FloorTalk – for all the latest flooring fashions

Karina Neel talks about her family’s remodeling project. Karina and her husband Ryan own Nor Cal Legacy Builders in California. It is interesting to hear what a builder has to say when talking about their own remodeling project!

1. What was the most enjoyable part of the process?

The final product. It’s so fun to see every thing come together.  I also enjoy picking everything out, because I love shopping.

2. What was the most difficult/challenging part of the process?

Picking the “look”. There are so many directions to go. This time we went with what I call “country meets modern”. We picked some finishes that aren’t “popular” and so that was bold for me. But I knew it would all work out in the end.

3. After the project was over, what advice would you give a fellow remodeler?

Don’t skimp where it matters. If you really want a certain sink or countertop, go for it. It will pay off in the end result.

4. Did you set a budget? If so, did you keep within your original budget?

Yes and yes. We did all IKEA which allowed us not only to say with in the kitchen budget, but also get some extras.

5. Is there any decision you would change?

Not on this project. But I have in the past.

6. What was the most difficult decision to make?

Again, the “look”. I was scared to go with the white cabinets and the butcher block counter tops. It’s so not what people are doing, but I just liked the look.

7. Would you consider another remodel based on this experience?

Of course.

8. Was the timeline of the project the same as you expected?

Yes! We were redoing our entire house, so once we got to this part, it seemed like it went by quickly. That also had to do with some of the finishes we choose.

9. What obstacles came up, if any?

Well, since we went with IKEA I had to design the entire kitchen and order everything myself. I had a few miscalculations. But I was able to return the items and reorder. We had also gone with the butcher block counter top and ordered them well before we were ready to install them. Though we stored them weighted on a flat surface, there was some bowing that occurred. But with my husband’s mastery of the saw, he made it work.

10. What is your favorite room and why?

My kitchen! It’s the highlight of the house. I think it’s because it’s where I allowed the most style to come out

11. What type of floors did you use?

We used laminate by Quick Step, Hickory color
12.  Did you hire a professional installer or install them yourselves?

My husband and I did it ourselves.
13.  If you installed the flooring yourselves, do you recommend this?

We have done this many times. But I have to say, we learn something new every time. A trick of trade. If you are somewhat of a DIYer and have a simple space to floor (ie-not a lot of edges/closets…) you should go for it! Save yourself some mula! It is very rewarding.

For those of you out there that don’t find floor covering fascinating and spend your weekends on Google to learn all you can about floors, here’s a run down of the basics. This information may help you understand about your options and what you need to know when you decide you want new floors.

1. The main categories of flooring are:

Carpet

Vinyl or Resilient Flooring

Hardwood

Laminate

Ceramic or Porcelain Tile

Natural Stone

To learn more about these categories and to see different styles see the information outlined on our parent site or just click on the link above.

2. Technology and design styles have had significant influence on flooring. Other than the basics flooring types listed above, there are also styles of cork flooring, bamboo flooring, glass tiles, stainless and other metal tiles, rubber tiles, natural fibers like seagrass and sisal and many others – even paper!

3. Not all floors are acceptable on all foundation types.  For example, most solid hardwood floors cannot be installed on concrete slabs. Be sure to know your foundation type before you start shopping.

4. Flooring is measured and sold either by the square foot or the square yard. Be careful when comparing prices that you are comparing apples to apples. If a hardwood tag says “$4 per SF” and a carpet tag says “$18 per SY” and you don’t see the one letter than distinguishes the two, you might think the hardwood is less expensive than the carpet.

5. Allow a retailer give you an estimate on your room size to determine how much flooring you will need rather than building your budget from your own measurements. For example, if you have a room that is 13′ x 13′ you will need different quantities for different flooring materials. Some items are sold by the box and carpet and vinyl are sold from a roll that could be 12′, 13′6″ or 15′ wide. Since you have to buy items that are sold by the box by the full box (and take the waste factor, pattern match and pattern repeat into consideration) and items sold on a roll by their given width you could need anywhere from 190 SF over 300 SF for a room that actually measures 169 SF.

6. Different floors are made for different lifestyles. For example: You may love hardwood, but if you have large dogs hardwood may not be the best choice for you. If you have dark hair, white bathroom floor tiles might not be the best choice for you.  If you have small children and pets, white carpet may not be the best choice for you.

7.  Keep transitions to other rooms in mind when choosing flooring. Floors have different finish heights and those heights can vary depending on your subfloor. Floors with different finish heights will need to be treated with a transition strip. Transitioning from a (low) vinyl/resilient floor to a 3/4″ solid hardwood floor can be significant. Transition strips are no big deal, if you know in advance to expect them.

8.  Keep resale in mind. Because floors like hardwood, ceramic tile and natural stone are costly and rarely need replacing due to wear, consider how long you are going to live in your home before choosing your floors.  Your favorite color may be blue, but a house full of blue floors may be a turn off to a potential buyer. If you do choose to express your style with a house full of blue floors, be sure that you won’t tire of looking at the same color after a while. However, I am definitely not suggesting choosing all beige floors for resale purposes!

9. It is important to consider maintenance. If you don’t like to clean, there are flooring options with very little maintenance that also stand up to heavy traffic and pets.

10. Floors come in a variety of different styles and that means that they also come with different budgets. Be careful when shopping that you don’t rule out a particular flooring type because of the first priced sample you see. There are some vinyl floors that are as expensive as a hardwood floor and there are prices ranges within each type of flooring that can be as much as $20 per square foot.

The floors in your home are a big decision. They take more wear and tear than most any other item in your home. Other than your walls, your floors consume the majority of the square footage in your home. Choose a floor type based on the fact that you will probably live with it for a very long time!

Shaw Intros New “Green” Hard Surfaces

Friday, August 15, 2008

Dalton, GA, August 15, 2008- Shaw’s commitment to design, innovation and fashion leadership in hard surface is evident in the company’s summer introductions including two expansions within the successful Epic hardwood collection, two highly-demanded exotic looks added to laminate and a beautiful new green tile—and, no, we’re not talking the color green. Shaw is dedicated to growth and excellence within the hard surface category, and the company is working full-steam ahead to fill key niches in the marketplace.

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 Question:

Can I Install New Laminate Floors Over Pre Installed Laminate Floors?

Answer:

Unfortunately, laminate flooring should not be installed over existing laminate flooring. The good news is, because of the installation method of laminate, the existing will be simple to remove.

You can, however install laminate over ceramic tile if the tile is smooth, sound and dry. Laminate can also be installed over vinyl or resilient flooring that is adhered well. This is particularly useful when going over older vinyl that may contain asbestos that would be costly and dangerous to remove.

Always use the proper underlayment when installing laminate flooring. Other helpful hints are to use a professional installer and always keep mats at every entrance to keep dirt and grit from scratching your laminate floors.

To locate a floor covering professional in your area, click here.

For other posts on laminate flooring, click here.

Question on laminate flooring:

#1 If you have boys that are kind of destructive and would roller skates on the floors, would that hurt the floors?

#2 If you have a dog; would their nails hurt the floor?

 #3 Is rubber underlayment the best for noise control and for lasting installation?

Answer:

Roller skates - I would check with the manufacturer of your floor to see if the roller skates will void your warranty if there is any damage as a result. Laminate floors are very durable, but the stopping and turning might cause excessive wear that is not covered by your warranty.

 Dog’s nails - Laminate floors are scratch resistant, but not scratch proof. Scratches show less over time, but cannot be repaired. Large dogs are riskier than small dogs, of course, but it sounds like laminate is your best solution for a home with kids and dogs. You certainly don’t want those boys falling down on a tile floor and the dog’s nails will definitely hurt hardwood floors more than laminate! We recommend keeping your pet’s nails trimmed. If a board gets severely damaged, it can always be replaced. Definitely, call a professional to replace any boards!

Underlayment - purchase the best underlayment that is offered with your floor for noise control, long lasting installation and comfort. This is the most important choice (other than the quality of the product) that you can purchase.

Also, remember to use walk off mats at every entrance to keep dirt and sand from scratching your floors and always use the proper cleaner.

For more information on laminate flooring maintenance, click here.

For more information on pets and laminate flooring, click here.

Getting new floor covering can be a major change in your home and installing new floor covering is no easy task. This should be left to a professional! Whether you are tackling the project yourself or hiring a professional, these are tips you will want to be aware of. Being aware of these misconceptions can help you have a smoother installation.

GENERAL INSTALLATION MISCONCEPTIONS

1. Once the installation is complete, there is no need to save leftover material. Leftover material is needed in case of repairs. Having the original material will ensure that your repair will be the same shade / dye lot as the original installation.
2. The installer will arrive on time and be completed as originally promised. Often, the installer will run into situations at another jobsite that require more time and attentio. Just remember that if it were your house, you would want the installer to take their time for a quality installation.
3. Floors can be installed in any weather. Some types of flooring cannot be installed in extreme heat or cold.
4. Floors can be installed in any stage of new construction. Some builders for example, prefer that tile be installed under the kitchen cabinets. So, this would need to be done earlier in the process. Since it is durable to dirt and traffic, it can be installed earlier. Carpet, on the other hand needs to be one of the very last items to be installed so that it doesn’t get abused before you move in! (more…)

GENERAL

• Installing flooring is easy. It’s actually a difficult and lengthy process that should be done by a professional
• Dark floors will make a room look smaller. Dark floors will not make a room look smaller unless the walls and other surroundings are also dark
• If I order more of the same product a year from now, it will look exactly the same. Products are made in different conditions and environments and cannot be expected to look the same after time has passed.
• It’s cheaper to install a less expensive product first and replace later down the road.The cost of product remova, furniture removal and replacement can make this statement untrue.

CARPET

• All carpet padding is the same. There are different grades and qualities of carpet padding with different life expectancies and warranties.
• When carpet is replaced, the pad doesn’t need to be replaced. Carpet pad helps determine how well your carpet wears. If your carpet pad is worn, you will not get the most wearability out of your carpet.
• Wool carpet isn’t worth the money because it will wear out. Wool carpet is the most durable and long lasting carpet available.
• If the label says it has built in stain protection it is protected from everything and maintenance is not required. This is intended to be stain resistant – not stain proof. Regular maintenance is still required.
• Will not fade. Carpet can fade if exposed to direct sunlight.
• The thicker the carpet, the better the quality.This is not always true. Ask you local retailer for more information when comparing products.
• Carpet will look the same or darker than the sample when installed. Since carpet samples tend to be relatively small, they don’t always appear the same as the large rolls that are installed.

HARDWOOD

• All hardwood is the same hardness. Hardwood has varying degrees of hardness.
• Hardwood is not a good choice for people with allergies. Hardwood is a great choice for people with allergies if kept well maintained.
• All oak floors are the same or if a wood floor looks the same on top, it is the same.The construction of the hardwood is where the quality comes in, not what you see on the top.
• Will not fade. Like other flooring materials, direct sunlight can fade hardwood floors.
• All hardwood can be cleaned with Murphy’s Oil Soap. Pre-finished hardwoods should not be cleaned with Murphy’s Oil Soap.

LAMINATE

• All laminate floors sound hollow and click when you walk on them. With the proper underlayment, laminate floors will not sound hollow or click when you walk on them.
• You can’t hurt a laminate floor. While laminate floors are very durable, they can scratch and gouge with misuse.
• Hardwood is better for a home with large dogs because it is harder. Laminate flooring can be more scratch resistant than some hardwoods making it more suitable for a home with dogs.

TILE

• Any tile can be installed outside.Tiles have a rating system that indicate how much water is absorbed. This determines if they can go outside or not. Most porcelain tiles and natural stones are suited for exterior applications.
• Tile has to be sealed. Tiles that have glazes or are through body do not have to be sealed.
• Small tiles are the only tiles that should go into small rooms. Larger tiles are well suited for small rooms, just as well as small tiles, depending on the desired design intent.
• All tiles floors are cold.Tile floors with radiant heat systems installed can be very warm and comfortable!
• The finish cannot be worn off of tile. Ceramic tiles that have glazed finishes can wear off with excessive traffic. Check the wear rating to see how much traffic a tile floor is designed for.
• Any size tile can be installed on a shower floor. Tile showers have to slope to drain water so the tiles have to be small enough to accommodate the slope.
• You can’t hurt a tile floor. Dropping heavy objects on the corners of tile floors can chip or crack the tiles. Dragging furniture without furniture protectors across a floor can scratch the finish of tile floors.
• Is not a good choice because if I drop a glass on it, it will break.
• Larger size tiles make a room look smaller.Larger tiles in a small room can visually increase the size of a room. Turning the tiles on the diagonal can make the room appear even larger.
• Grout colors look darker than the sample when installed . The sample chip and the actual product will look different because of lighting, shading and dye lot differences.

NATURAL STONE

• Stone tiles like granite or travertine cannot stain. Natural stone that is not sealed can stain.
• You can’t hurt a stone floor. Stone is a very strong material, but it can be damaged with misuse like improper maintenance or dragging furniture across the floor without furniture protectors.
• Is not a good choice because if I drop a glass on it, it will break. If you drop a glass from most any standing height, is going to break anyway.
• All travertine is the same grade. You get what you pay for! There are varying degrees of quality in natural stone. Lower quality travertine has holes in the back that make it less stable than travertine pieces with less or no filler in the back.
• Every piece will look the same. The beauty of natural stone is that each piece can be completely different.
• Vinegar is the best cleaner to use. Vinegar will actually permanently etch stone floors and is not a desirable cleaner.

VINYL/RESILIENT

• Patterns with grooves catch dirt that is difficult to remove. With new technologies in place, floors with detailed patterns are just as easy to clean as floors with no patterns.
• Furniture doesn’t need protectors on the bottom. Unprotected furniture bottoms can permanently tear vinyl floors.
• All floor cleaners are the same. Using the wrong cleaner can do permanent damage to your floors and even void your warranty.

Question: Can I get a laminate wood in the kitchen or will urine from my senior pet absorb into the seams? Also, if put at entrances, will the laminate scratch?

Answer: Although laminate flooring has a tough finish coating, it is still primarily made up of wood so it may absorb pet urine which can ruin the floor. If you do choose laminate, your best bet is to clean up any spills or urine immediately, preventing penetration into the floor. You need to be very careful, though about the places where you might miss accidents.

For the scratching problem, laminate is scratch “resistant”, but is not scratch “proof”. Most laminate products are abrasion resistant, impact resistant, stain resistant and even resistant to cigarette burns. If you choose laminate, you may want to choose a product like Quick-Step’s or Pergo’s distressed products to hide any scratches. Also, most laminate companies have touch up kits for scratches. If the scratch or damage is really bad, a professional installer may be able to replace individual boards. (be sure to save leftover material)

You can see some examples of Quick Step or Pergo here. If you have questions, feel free to ask us and help others with answers to your same questions!

One of the greatest benefits of laminate flooring is that it requires so little care, upkeep and maintenance. The very best laminate floors feature special “wear layers” that prevent scratches, dents, dings and fading from exposure to sunlight. So they are perfect for busy families and high-traffic living spaces.

Although laminate floors are extremely durable, they are not indestructible. Keeping these tips in mind will ensure your laminate floor will look newer, longer.

Take this true/false quiz to test your knowledge on laminate maintenance!

1. Doormats are needed only at the front door.

False. Place doormats or walk-off mats at each entryway to collect excessive moisture and dirt. Place doormats or walk-off mats at each entryway to collect excessive moisture and dirt. (more…)

Hands down this goes to Green Glue. Green Glue is the simple and easy answer to sound proofing floors, wall and ceilings in new construction or remodeling. You simply apply the product with a caulk gun between two sheets of standard drywall or plywood. There is no exact measuring (other than 2 tubes per 4×8 sheet of plywood) or specific coverage pattern – you just apply it randomly all over the board.

This product is great for home theaters, recording studios, condos, apartments, impact noise (footstep noise) and squeaky floors.

Green Glue has been tested and found to:

• Be the most thoroughly of any sound isolation material available

• Be able to be inserted into any fire rated assembly according to the International Building Code

• Not form a vapor lock

• Be environmentally friendly with almost no V.O.C.’s

• Not contribute to mold growth

Thank goodness for the FAQ on their website. Below are a few: (more…)