flooring questions

flooring questions (Full Version)

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defiantbadgirl -> flooring questions (1/4/2013 7:58:28 AM)
I have pets and want to replace my carpet with hard flooring. Unfortunately, when I lifted my carpet, I found out whoever installed it used more than staples. From what I've read, glue removal is a slow process unless adhesive remover that contains toxic fumes is used and not removing it will result in bubbles. Does this mean I'm going to have to pay over a thousand dollars just to have my floors prepared in addition to installation? Is there any type of hard flooring that isn't extremely expensive, is easy to install, and can be installed without having to worry about removing this old glue? What are the least expensive and easiest options other than having more carpet put in, which I don't want to do?

OsideGirl -> RE: flooring questions (1/4/2013 8:02:07 AM)
We're using strand bamboo. It's off the scale for hardness and because the color is achieved by heating the bamboo, if the dogs should scratch it, you won't see a difference in color where the stain was removed. I hit the bamboo sample with a hammer and it didn't dent. (This applies to the strand bamboo, not the other styles) It's very reasonable at Lumber Liquidators. We have glue on our floor. We were told that we don't have to do anything with it. The underlayment will be between the wood and glue.

Hillwilliam -> RE: flooring questions (1/4/2013 8:02:52 AM)
I installed my own laminate in this building when I converted it from a convenience store to office spaces. Laminate can be purchased for less than $1 / square foot and the padding runs about a third that. How handy are you? As for adhesive removers, the ones Ive used weren't toxic. They're based on orange peel oil. The orangey smell is REALLY strong but there's low to no toxicity.

defiantbadgirl -> RE: flooring questions (1/4/2013 8:11:47 AM)
I'm not handy at all. My husband isn't very handy. A friend of ours says he knows people who are. My original plan was to have sheet vinyl that looks like wood installed, but I keep reading how the floor has to be 100% level. No bumps, no ridges, no old glue that would make the surface uneven. The place I used to work had laminate flooring. It kept bubbling up and coming loose from being mopped.

Hillwilliam -> RE: flooring questions (1/4/2013 8:13:53 AM)
Wood grain sheet vinyl is cheap and looks it. It's also easy to poke a hole in it.

LaTigresse -> RE: flooring questions (1/4/2013 8:15:09 AM)
If you don't care what it looks like, since you are putting something over it........sand it.

OsideGirl -> RE: flooring questions (1/4/2013 8:19:11 AM)
quote: ORIGINAL: defiantbadgirl The place I used to work had laminate flooring. It kept bubbling up and coming loose from being mopped. You're not supposed to mop wood. Wood absorbs water. Fact of nature. If you're going to wash it, you need to use a method that pulls the water back up off the floor. And Honesty, the Swiffer wet pads are the best method I've found.

defiantbadgirl -> RE: flooring questions (1/4/2013 8:26:27 AM)
Yikes I don't want anything that's easy to poke holes in. I thought it was a good idea because it's water resistant. So laminate flooring can be installed without removing the glue?

OsideGirl -> RE: flooring questions (1/4/2013 8:28:58 AM)
quote: ORIGINAL: defiantbadgirl I thought it was a good idea because it's water resistant. If you're looking for water resistant, I would suggest ceramic tile.

Hillwilliam -> RE: flooring questions (1/4/2013 8:55:04 AM)
quote: ORIGINAL: defiantbadgirl Yikes I don't want anything that's easy to poke holes in. I thought it was a good idea because it's water resistant. So laminate flooring can be installed without removing the glue? Yes it can. I can install about 40 SF/hour. Im not a pro but I'm very handy and have the tools. That might give you a good idea as to the fair price to pay an installer. .75/SF would translate to $30/hour. I don't know what area you're in but around here, people would line up for that kind of pay.

LaTigresse -> RE: flooring questions (1/4/2013 9:14:01 AM)
quote: ORIGINAL: OsideGirl quote: ORIGINAL: defiantbadgirl I thought it was a good idea because it's water resistant. If you're looking for water resistant, I would suggest ceramic tile. Me as well. It's what I will be installing in my kitchen and bath.......getting rid of that hideous vinyl shit they put in when they built the house.

Hillwilliam -> RE: flooring questions (1/4/2013 9:15:03 AM)
I put ceramic in the kitchen, both baths and the sun porch.

mnottertail -> RE: flooring questions (1/4/2013 9:15:55 AM)
quote: ORIGINAL: Hillwilliam quote: ORIGINAL: defiantbadgirl Yikes I don't want anything that's easy to poke holes in. I thought it was a good idea because it's water resistant. So laminate flooring can be installed without removing the glue? Yes it can. I can install about 40 SF/hour. Im not a pro but I'm very handy and have the tools. That might give you a good idea as to the fair price to pay an installer. .75/SF would translate to $30/hour. I don't know what area you're in but around here, people would line up for that kind of pay. What is a reasonable waste factor when measuing and getting?

servantforuse -> RE: flooring questions (1/4/2013 9:19:38 AM)
If there is a Home Depot store near you that might be a good place to start. They have some people at our store here that know quite a bit about do it yourself projects..

TheBoyDownBelow -> RE: flooring questions (1/4/2013 9:35:49 AM)
quote: ORIGINAL: defiantbadgirl I have pets and want to replace my carpet with hard flooring. Unfortunately, when I lifted my carpet, I found out whoever installed it used more than staples. From what I've read, glue removal is a slow process unless adhesive remover that contains toxic fumes is used and not removing it will result in bubbles. Does this mean I'm going to have to pay over a thousand dollars just to have my floors prepared in addition to installation? Is there any type of hard flooring that isn't extremely expensive, is easy to install, and can be installed without having to worry about removing this old glue? What are the least expensive and easiest options other than having more carpet put in, which I don't want to do? What is underneath the glue (Wood, concrete etc.)? Keep in mind, that if you install a laminate, real wood, engineered flooring you need an even surface! Above it was recommended sanding it, but that may be difficult and takes a long time too. Sanding produces dust that may be toxic as well. Me personally would go with what works the fastest, to cut down on exposure time. A good surface preparation is essential to have a nice hard floor afterwards. And it can be done DIY with little experience. Or get a friend to help you. There are plenty of examples for floor preparation on youtube. Good luck!

littlewonder -> RE: flooring questions (1/4/2013 9:39:38 AM)
Sheet vinyl will show every single imperfection in your floor and if it's not completely smooth you will eventually get holes in your vinyl. Plus vinyl just plain old looks ugly. Laminate is not that expensive these days, depending on the type of wood and thickness. If you get a good underlayment for the laminate floor then you don't have to do anything. So for the price you will pay to have your floor smoothed out for the vinyl, you may as well just buy laminate and underlayment.

OsideGirl -> RE: flooring questions (1/4/2013 9:41:45 AM)
quote: ORIGINAL: Hillwilliam I put ceramic in the kitchen, both baths and the sun porch. We're putting in tile for the front hall, dining room, kitchen and bathrooms. Golden Zebra Strand Bamboo in all the bedrooms, the back hall, my office and living room.

Hillwilliam -> RE: flooring questions (1/4/2013 9:49:43 AM)
quote: ORIGINAL: mnottertail quote: ORIGINAL: Hillwilliam quote: ORIGINAL: defiantbadgirl Yikes I don't want anything that's easy to poke holes in. I thought it was a good idea because it's water resistant. So laminate flooring can be installed without removing the glue? Yes it can. I can install about 40 SF/hour. Im not a pro but I'm very handy and have the tools. That might give you a good idea as to the fair price to pay an installer. .75/SF would translate to $30/hour. I don't know what area you're in but around here, people would line up for that kind of pay. What is a reasonable waste factor when measuing and getting? I had less than 10% Waste will be low in big open areas (5% or so). 2 of my office bays were just big open 20x40 or so spaces. Where my RE office is, there are 2 conference rooms and a coupla private offices with a big open area. I bought a bit over 4000 SF and wasted less than 10%

mnottertail -> RE: flooring questions (1/4/2013 10:04:14 AM)
in my house I have reasonably big areas, not huge, the outside square footage is 1182 I would assume that 10% or slightly more is taken up by walls in the house..and the interior of the exterior walls, so is that a reasonable number of square feet to buy outright or you think more?

TheBoyDownBelow -> RE: flooring questions (1/4/2013 10:14:03 AM)
quote: ORIGINAL: mnottertail in my house I have reasonably big areas, not huge, the outside square footage is 1182 I would assume that 10% or slightly more is taken up by walls in the house..and the interior of the exterior walls, so is that a reasonable number of square feet to buy outright or you think more? Go to the floor manufacturer's web site. Most of them have a SF calculator, which are giving you good estimate. Unopened excess flooring packages can be returned to stores like Lowes, and Home Depot.

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