Essex County Floors does not just install floor coverings to residential, commercial and industrial properties. We also provide other services such as existing floor demolition (rip-ups) using our state of the art terminator machines. If your sub floor is un-level, rotten or, damaged we have the expertise to remove your old subfloor and install a new one with ease. We also can install heated floors (radiant heated floors) in any area you would desire. We offer floor moisture mitigation to protect your property from mold and also protects your new floors. We also level floors out prior to installing new coverings using various self-leveling techniques. Give us a call at 973-296-2863 or email us at info@essexcountyfloors.com for a free in home estimate.

Essex County Floors offers a complete flooring removal service, from conception to clean-up. We can take it all away: Hardwood, Concrete, Ceramics, Stone, VCT, Carpet, Laminates, Sub-Floors, Underlayment’s and any combination in between. Our skilled and compassionate crew will be there for you every step of the way. We know that floor removal projects can not only be difficult, but time-consuming; and because we know how valuable your time and your money are, we utilize the very best equipment to make each and every project more time/cost-effective, including THE TERMINATOR, the biggest, baddest flooring removal equipment in the business. No matter what your old floor is made out of, this machine will chew through it like a hot knife through butter. This beast is indeed the Cadillac of demo work!

We have the best quality, commercial, industrial, and institutional flooring systems available in the world. Our highly trained professional employees are ready to assist you in identifying and supplying the type of flooring system that your facility requires. Our standard of excellence and devotion to customer satisfaction is apparent in our extensive client list. Our pricing is highly competitive as well. With our experienced crew and state of the art machinery we can finish each and every job with limited dust and noise by getting the job done quickly ahead of schedule.

Nearly all floor covering failures are caused by improper subfloor preparation. When you are faced with a difficult subfloor repair or replacement, trust Essex County Floors team to provide advice, corrective expertise, and installation expertise that will provide permanent sub floor solutions and long lasting finished floor coverings. We are subfloor replacement & repair professionals, experienced in substrate repair and reinforcement over all types of framing. The most common area to have subfloor and/or substrate issues is with elevated floors. Plywood was often used to create the subfloor in older buildings, and even the lightweight concrete used today presents its own unique characteristics. Plywood will rot due to moisture, warp in excessive moisture or heat, and wear down over time. Rest assured that with Essex County Floors we can remedy these issues for you. Essex County Floors can help you with any subfloor or substrate related problem. We believe that a job should be done right the first time. Please call us at (973) 296-2863 or email us at info@essexcountyfloors.com

Floor leveling from Essex County Floors is an excellent way to ensure that the subfloor of your home or business is perfectly level. This service is particularly important if you are in the market to install new hardwood floors or appliances, as an uneven surface can have a significant effect on the of your home and lead to damage in the long-run. Whether your floor has become uneven as a result of damage to the home’s foundation or simply years of wear and tear, we have the experience, expertise, and proven ability to restore your floor to better than ever before. We have various techniques to level existing floors such as repairing the subfloor or by using self-leveling solutions.

Believe it or not, radiant floors are one of the oldest forms of heating a structure dating all the way back to Roman times. Radiant floor heat provides numerous benefits, including increased comfort, perfectly balanced temperatures, cleaner air, no cold drafts, no unsightly ductwork and no floor vents, all while being quieter and more energy-efficient compared to forced-air heat.

In a radiant floor heating system, warm water flows through tubes located underneath the floors. That warmth radiates up from the floors and warms everything it comes in contact with including people.

And radiant is compatible under any type of floor covering carpet, wood, slate, tile, linoleum, and even concrete making design possibilities endless.

Key Benefits of Radiant Floor Heating

• Concentrates heat evenly near the floor where people are located
• Eliminates cold drafts as well as noisy fans, furnaces and ductwork
• Ideal for allergy sufferers because it doesn’t circulate dirt, dust or other airborne pollutants throughout a home
• Concealed under the floor for a more aesthetically pleaing environment — eliminating the concern of blocking vents with furniture
• Easily integrates with alternative energy sources, including geothermal, solar, waste and biomass
• Can help a home earn LEED points for reduced energy consumption
• Potentially saves up to 40% in energy costs

Most people think about the floor of a school when they hear rubber flooring. There are several other places that this type of flooring would be excellent, like recreation rooms, home exercise rooms, playrooms and children’s bedrooms. There is very little maintenance required, just a routine wash and occasional sweeping is all it takes. Rubber floors come in many colors as well as cut and inlaid designs, too. They retain their sheen and color for years. Essex County Floors has years of experience dealing with rubber floor installations so rest assured your project will be done flawlessly and ahead of schedule. We also have direct access to some of the top manufacturer's inventory so we can save you a bundle with the materials as well.

Cork is most widely known as a product used to preserve the quality of wine in bottles. It can also be fashioned as a board to post notes or reminders in an office. Yet, one of cork's most unique applications may leave you feeling like you are walking on air: cork flooring. Cork flooring isn't a new concept. These floors have been used in the United States since around the turn of the century. It gives you sound control because it absorbs foot falls and noise. The comfort of cork flooring is one of the best features. Cork is a little bit springy so it will seem like you are walking on air. Traditionally, it's been used in libraries and churches, but now you see it everywhere. Cork Flooring can be very stylish if installed by professionals.

Within any facility there are multiple activities taking place, people are hard at work, and most of them are standing, sitting, walking, or working on a floor. While we may not always consider the importance of the floor, imagine trying to operate your business without one. Most flooring will be applied to a concrete slab, whether carpet, resilient, ceramic, wood, or a resinous system. Concrete must have moisture in order to develop and maintain its strength, but excess moisture can create a host of expensive problems in your building, not the least of which is floor covering bond failure. Floor covering bond failures due to slab moisture vapor emissions are estimated to cost over a billion dollars each year. Even if the floor doesn’t fail, there is still an increased risk of mold and mildew growth. So what can we do to avoid having to replace failed systems and shut down businesses in the process? We need to test for moisture and make a business decision.

Where does moisture come from?

Moisture comes from two principal sources; free water from the concrete mix (about a 25% ratio, by weight, of water to cement is required to hydrate the cement and cause the reaction that turns cement, aggregate and water into concrete) and from the earth beneath the slab.

Why does it come to the surface?

Before a covering is installed on the floor, the slab is trying to achieve equilibrium with the ambient air (if the ambient relative humidity is low then the slab will dry faster than if it is very humid.) After a low or impermeable flooring system is installed, the moisture in the slab will attempt to again achieve equilibrium within itself. Moisture that has settled lower in the slab will migrate towards the surface. As this moisture migrates to the surface of the slab it brings salts from the slab and creates a moist, highly alkaline environment at the interface of the flooring and the slab. This alkaline environment creates a new imbalance with the moisture in the slab and increases the level of migration in order to bring more neutral water from the slab to the area of higher alkalinity causing bond failures.

Vapor Retarder, Critical Design Element?

According to the American Concrete Institute interior slabs that will have floorcoverings installed should receive a vapor retarder meeting maximum 0.1 perms (ASTM E1745) directly beneath the slab. A blotter or cushion layer of aggregate over the retarder should not be used as this creates a reservoir between the slab and vapor retarder for moisture, which can later migrate through the slab. All seams of the vapor retarder should be overlapped 6″ and taped. All penetrations should be sealed watertight according to manufacturer’s recommendations. Particular care should be exercised so that the membrane is not punctured during placement accidentally or intentionally (people have been known to cut holes in the membrane to accelerate the removal of bleed water and allow for faster finishing.)

What can be done to minimize the problem?

• Proper water/cement ratios should be a maximum of 0.42-0.5 w/c (water in excess of 0.25-0.28 is considered “water of convenience” and only assists in placement.)
• The pour should be monitored to prevent additional water from being added during placement.
• Porous aggregates should be avoided (if lightweight aggregates are needed above grade they should have a low porosity.)
• Hard trowelling should be avoided (this can create a thin densified layer on the surface that inhibits adequate drying.)
• Curing should be performed using blankets or sheeting for a minimum of 7 days (curing compounds can inhibit adhesive bond to concrete, slow drying, and may need to be mechanically removed prior to installing floorcoverings or resinous systems adding cost.)
• Curing compounds do not “wear off” as the concrete cures despite claims of some manufacturers.
• The slab should be under roof and conditioned as soon as possible

If it is determined that you have too much moisture, what are your options?