subfloor prep Archives

Blog

Laminate Floorboards: Reading the Spec Sheet Before You Buy

August 18, 2026 starhouse

Two laminate boards can look identical in the store and differ by a factor of four in abrasion resistance. The AC rating on the carton tells you which is which.

Blog

Press and Stick Floor Tiles: What Actually Holds Up

August 2, 2026 starhouse

Almost every failed peel-and-stick floor failed at the subfloor, not at the tile. Here is the prep, the layout math and the rooms where this product has no business going.

Blog

Peel and Stick Flooring Tile: What Actually Works and What Fails

August 2, 2026 starhouse

Most peel and stick floors fail at the subfloor, not the tile. Here is the flatness spec, the wear layer that matches your traffic, and the layout that avoids a sliver at the door.

Blog

Luxury Vinyl Plank: The Specs That Decide Whether It Lasts

August 2, 2026 starhouse

Two planks that look identical on the sample board can differ by a factor of three in wear layer. The spec sheet, not the showroom photo, tells you which one survives a hallway.