Articles @ The Floor Pro

When dealing with an unhappy consumer, it is not wise to become defensive or take the discussion personally. Remember they are not angry with you, but at the situation. The types of personalities you will encounter will run from meek and mild to aggressive. The most important thing is to listen.

Too many flooring companies allow the "prevailing wage" to set their labor rates. This is, in effect, allowing the low-bidder to set a revenue cap that, for those who seek to provide true quality workmanship, may very well fall below our costs. This, in my view, is a recipe for failure.

When installing electric radiant heated flooring, you will find that every manufacturer has slightly differing recommendations in their installation guidelines. Following the manufacturer's recommendations for installing the wires or mats is important. Following their guidelines for installing tile directly over these mats generally leads to frustration and in many cases an installation that has an inferior finish due to trying to set over a surface that is not flat, and sometimes one that has sensors that are thicker than the thinset bed you are trying to set tile into.

If someone tells you that a tile installation is only as good as its foundation and its preparation, you better believe it. In the case of tile floors the structure must be a suitable one. Not all structures are suitable for a tile installation.

Back in the early days of the first home improvement Advice Forums for Do-It-Yourselfers on the Internet less than a decade ago it didn't take long to find out that if you were to choose a subject such as this (ceramic over vinyl) and rub two tile installers together you could in no-time create fire.

...this is one explosive tool. It blasts through tile and shreds its way through glue-down carpet at an alarming rate. It will even demolish hardwood flooring and ceramic tile. It's powered by human tenacity and a little bit of sweat. The effort needed though is buffered by the heft of this battering ram. The Ultimate Scraper Blade Spud Bar weighs in at an impressive 25 pounds. It's pure American Steel with a deep black crinkle finish powder coating.

The patch fits snug, matches its surroundings and is sealed to prevent shrinking and curling. It's practically invisible. A small patch like this takes a pro less than an hour to do. Even the accomplished DIYer can do this in nearly the same amount of time.

When installing electric radiant heated flooring, you will find that every manufacturer has slightly differing recommendations in their installation guidelines. Following the manufacturer's recommendations for installing the wires or mats is important. Following their guidelines for installing tile directly over these mats generally leads to frustration and in many cases an installation that has an inferior finish due to trying to set over a surface that is not flat, and sometimes one that has sensors that are thicker than the thinset bed you are trying to set tile into.

Every one of you reading this obviously has a computer and odds are 99% of you use it for work: invoicing and bookkeeping, compiling price lists, writing business correspondence and research on the Internet. Some of you feel you are adequately protected from the dangers of hackers and viruses. A few of you do not concern yourselves with such matters. Only when there's trouble do you wonder what happened.