All Forum Posts by: Gerald David

Welcome to BP @Julie O. !!!  Good luck to you!!

JD

@Jules Semanchuk All wood products will scratch and dent!!!  Bamboo is no different.

If you're buying a pre-finished floor, sanding it down in the future is a lot harder than it used to be.  The aluminum oxide finish is MUCH harder than the old urethane finishes and it will take a hardwood guy a long time to "blast" through those layers.  

As long as you're keeping up on the hardwood, it's a great product.  Remember to use a plastic chair protector for your office chairs as the casters WILL dent the floor...pads under the legs of chairs/furniture...

If you were thinking of turning it into rental down the road, I'd go laminate in a heartbeat. 

Good luck!

@Richelle T.  I would look for LVT/P (Luxury Vinyl Tile/Plank) at your local flooring store before going to Lowes or HD.  They will work much harder to keep your business and should have options at all price levels.  And, if you buy something they have in stock, they should not charge you a restock fee to take a box back.

Remember to keep an extra box at the house...just in case of repairs that may be needed down the road.  Like most products, flooring "flavors" will be discontinued at some point in the future.

Good luck!!

I've use either Deluxe or Benjamin Moore...about 70/30.  I never ask to paint match because it can never be done precisely.  

One quick hint: Don't finalize paint colors until you have flooring and cabinet colors done. You'll save yourself a headache by not putting yourself in a corner! There are a million shades of red, but flooring/cabinets and other finishes do not have a million options.  

If you want a floor that will "hold up" to a flood, look to vinyl products from Flexitec.  A flood may damage the subfloor because the water finds the edges of the room, but you can dry out this vinyl and reinstall it!!

After that, your next best bet is a vinyl that is coved up the wall.  Commercial applications use this all the time.

Laminate...works well in kitchens.  Just remember laminate is not indestructible: it can scratch and dent.  Water will still seek out the edges of the room, which will hurt everything in the case of a flood.  Normal spills of water, milk, or whatever should not hurt the product provided the liquid is cleaned up as it should be...

I've used laminate many times in kitchens with no issues.  Laminate is less expensive than hardwood, and the install will cost less as well.

I have always had my guys use a product called "Kliz".  Works great!!

Hello @Mark Sargeant ! Welcome aboard!!

JD

I'd only install porcelain tile. Porcelain is NOT porous, so you will not have to worry about spills "staining" nearly as quickly as ceramic tile does. Porcelain is not stainproof, but it's as close as you'll ever get.

Travertine is a sponge!!! Sealing will be a nightmare once a year minimum. Ceramic is not much better...

You will not have to seal porcelain. Grout, on the other hand, is very porous. So you have one of two options...a) use a normal grout and make sure you remember the make and color for when problems arise. b) use a grout that is as stainproof as possible.

Go to a tile store (not Lowes or HD) to find the best grout available to you. Those guys are the pros...let them help you.

You could also minimize grout joints to 3/16 or less.

Good luck!

JD

Welcome aboard @Alison Mercer ! Paso Robles...great wineries!

Cheers!

JD

Hello @Erin Weiss !!!

In a college rental, both options will be "worked over" well.

Sheet vinyl is repaired much the same way as carpet. Vinyl has dye lots, pattern matches...and if you don't buy enough at the initial purchase to fix future problems, you will be dealing with different vinyl looks at some point down the road.

Personally, I think LVP/LVT (Luxury Vinyl Plank/Tile) is the better choice to install throughout the traffic areas. In the event you have repair, you can remove the individual piece, install the new piece, and your set. Of course, you will still have to buy some extra for future repairs! LVP/T will cost you more initially, but you will recover those costs and them some.

Bedrooms...I would go with rem carpets. And the darker, the better. When one bedroom needs replaced, you do not have to worry about matching other bedrooms!

Good luck!!