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Carpet is most often affixed to the floor by tacks in tack strips rather than nailed or glued directly to the subfloor. The tack strips are nailed to wood subfloors. Even if you want to install carpet over concrete, you’ll adhere the tack strips to the concrete with masonry nails or a liquid adhesive.

Now that you know the true pleasure of a squeaky-clean floor, you’re probably wondering how to keep floors clean between mop days. Here are the best tips to keep your floor looking spotless:

• Give floors a quick daily swipe with a microfiber mop.

• Keep a spray bottle of your cleaning solution on hand to use as needed.

• Sweep daily and vacuum once or twice a week.

• Clean up spills and messes as soon as they happen.

• Place a doormat at each entrance to your home to reduce mud tracking.

• Consider enforcing a “no shoes inside” policy.

• Wash your pet’s paws before letting them back inside.

It depends on the kind you choose, but some types of carpet padding can last for decades. For instance, flat rubber—which is dense, durable, and higher-priced than other padding materials—has a life span of up to 20 years. On the other hand, prime foam—a lower-priced material that often comes free with a carpet installation—lasts less than five years on average.

Whether you install flooring before or after kitchen cabinets depends primarily on the type of flooring you are using. For materials like hardwood, tile, and sheet flooring, the best practice is to install the flooring first. This ensures the cabinets are installed at the correct height and on a stable surface. However, you should not install cabinets on top of floating floors, such as laminate or luxury vinyl plank (LVP). These types of flooring need room to expand and contract with temperature and humidity changes. Placing heavy cabinets on top can restrict this movement, potentially causing the floor to buckle and making the cabinets unstable. For floating floors, install the cabinets first and then lay the flooring up to them. Other reasons to consider installing cabinets before the flooring include saving money on materials (since you won't need flooring under the cabinets) and avoiding potential damage to your new floor during cabinet installation. Additionally, installing cabinets directly on the subfloor might prevent voiding your flooring's warranty.