Q. In my entryway, we have wood flooring that has been warped do to water. My entryway also goes into my dining room using the same wood floowing flow. So, essentially I just want to take a small area (3x6) at the entryway to replace the wood flooring with tile. How would I go about this? Is it possible to cut the pre-existing wood flooring to make an area to lay the tile?
A. It is possible, as a matter of fact I've done it several times. Do you have an idea of the thickness of your wood floor - is it 3/4" or the 1/4" or 3/8" stuff. Knowing the thickness will help to determine what thickness of underlayment - tile backer board and/or your tile can be so your tile will not be thicker than your wood.
To cut the area out, I'd suggest you use masking tape and mark off where your lines to cut will be. The tape will make it easier to see the lines when you are cutting and it will also help to prevent splintering on the end grain cuts.
Once you have the area masked and SQUARED up. Emphasing squaring the area up - usually off the door. If your area isn't square then your tile won't look good. I'd suggest you take a hammer and chisel and remove some of the wood floor in the center of your area to determine the exact thickness of the wood. Once that is determined, take a circular saw with a plywood blade and set it for just a little shallower than that depth (to prevent cutting into the subfloor and weakening it). If the wood floor is oak, I'd suggest you take a utility knife and scribe along the lines you have and then using the saw cut just inside those scribed lines.
You must be careful not to cut beyond your lines - the area that can not be cut with the circular saw can then be cut with a sawzall or a sabre saw. The sawzall with a fine toothed blade is the best way to go. Again be very careful not to cut beyond your lines or cut through the subfloor.
Once the lines are cut, remove the wood and chisel and chips on the edges that the saws missed. Now, I'd suggest that you apply some polyeurathane to the newly cut edges to prevent any moisture from setting and grouting your tile from getting into the wood floor and staining or causing it to warp again.
Now that your area is cut out and the edges are sealed, You are ready to put down backer board and tile. I'd use hardi-backer, durrock, or a similar product - may only need 1/4" thick or could need 1/2" depending on the tile and thickness of your floor. Don't forget to allow for the thickness of thinset ( 1/4" usually) when deciding on tile and backer board thickness.
Set your tiles in the pattern you want and your entrance will look new again.
I hope that this helped answer your question.
To cut the area out, I'd suggest you use masking tape and mark off where your lines to cut will be. The tape will make it easier to see the lines when you are cutting and it will also help to prevent splintering on the end grain cuts.
Once you have the area masked and SQUARED up. Emphasing squaring the area up - usually off the door. If your area isn't square then your tile won't look good. I'd suggest you take a hammer and chisel and remove some of the wood floor in the center of your area to determine the exact thickness of the wood. Once that is determined, take a circular saw with a plywood blade and set it for just a little shallower than that depth (to prevent cutting into the subfloor and weakening it). If the wood floor is oak, I'd suggest you take a utility knife and scribe along the lines you have and then using the saw cut just inside those scribed lines.
You must be careful not to cut beyond your lines - the area that can not be cut with the circular saw can then be cut with a sawzall or a sabre saw. The sawzall with a fine toothed blade is the best way to go. Again be very careful not to cut beyond your lines or cut through the subfloor.
Once the lines are cut, remove the wood and chisel and chips on the edges that the saws missed. Now, I'd suggest that you apply some polyeurathane to the newly cut edges to prevent any moisture from setting and grouting your tile from getting into the wood floor and staining or causing it to warp again.
Now that your area is cut out and the edges are sealed, You are ready to put down backer board and tile. I'd use hardi-backer, durrock, or a similar product - may only need 1/4" thick or could need 1/2" depending on the tile and thickness of your floor. Don't forget to allow for the thickness of thinset ( 1/4" usually) when deciding on tile and backer board thickness.
Set your tiles in the pattern you want and your entrance will look new again.
I hope that this helped answer your question.
What is the best machine to clean my wood floors?
Q. Almost all of my house is covered in wood flooring and there are about 8 people in the house. So you can imagine how hard it is to clean massive wood floors that get ALOT of traffic. I need some kind of machine to effectively clean my wood floors. I've been researching steamers and steamer vacuums, but I want to know which machine will work best. Also, my wood floors are surface sealed.
A. Use a damp mop with vinegar and water mixed 10 to 1. Why waste money on a machine that may ruin your floors? If there is any break in the finish on your floor, a steamer is forcing moisture into the wood. This will cause stains and possibly rot. You want as little moisture on your wood floors as possible.
What is the best place to start a wood flooring business?
Q. I had success running a wood flooring biz in Colorado, but I moved to San Diego and I'm finding that th pay vs cost of living arent too good here, plus alot of work is taken by immigrants. I dont want to mov back to Colorado so I'm looking for a city I could have the same success. Thanks
A. Excellent question. My sand and finish guy moved from Nebraska to Central Florida when Central Florida was having a housing boom....now that times are tight, he's looking at moving to Texas. He quickly found out the cost of living there is not great, plus...he has to start over from stratch. Personally, I think he's going to have the same problem there.
I fully appreciate what you're experiencing, fighting the substandard labor market. The problem is, when times get tight - new home builders start looking for ways to cut costs, and that usually means quality goes as well. Focus on retrofits....people with wood floors who need them redone. Make sure you visqueen off any areas not getting redone. Make sure you put plastic over the kitchen cabinets. Make sure your equipment is in perfect working order. Make sure you have sanding equipment with a vacuum attached, and then after you're done....vacuum with a heavy duty vacuum again. Make sure when you say you're going to be there Tuesday the 6th at 9:00am...You are there the Tuesday the 6th of the month you discussed at 9:00am...not 9:30 - not 4...but 8:45am to 9am. You and your crew should have matching shirts, khakis(they do sell them at WalMart), no visable tats, piercings, a sign on the van, and look like you can walk into a 5 million dollar home or a $5,000 home, with no issues whatsoever.
In this day and time of things getting tighter...NOTHING is going to go as far as customer service. Setting yourself as better than the rest. And word of mouth, is the most powerful advertising form. If you cost a bit more...make sure you have a reason why, and be able to back it up. This is not a quick solution, but one that takes time and patience. We've all had to take a second job to support our passion, but quality in workmanship, with the right clientele will always win out....you might have to do a job or two for "the fun"....and tell them....I'm doing this at a reduced rate - to prove what I can do. Of course, you'll always have your tight wads, who don't care if their floor has swirls, and bubbles - but most people want their friends to come in and say...Wow...who did your floors! NOT ....ummmm..so who did your floors?
So, while that didn't answer your question as to geography...if you're happy in the area....work your butt off....call on commercial companies as well, don't forget - to keep up with your education on every product.
Good Luck!
I fully appreciate what you're experiencing, fighting the substandard labor market. The problem is, when times get tight - new home builders start looking for ways to cut costs, and that usually means quality goes as well. Focus on retrofits....people with wood floors who need them redone. Make sure you visqueen off any areas not getting redone. Make sure you put plastic over the kitchen cabinets. Make sure your equipment is in perfect working order. Make sure you have sanding equipment with a vacuum attached, and then after you're done....vacuum with a heavy duty vacuum again. Make sure when you say you're going to be there Tuesday the 6th at 9:00am...You are there the Tuesday the 6th of the month you discussed at 9:00am...not 9:30 - not 4...but 8:45am to 9am. You and your crew should have matching shirts, khakis(they do sell them at WalMart), no visable tats, piercings, a sign on the van, and look like you can walk into a 5 million dollar home or a $5,000 home, with no issues whatsoever.
In this day and time of things getting tighter...NOTHING is going to go as far as customer service. Setting yourself as better than the rest. And word of mouth, is the most powerful advertising form. If you cost a bit more...make sure you have a reason why, and be able to back it up. This is not a quick solution, but one that takes time and patience. We've all had to take a second job to support our passion, but quality in workmanship, with the right clientele will always win out....you might have to do a job or two for "the fun"....and tell them....I'm doing this at a reduced rate - to prove what I can do. Of course, you'll always have your tight wads, who don't care if their floor has swirls, and bubbles - but most people want their friends to come in and say...Wow...who did your floors! NOT ....ummmm..so who did your floors?
So, while that didn't answer your question as to geography...if you're happy in the area....work your butt off....call on commercial companies as well, don't forget - to keep up with your education on every product.
Good Luck!
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