Flooring Q & A
Flooring can get complicated quickly. Epoxy, polished concrete, tile, wood, coatings, moisture, preparation, repairs—there's a lot to consider. The Brothers Shine is a Texas flooring contractor serving the Houston area and surrounding communities. Here we answer real flooring questions using what we've learned from working with concrete coatings, polished concrete, tile, wood, and other flooring systems in the field
Straight Answers to Real Flooring Questions
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Questions & Answers
Explore answers to real questions about epoxy, polished concrete, tile, wood, concrete preparation, repairs, and more.
Solid and engineered hardwood can both be real wood floors, but they're built differently. Learn how their construction affects installation, stability, refinishing, and where each type works best.
Wood flooring can be installed over concrete, but moisture, slab condition, flooring type, and installation method all matter. Learn what should be checked before putting wood over a concrete slab.
Worn or scratched hardwood doesn't always need to be torn out. Learn when a wood floor can be sanded and refinished and when damage or construction may make replacement the better option.
An uncoupling membrane can help protect tile from movement underneath the floor, but not every installation needs one. Learn what these membranes do and when they may be worth using.
A hollow-sounding tile doesn't automatically mean your floor is failing. Learn what can cause hollow or loose tiles and when that sound may indicate a problem underneath the floor.
A cracked tile isn't always just a damaged tile. Learn how movement, substrate problems, poor mortar coverage, installation issues, and impacts can cause floor tile to crack.
A properly installed tile floor can last for decades. Learn how the tile, substrate, installation quality, maintenance, and conditions underneath the floor affect its lifespan.
Ceramic and porcelain can look very similar, but there are important differences in density, water absorption, durability, and installation. Learn which one may make more sense for your project
Installing new tile over existing tile is possible, but that doesn't always mean it's the right choice. Learn what needs to be checked before deciding whether to cover the old floor or remove it.
Epoxy flooring isn't the cheapest flooring option, so is it actually worth paying for? Learn what goes into the cost and when epoxy makes sense as a long-term flooring investment.
Polished concrete doesn't have to stay gray. Learn how stains and dyes can add anything from subtle color to decorative multi-color designs while keeping the character of the concrete.
Proper surface preparation is one of the most important parts of a successful epoxy floor. Learn why concrete is typically ground before epoxy and what can happen when preparation is skipped.
Epoxy can peel for several reasons, including poor surface preparation, moisture, contamination, application problems, and product selection. Learn what causes delamination and how proper installation helps prevent it
A properly installed and maintained epoxy floor can provide years of service, but its lifespan depends on where it's installed and how it's used. Learn what affects the life of an epoxy flooring system.
Polished concrete may look slippery because of its shine, but appearance and traction aren't the same thing. Learn how polished concrete performs under normal conditions and what can make any hard floor slippery.
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