraper.
3. Prepare the joist for subfloor replacement. Check it all for level and warpage with a level/straight edge. Side-nail a 2x4 or other dimensional lumber next to the joist to raise the joist. Plane off any high points.
4. Replace the subfloor with an exterior grade plywood - or match the 'hardwood' boards. (Ideally it would 1 1/4", but you will match the thickness of whatever subflooring is in place. Start by putting a good beading of construction glue down on the joist. Do not skimp on the glue.
5. Screw down the subfloor. Use coarse screws. Wax the screws before you drive them or use vinyl coated. Drive them so that the heads sink into the subfloor. Place screws every 6" or so. Clean up any glue.
6. Walk on the floor to listen for any squeeks. Place extra screws if you find any.
7. Call the carpet guy to come out, put down new padding and replace the carpet. I am assuming that you don't have carpet stretching tools.
Hope this helps.
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Post by wildcat on Jul 16, 2006 20:36:38 GMT -6
Bulldog -
You're the man! Thanks a TON...I've been all over the net today and your post was, by far, the most information I have seen.
I really appreciate it!
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Post by khalfie on Jul 16, 2006 21:03:30 GMT -6
Huh?
What about my post?
I basically said the same thing... Basically!
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Post by bulldog on Jul 16, 2006 23:16:54 GMT -6
Glad I could help. I've done this type of repair a few times. A couple of other things:
- if you are going to sand, make sure to buy a respirator. Spend the money and buy a good one. Do no breath sawdust.
- Second, as long as you have the carpet up, check the other subfloor. If it is nailed, go ahead and sink some screws. Floor squeeks typically come from the subfloor rubbing on nails.
- I meant that you can re-place the carpet, not replace it. Moisture does not necessarily ruin carpet. You can tell if it is ruined by the backing coming apart.
- And lastly, be careful cutting the carpet. Bad carpet cuts can be visible. But good carpet cuts are mostly invisible. Of course, the best place to cut is in the doorway - under the door. Don't worry about removing the tape under any carpet seams. Just cut the seam. Your carpet guy will remove the old tape prior to seaming the carpet again.
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