MHWF - Hard Wood Floors

[maverick73]

I'm thinking of replacing the carpet downstairs with hardwood floors since the carpet the previous owners chose looks like sh$t and it's now 14 years old. A lady friend and myself plan to get a puppy this year and the rep we spoke to at Home Depot said that hardwood is easily scratched by pets and recommended we go with laminate. There was a really nice looking laminate called "honey oak" that is only $1.99/sqft. It pretty much looks like hardwood at 1/3 the cost. Furthermore, installation is apparently a lot easier as well... he said about 1/3 the time... and he even said we could watch a video and do it ourselves. I figure this will be good practice for when we build our mansion with heated granite floors . haha

Anyways, just wondering if anybody on here has experience with flooring and whether they can recommend a good installer/contractor and source of the materials at wholesale instead of retail at Home Depot. Of course, any recommendation would have to be done discretely since I don't want him knowing I'm "maverick from perb."... basically just a name and number and I will give him a call and say "you came highly recommended."

 

[Randy Whorewald]

I was told by an installer to keep laminate away from areas of potential moisture, eg. pet pee. The moisture can destroy it as it only really is compressed fibreboard.

 

[maverick73]

I was told by an installer to keep laminate away from areas of potential moisture, eg. pet pee. The moisture can destroy it as it only really is compressed fibreboard.

In that case I'll have to make sure my pet is well trained .

I was looking at granite tiles and they aren't that expensive... I've always loved the "permanentness" and elegance of black granite.

http://www.builddirect.com/Granite-...te-Black/ProductDisplay_6946_c2_10001497.aspx

Hmmm... another thing to consider... I'll be installing a pole in the center of the "family" room ... what kind of flooring do the strip clubs use?

 

[Randy Whorewald]

Most of the strip clubs I've seen use plain old lino tiles.

 

[WABASH]

I'm thinking of replacing the carpet downstairs

If by downstairs you mean basement make sure the laminate is compatible, there could be moisture considerations. Myself, if I was planning to live in the house for any lenght of time I would go for the real thing . I do not like the feel of laminate underfoot.

 

[Gentleman First]

I personally hate laminate

my house has lots of it, and i keep slowly taking up another section, and replacing it with an alternative.
To each their own I guess.
but its not my flooring of choice for sure.

 

[WABASH]

I love fir, floors, doors and trim in my house are all warm glowing fir.

 

[LonelyGhost]

In that case I'll have to make sure my pet is well trained .

I was looking at granite tiles and they aren't that expensive... I've always loved the "permanentness" and elegance of black granite.

http://www.builddirect.com/Granite-...te-Black/ProductDisplay_6946_c2_10001497.aspx

Hmmm... another thing to consider... I'll be installing a pole in the center of the "family" room ... what kind of flooring do the strip clubs use?

do a simple water test; tape a piece of plastic onto a patch of bare concrete and leave it overnight ... if there is lots of moisture, then no matter what you put down will have water problems!

if its barely damp, then you can buy a plastic vapour barrier that has little raised parts (looks a bit like egg crates) and this allows the moisture to come up but not touch the floor ... it also comes pre-glued to squares of plywood so you do the vapour barrier and subfloor in one.

you can then put down laminate or carpet (you can use carpet squares ... peel and stick!) ... if you go with real hardwood or tile you may need to lay down tongue and groove plywood to have a really good surface upon which to put down either.

if you are worried about puppy pee, i would consider either carpet tiles or laminate -- if you glue it (use plain wood glue) then its waterproof and just wipe up puppy spills.

or leave the shit on the floor that's there now until the puppy is fully housebroken.

most flooring, except hardwood, you can do yourself. lots on the web and lots of advice at HD on how to do this stuff.

 

[metoo113]

they have some real durable laminate at IKEA for either $1.49 or $1.99 per square.

 

[American Male]

Actually, Mav, if you are facing the possibility of pet urine on your new flooring, I would recommed ceramic tile. Yes, more expensive but it absolutely will not absorb the urine and become smelly, which is always possible with either laminates or hardwoods.

I have not been hear long enough to make any contacts with any contractors, so I can't help you there. I'll just let you know that in a previous life (from 1979 unitl 1995) I worked as an architectural draftsman for a fabrication company. Go with ceramic tile. It might cost more, but it will last longer. Hardwoods need maintenance, and I don't think most of the laminate look as good. But, then again, I have strange tastes and an unusual aesthetic sense.

 

[sexinthecity]

I have a contracting business in Calgary...from experience and potential for moisture in below grade development, stay away from carpet...usually ends up smelling musty. Laminate, fairly simple to install but not really nice looking, IMO, and have seen it lift in spots with moisture. The best thing you could do for warmth, under floor ventilation and a really nice surface to apply anything carpet, hardwood, laminate etc... is to put in a good sub-floor. We have recently been using a system called "Delta" for upscale developments as it is not that cheap. I think it is well worth the money. It is $0.71/sq.ft. supply or $3.75 sq/ft supply-insatall (up to the OSB tongue and groove). If you want to research www.cosella-dorken.com
The other sub-floor system the gentleman mentioned, that stuff is very finicky and then you still can't put regular hardwood flooring down. You have to go with the engineered hardwood. That product is DriCore. research @ www.dricore.com.
Great place for tips http://www.nofma.org/
PHEW...nuff said
Good Luck

 

[maverick73]

The right place at the right time!

I went to a pole dance studio to see what they were using for flooring... and it was AC3 laminate! It was PERFECT even after years of use! It looked damn good too! It was supposedly on clearance for 97 cents a square foot.

So I headed to the HUGE Home Depot on Terminal and they had the same stuff for 85 cents a square foot! "SQUASHBOARD!!!!" as Slider would say.

I bought enough to do my pole dancing room and a guest room ... looks fairly easy to go... will hire a contractor to do all the corners and "hard parts" and I'll take care of the rest!

For 85 cents, one really can't go wrong! With the money saved, I'll invest in some good flooring for the rest of the house.

I can't wait to turn my family room into a "create a family room" if you catch my drift In that room, 1 more than 1 pole will be polished so to speak... you know what they say "practice makes perfect." The goal is to make it a "create a baby"-friendly environment. hahaha