Flooring Frequently Asked Questions

At Atmosphere Flooring in Chilliwack, we are proud to call ourselves flooring nerds. From hardwood and carpet to vinyl and tile, we are obsessed with all types of flooring. At our Chilliwack flooring store, we often get asked questions about floor installations, subfloors and other related topics. To that end, we thought we would share a list of some frequently asked flooring questions that we receive. If you have a question about home or commercial flooring that we’ve missed, please feel free to give us a call or visit us in store on Ware Street in Chilliwack.

1. When hardwood, vinyl plank or laminate flooring are installed, why is it best to remove and reset any baseboards?

By removing and resetting baseboards, you will have a professional, clean finished edge. The baseboards are re-installed to cover any cut edges and in some cases allow for expansion and contraction. It is important to note that, if the new flooring has a lower profile than your previous flooring, the baseboards may sit lower, revealing a paint line.  If you’re planning to re-paint, now would be a great time!

2. Under what conditions would you use quarter-round or shoe-mould in front of baseboards?

As stated above, if your new hard-surface floor has a lower profile than the flooring it is replacing, you will be left with a paint line. If repainting is not a possibility, then leaving the baseboards on and using quarter-round or shoe mould to cover the edges of the new flooring would be an option.

3. Why do I need a subfloor if I’m putting in tile or glue-down vinyl?

A subfloor is required under tile to ensure the stability of the installation.  If there is any flex in your subfloor, your grout and possibly your tile will either crack, or the adhesive will fail. When installing glue-down vinyl, it is necessary to have a smooth finish so that any imperfections or texture don’t telegraph up and show in the finished side of the vinyl. Structural plywood is not “good one side” and any knots, etc., will eventually show up on the surface.

4. Why can’t I re-use existing carpet or laminate underlay if it’s still relatively new and in good shape?

Manufacturers require a new underlay at the time of installation, in order to keep your warranty valid.

5. What kinds of transitions do you use when changing the type of flooring between spaces?

It depends on the type of flooring. When transitioning hardwood or laminate to carpet, end caps make a nice clean edge. If you are changing the height of your flooring, a reducer or an offset-t mould is likely needed.  If you have two hard-surface floors of the same height, you can use a t-mould. There are lots of possibilities for a nice professional edge. Your flooring nerds at Atmosphere Flooring can advise you when you have made your flooring selection.

Check back with us for more questions and answers, and please feel free to call your flooring nerds at Atmosphere Flooring in Chilliwack with any questions you have about flooring options and installation.