Why floor prep matters

By Ken McEntee

A quote commonly attributed to Benjamin Franklin says, “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” In the flooring world, that means failure to properly prepare a surface for new tile can cause expensive problems down the road. Scott Powers, sales manager of MDG Flooring America, explains more below.

Q: Why does floor preparation matter?
A: When you’re walking on the floor, you don’t want it to flex. First, it doesn’t feel good on your feet. Second, it will bend or put uneven pressure on the tile or luxury vinyl, causing it to weaken or eventually break.

Q: What should floor preparation entail?
A: You want to make the floor as flat as possible to support the product you’re installing. With carpet, you might get away with some very minor uneven spots because the pad underneath will help balance it out. For tile and other hard surfaces, you may need to grind down high spots or use leveling products to reduce low spots.

Q: Why are floors uneven?
A: Houses settle over time. Wooden floors and concrete pads are subject to movement.

Q: Is floor prep included in professional installation?
A: Not necessarily. You should always ask your installer up front about what they plan to do to prep the floor and how much it will cost. Knowing the potential costs up front will save you any surprises down the road.

MDG Flooring America, located at 3812 Pearl Road, Suite C, in Medina, uses trained and highly skilled installers to be sure your floor is done correctly for long-lasting quality. You can learn more by visiting MDGFlooringAmerica.com, or by calling 330-725-5252.