Agent, East Northport, NY , Los Angeles, CA I would probably keep the carpet if I had the choice. However, laminate flooring would be a nice addition in some areas of your home. Laminate can be a good choice for bathrooms or laundry rooms. Home Buyer, Pine Bluff, AR It might make sense. Laminate is easier to maintain and doesn't get dirty as quickly as carpeting. Also, laminate looks really good. Home Buyer, Provo, UT I think that you should only replace the carpet with laminate in certain parts of the house. Pick some places that see a lot of traffic or an area that has the potential to get stained. I actually did the opposite in my house. I used to have laminate in many of the rooms of my house and I decided that it was time for us to get new carpet. We tore up the old carpet and laminate floors and added new carpet that makes the house look much better. I need to have my house recarpeted. I just bought the house, and the carpets are destroyed. I am wondering if the sellers should be liable or if I am liable as the buyer.

Home Buyer, Orem, UTLaminate flooring is the way to go. There additional advantages of it from the view of a land lord as well. How Fast Do You Lose Weight With HghLaminate requires less maintenance then hardwood or carpet so it looks good longer. Moving Head Light 3d Model FreeI think laminate would at lots of long term value to your rental property. Running Shoes To Prevent Ankle Sprain , Brookhaven, Raleigh, NC I think it just depends on your preference and what room it is in. I think that for bedrooms and family rooms it is great to have carpet. I think that carpeting is more comfortable and welcoming. There are so many different styles and colors so it is easy to find the perfect kind for your home!

Some people prefer carpeting way over laminate, but some people love that laminate is so easy to clean. If you do switch to laminate, make sure that your model apartment has rugs. If I were you, I would start with just the living areas. I think it just depends on preference. It might increase the value in the eyes of someone who likes laminate. Someone who likes carpet would probably have less interest though. I would suggest going with whatever you want if you are going to be living there for a while before selling. If you are selling soon you should ask around and see what is more popular in your area. Then you can go with whatever will sell better. It just depends on the buyer/renter. Some renters love carpet and it makes them feel at home. There are other renters that couldn't care less what's on the floor because they only sleep there at night. Do your past tenants spend a lot of time at the apartment? Home Buyer, Blakeslee, PA If you want to get laminate flooring, I think it would probably be a great addition to your home.

It can be really great because it is so easy to clean and it looks very nice. And I would suggest to probably just put the laminate flooring in the living areas, because carpet is nice in the bedrooms. However, it might be nice everywhere, because then decorative rugs can be bought instead of carpet! Agent, Long Beach, CA It depends on how much you want to spend and what benefits you see to replacing the carpets. You might have to spend less on cleaning in between renters. There are benefits to having laminate floors, but I would keep some carpet and upgrade it. There is a homey feel to carpet. Agent, Forest Grove, ORAsbestos vinyl flooring was widely used until 1972. Vinyl is made from a combination of ethylene and chlorine that result into a plastic resin. Back then, asbestos was the additional component that improves its strength and insulating properties. Apart from vinyl flooring, asbestos was also used in wallpapers and ceiling tiles.If the vinyl is intact, it doesn’t pose any threat.

However, problems started to arise when floorings are cut, damaged, or get worn out through time. Back then, those most susceptible to having asbestos related diseases were vinyl factory workers, floor installers and construction workers. When the dangers of asbestos became an issue, then careful vinyl flooring asbestos removal became an issue. One option is just covering asbestos flooring with the new flooring material like carpet, vinyl tiles or sheet vinyl, laminate or hardwood flooring, or even ceramic tiles and stone.Testing for asbestos in vinyl flooring can be done by professionals or by yourself to determine “is there asbestos in my vinyl flooring” or not. Asbestos in vinyl flooring isn’t the end of the world, but asbestos and vinyl flooring do cause concern for your health. Use precaution if you elect to remove asbestos vinyl flooring so that its potential doesn’t become your reality.Until 1972, asbestos was used in a variety of building material such as roofing, exterior siding, window sills and linings, and vinyl flooring.

Asbestos is a group of minerals known for their strength, flame/heat resistance, and indestructibility, and was considered ideal for insulation and fireproofing. However, once it was discovered that asbestos fibers can result in severe illness and disease when inhaled, the use of asbestos was banned by the EPA.Unless clearly marked on the product’s label, asbestos is impossible to identify without examining a sample under a microscope.One easy way for you to know if it is an asbestos vinyl is through the size of the tile. Before the 1990s, these tiles were manufactured in 3 sizes: 9 x 9 inches, 12 x 12 inches, and 18 x 18 inches. At present, standard square vinyl tiles are only 12 x 12 inches.If you can still find out which brand of tiles was installed, here are some brands that manufactured asbestos flooring: Excelon, Fashionflor, Flor-Ever, Gold Seal, KenFlex, KenTile, Sears and Solarian.Testing for asbestos vinyl flooring can be done by a professional asbestos contractor or by using a do-it-yourself sampling kit.

First, you would need to cut off a portion of your vinyl flooring as a sample. Spray water mixed with liquid detergent on the area where you're going to cut the sample from. The mist will ensure that asbestos fibers will not dissipate into the air. Using a utility knife, cut a small strip of the tile, around 1/8 x 1 inch in size. Cut all the way to the bottom so you can include the backing and the adhesive in the sample.Place the sample into the bag and ship it back to the testing laboratory.Wait for the result and if the sample consists of more than 1% asbestos, then it means your floor does contain asbestos. If your asbestos vinyl flooring is chipped, crumbling, or frayed, it must be removed before laying a new floor. The asbestos fibers from the damaged floor can cause health concerns when the fibers are released into the air. However, intact asbestos vinyl flooring should not be removed because the removal of an intact floor poses a greater risk than simply covering over the old flooring.

Leaving the old floor as is will be the most safe action you could take because you’re not disturbing the asbestos in the material.If you determine that the asbestos vinyl flooring must be removed, asbestos abatement contractors are highly recommended. Homeowners living in a single family home may also remove the asbestos but legally, family members and friends who help must do so voluntarily and without pay. Moreover, if you as a homeowner are not confident in your ability to safely remove the asbestos vinyl flooring, hire a certified asbestos abatement contractor. Asbestos removal is difficult work, and can be physically demanding and potentially dangerous to your health.Asbestos fibers are up to 1,200 times finer than human hair and when inhaled, they can directly penetrate your lungs. Even after 3 decades of inhalation, asbestos can lead to lung cancer, mesothelioma, breathing problems and heart failure. Even the slightest exposure to asbestos can be risky, that is why medical experts emphasize taking precautionary measures when dealing with asbestos in home improvement projects.

If you’ve accepted the health dangers involved, you can minimize the risk of exposure to asbestos fibers for do-it-yourself removal by wearing safety equipment such as a respirator, coveralls, gloves, rubber boots and safety goggles. You need to fasten your gloves to the coveralls with tape, to make sure that they won't come off. Plus, tools such as spray bottles, liquid detergent, putty knifes, a utility knife, a still floor scraper, plastic sheeting, duct tape, plastic garbage bags, a mop, and disposable towels will be needed. Check out this video on how a woman removed asbestos vinyl floor tiles DIY: You can do better than the woman in the video by wearing the other required protective equipment. Note that breathing through a respirator can be challenging and the coveralls can be uncomfortable. Removing the tiles on your own will be time consuming. On average, a 2 square-meter area can take around 1 to 2 days. Do take careful consideration before embarking on a DIY floor removal project.

Steps in Removing Asbestos FlooringStep 1: Protect The AreaThe goal in removing the asbestos vinyl flooring is to remove it in whole pieces without causing any dust. Before beginning, the work area must be isolated using the plastic sheet over heat registers, doorways, cupboards, ect. and the heating and air conditions system must be turned off. All furniture and other moveable objects should be removed from the room to prevent contamination and to simplify clean-up.Access to the work area should be limited to one doorway, with a slit in the plastic door covering to make the entrance as small as possible.Post a sign outside the house or inform your friends and relatives that they cannot visit the house at this time.Keep the pets away from the work area as well.To further prevent asbestos fibers from spreading, the floor must be kept wet using a water bottle. The water will also help loosen the tiles and make removal mush easier.Keep your supplies ready near the doorway, which includes water bottles, rags, buckets and trash bags.

Once prepped and your safety gear on, cut the vinyl flooring into the manageable sections with a utility knife, and remove the pieces by pealing from the edges and using a flat scraper to lift the vinyl. Continue to wet the flooring as you scrape and pull to minimize dust. Any vinyl backing that separates from the vinyl flooring can be removed by thoroughly wetting and scrubbing the floor with a pad. Step 3: Clean Up and Disposal As you remove the vinyl, place the pieces in sturdy plastic trash bags to avoid leakage and mark the bags "Danger! Regulation also states that you should write your last name, address and removal date on the trash bag. The trash bags should be 33 x 50 inches in size and should be 6-mil thick polyethylene.The asbestos debris can only be disposed of in a landfill that accepts asbestos-containing waste. Consider calling the land-fill before you go to ensure you understand all their requirements. Careful clean-up is important when dealing with asbestos, and all potential asbestos dust and particulate must be removed from the work area to avoid future asbestos contamination.

Wet and remove all debris left on the plastic sheet used to cover the counters, furniture, and equipment. Then roll them carefully and place them inside the trash bags.Twist the top of the bags and then seal them with duct tape.Wipe all surfaces and scraping tools with a damp cloth. Frequently rinse the cloth and change the water so that the surface in the work area can get truly clean. Once you're done with the rags, dispose them properly.Collect all your tools and put them in a bucket or plastic bag, so you can clean them later.Next, stand on a plastic sheet and spray yourself or your companion with water to wash down any remaining asbestos fibers. Only then will you be able to remove your respirator, gloves, boots, goggles and coveralls.Place your towels, mop heads, and coverall suit and gloves in the disposal bag. You can dispose of the boots or place in a plastic bag for cleaning later. Remove the filters in your respirator and dispose of themTo ensure that your skin and hair is free of asbestos, immediately take a complete shower and wash carefully.