Best Way to Connect Wood Flooring With Tile Flooring
Wood flooring has become a very popular decorating choice in recent years. Many people who live in older model homes may have a tile floor that they would like to replace with a wood floor. Luckily, in most cases, the wood floor can easily be attached to the tile flooring.
The first step in replacing tile flooring with wood floors is to choose the right kind of replacement wood. Although there are aesthetic advantages to choosing a hardwood floor, in many cases laminate floor will adhere to tile better than traditional hardwood. Laminate floors are also easier to install and cheaper than other types of hardwood flooring. The ideal thickness for wood flooring is 3/8 inch.
Once the replacement wood is chosen, the area must be prepared for installation. Preferably, the tile should be free of any tears or cracks. At minimum, if there is damage, it should be filled and made smooth. Additionally, the tile should be inspected for low spots, which should also be filled. Once the floor is made smooth, care should be taken so it is completely dry. Laminate wood and hardwoods are extremely sensitive to humidity and moisture, so care should be taken to avoid wetness as much as possible. Before the floor is installed, it is a good idea to sand the tile floor. Slight imperfections in the tile, which are made with the sander passes over it, help the glue under the wood to adhere.
When the tile is ready, the room should be prepared for optimal wood floor installation. The temperature of the room should be between 65 and 85 degrees. It is also important that the room not be too dry or too wet. Therefore, care should be taken to make sure the humidity of the area where the wood is to be installed is between 45 and 65 percent.
Once the tile is prepared, connecting the flooring should be quite easy. Laminate wood flooring can simply be glued over the tile. Often, the laminate is engineered so it can be joined by simply tapping it with a hammer. Lowe's has a wide variety of laminates to choose from.