Michael O'Connor

If you are removing carpet from a wooden floor, odds are you are going to encounter glue.  Carpet glue is used to hold the carpet in place as well as brads and small nails. It is easy enough to remove the carpet but removing the glue is another story.  If you are keeping the original […]

If you have a gap between your carpet and your baseboard, it is very important that you repair it.  Not only is it an aesthetic issue, it can also make your home less efficient.  When the baseboards are installed, they should have some room for the carpet. However, sometimes, this gap will be too big.  […]

If you have recently removed some linoleum, you might have some leftover adhesive on the wood.  If your goal is to save the wood floor underneath and refinish it, you will want to remove the adhesive. Doing this carefully will help you save that wood and keep everything clean and in good condition.  There are […]

If you have a concrete floor with vinyl tiles, you may want to install a new floor at some point.  In order to do this, you will have to remove the old or dirty vinyl. This process can be difficult if you don’t set yourself up for success.  Doing this job correctly can prevent the […]

If you need to remove old grout from your floor tiles, it might seem like an impossible job.  Grout is meant to harden over the years and that can make it very difficult to remove. However, there are ways you can get it to come up and even save the tile.  Generally, this is a […]

If you are trying to re-caulk a bathroom or shower, it’s important that you remove the old caulk.  By leaving old caulk on a bank of tiles, you could end up with a less-than-waterproof seal.  When this happens, you could get water underneath the tile. This, in turn, could end up growing mold underneath your […]

If you have a set of stairs that you use on a regular basis, you will want to protect it.  One of the best ways to do this is to install vinyl plank flooring on the stair treads. Not only will it protect the tread of the stairs, it will also make them safer.  To […]

Hardwood flooring is one of the most sought-after flooring materials. Its classic look and durability makes it highly desirable and something everyone looks for in a home.  However, when installing wood flooring, you may want to mix up different types.  One of the best things about wood flooring is that it is so diverse. Being […]

Luxury vinyl flooring is a great addition to any busy home. It is known for its water resistance as well as its resistance to scratches.  Because of this durability, it is a good choice for people with children and animals. However, even the most cautious of families might end up with a scratch or two.  […]

Laminate is a great, fairly low-budget flooring option that can be incredibly durable. Its high quality and ease of installation makes it a good choice for those who want the hardwood look.  However, laminate isn’t necessarily permanently affixed to the floor. It is what is called a floating floor and instead uses a snap-in fastening […]

If you live in a cold climate, odds are you know how to prepare for winter.  There are all kinds of things you should do if you want to keep safe when it gets cold. For example, your home and your car need to be prepared for freezing temperatures to stay in good condition.  Your […]

Installing laminate flooring is a fairly easy job that many people can do. It is designed to be as simple as possible and have a low barrier of entry cost-wise as well.  However, one of the more complex jobs when it comes to installation is cutting the planks.  There are a lot of things that […]

Refinished hardwood flooring is a viable alternative to standard hardwood. If you are interested in the look but don’t want to make the big investment, it could be a good option.  If down the road, you decide you want to refinish your engineered hardwood, you might wonder how to do it. Luckily, the process isn’t […]

Removing your carpet can be a difficult job if it is old or damaged. However, if you want to put in new flooring, it must be done.  You can choose the DIY route if you like, but if not, a contractor can also do it. Finding out how much it will cost can help you […]

When you are using different types of flooring in a home, transitioning is important.  Having an abrupt change from one type to another can have a jarring effect. This is not only true visually but also practically when it comes to walking on the floor.  There are many different ways to transition between flooring types. […]

Laminate flooring is an inexpensive, easy to maintain flooring option for your home. However, like any material, it will start to look dull and over time it will eventually fade. When this happens, you might start thinking about how you can refinish your laminate.  It’s entirely possible to refinish laminate flooring and there are quite […]

New flooring is a great way to revitalize your home and give it a new look. You might be surprised at what installing a new type of flooring or a new color can do.  Before you can do that, though, you have to know what your budget is and what you can afford. Having a […]

Laminate flooring is a great alternative to traditional hardwood that is both attractive and affordable.  Its tongue and groove fastening mechanism makes it easy to install and easy to finish. However, because of this fastening, it also has a tendency to lift up and will not be as secure.  There are many reasons why laminate […]

Whitewashing is a great way to get a rustic, country-style look in your home. It is an easy technique to learn and a stylish option that is becoming more and more popular.  While it is more common on hardwood floors, laminate can also be whitewashed. If you don’t have expensive hardwood, you can still benefit […]

If you have experienced a flood or leak and you have wood floors, time is of the essence.  Removing water and drying out the wood should be your first priority. If wood is left wet, it can warp and cup, which will damage it beyond repair.  Wood is also an organic material that can grow […]

Concrete steps can be a hazard if they are not properly installed with the necessary equipment. In fact, in most municipalities, it is against building codes to not have a railing on more than 3 steps.   If your home or shop has this issue, you should consider installing a railing.  This will not only make […]

When you are installing a finished flooring like hardwood or carpeting, you will need an underlayment.  Underlayment smooths out imperfections in the subfloor and gives you a solid base to lay flooring onto. By adding this layer, you can be sure that your finished flooring will be level and even.  Underlayment can also help protect […]

A tile floor is great for hotter climates where you want to keep a room as cool as possible. It’s also a wonderfully durable material that can be arranged in all kinds of patterns.  However, one of the downsides of tile is that it can be fairly easy to stain.  Once stains get into the […]

With reclaimed and recycled wood becoming more popular, learning to remove nails is important.  With older wood, you will often find that there are a lot of rusted fasteners and other impurities. Learning how to properly remove them is crucial to saving the materials.  One of the challenges with removing nails from wood is saving […]

If you live in an older house, you may have noticed that the stairs in the basement are very steep.  This is a common problem in older homes. Not only is it inconvenient, it can also be very dangerous.  You are much more likely to trip on steep stairs, which can result in serious injury. […]

If you have a room with a bare concrete slab, you might want to soften it up.  Concrete isn’t the most attractive or comfortable material for a floor. This may become an issue if you are finishing a basement and want to make it cozier.  Wood flooring is a great way to give an organic […]

If your basement floor is just a blank concrete slab, you might want to spruce it up a bit.  Installing tile is a great way to give your cement basement floor a new look. It is attractive and durable and it will be moisture-resistant just like the concrete is by itself.  Tiling a Basement Floor: […]

Bamboo is an incredibly unique and charming flooring material that has a one-of-a-kind look.  Its deep grain and natural patina makes it a great choice if you want something different. Your home can benefit greatly from its richness and durability.  Because of its thin makeup and grain structure, bamboo can usually only be refinished once.  […]

Pine is a unique and relatively inexpensive material to use for flooring. Despite being a soft wood, it is dense enough to be virtually indestructible with a lot of use.  The amount of mass that pine has makes it resistant to dents and gouges. It can also have a beautiful sheen that looks at home […]

Cutting carpet is one of those jobs that looks easy at first glance. All you really have to do is cut it with a knife and move on, right? In actuality, the process of cutting carpet accurately and in a straight line is fairly complex.  The technique requires some practice and proper preparation before you […]

Laminate flooring is a durable and stylish option for all kinds of interior decor. However, one of its biggest issues is that it is not as waterproof as other flooring types.  If water gets into the cracks between laminate planks, it can cause the flooring to warp. It can also create dangerous black mold if […]

Finishing hardwood floors is a great way to customize your home and make it your own.  Even though it’s not as common as it once was, whitewashing is still a good finish option. It gives a rustic, country look to your hardwood flooring that can be incredibly appealing.  Whitewashing Hardwood Floors: Basic Idea Whitewashing your […]

Tiling a shower floor is a relatively easy job for most people. However, one of the challenges is tiling the shower curb and threshold.  A shower curb has curves and is slightly angled, making it difficult to tile correctly if you’re not careful. With planning and patience, though, you can tile your shower curb and […]

If you have a concrete slab that you want to spiff up, there are some good options available to you.  There are all kinds of inexpensive flooring choices that can be put over concrete. However, laminate is one of the best ones.  Laminate is relatively inexpensive and can be installed on almost any kind of […]

Your shower floor may not seem like it’s that important, but it’s a key element of bathroom design.  A nicely laid out and designed shower floor can be a wonderful accent piece. By retiling your own shower floor, you can create something unique and beautiful that will tie the bathroom together.  Retiling a Shower Floor: […]

Peel and stick tile is an inexpensive and easy-to-use flooring that works in many applications.  If you have a room that you would like to spruce up, it is a great way to add some life. It can be installed by almost anyone and can really transform a space without the commitment.  Installing Peel and […]

Laminate flooring is an attractive, relatively inexpensive alternative to hardwood. However, it is not quite as durable or resistant to damage.  Because of this, laminate is sometimes subject to swelling and moving around as it ages.  This has many different causes, but the important thing is to not panic if it happens. Since it is […]

Living in an old house can be an exciting adventure. However, with old houses come new problems and some are easier to fix than others.  A common issue with old homes, and even new homes, is a large gap between the flooring and the baseboard on the walls.  This gap can be a source of […]

Laminate is a great option for people who want durable, modern-looking flooring in their home. However, just like any high-touch surface in a home, it is susceptible to damage.  While it takes quite a bit to scratch up the laminate, when it happens, it can be very obvious. Homes with kids and pets are probably […]

Laminate is an affordable and functional flooring material that works well in all types of homes. Its particle board construction makes it a good choice for those who want a hardwood look without the high cost.  After a few years of use, though, you may want to revamp your laminate flooring. A new paint job […]

Hardwood floors are a beautiful and desirable feature for any home. However, they can be noisy, so fixing a squeaky hardwood floor might be a number one priority.  That’s why we have put together a guide to fixing squeaky hardwood floors.  Fixing Squeaky Hardwood Floors: Basic Idea While there is a lot to know about […]

Sanding hardwood floors can be a big job no matter what the circumstances. However, trying to do it by hand with standard sand paper is even tougher.  In this article, we will show you how to sand hardwood floors using an orbital sander.  Sanding Hardwood Floors Using an Orbital Sander: Basic Idea In order to […]