vinyl floor planks

[gzz]

I checked them out at home depot per flyerinHI’s suggestion, as well as some online research.

They seem really durable, like they’d last for 100 years. They remind me of the lawn furniture I purchased made of wood-like very heavy plastic logs that supposedly were recycled milk jugs. They are like new after two years, easy to clean, waterproof, and very sturdy. They also do not show scratches.

HD usually has a few different laminate floor planks on clearance for 50-70c a sq foot. The cheapest vinyl planks were $1.69. I am not sure it would be worth the difference outside of the kitchen and bathroom, where the waterproof nature of vinyl is especially valuable.

HD also had Pergo XL laminate on sale with built in underlay pad for $1.70 sq foot. I’d consider this for the ease of installing and possibly because it is name brand, but the HOA requires hard flooring to have a noise rating and lots of google searches did not find any. The rule is 50, which is the least strict standard, but the considerate thing to do is go as high as practical, and mid-range padding is in the low 60’s.

[spdrun]

Get whatever you like that satisfies the minimal letter of the law. If the neighbors choose to live in attached housing, they can’t be prissy-poos and expect perfect silence 24/7.

[gzz]

A related issue is that I am averse to anything fake. Now laminate is basically sawdust and glue with a veneer, but is still pretty close to the real thing.

I wish HD carried some that did not try to look like wood, but were just a single color. I may try other stores, which could have cheaper prices too.

[spdrun]

Frankly, I’d go porcelain tile if I had the choice. Relatively inexpensive, easy to clean, hypoallergenic, and looks good. If I needed soundproofing, I’d put the substrate over an acoustic underlayment.

[FlyerInHi]

[quote=spdrun]Frankly, I’d go porcelain tile if I had the choice. Relatively inexpensive, easy to clean, hypoallergenic, and looks good. If I needed soundproofing, I’d put the substrate over an acoustic underlayment.[/quote]

There are rules in condos. If you don’t follow the rules, they can make you remove the floor. ‘Read the rules ans apply for permission before hand.

Depends on tiles. If the tenants are lowbrow, then your grout will be black with grease and shit like in public restroom. Nasty looking.

[spdrun]

Grout. Sealant.

This is why ground floor units rock, BTW. No whiney turds on the HOA board telling you what to put on the floor.

[FlyerInHi]

[quote=gzz]A related issue is that I am averse to anything fake. Now laminate is basically sawdust and glue with a veneer, but is still pretty close to the real thing.

I wish HD carried some that did not try to look like wood, but were just a single color. I may try other stores, which could have cheaper prices too.[/quote]

I’m totally with you. Depends on your budget. If budget is tight, I would just go with vinyl planks at Home Depot. Quality is the same… one is a loss leader, that’s all.

The vinyl is water resistant, more sound deadening and, unlike tile, no grout line.

I would put dark tile on first floor because they resist moisture. But on second floor and higher, tiles get loose with vibration on wood buildings (steel and concrete building ok)

[FlyerInHi]

[quote=spdrun]Grout. Sealant.

This is why ground floor units rock, BTW. No whiney turds on the HOA board telling you what to put on the floor.[/quote]

Yeah. But even with sealant, the grit attracts grease, sugary drinks and alcohol spills. Look carefully.

Epoxy on natural stove and smooth polished is best. Or terazzo like in Miami Beach, or New York Art Deco. Dirty grout lines make me want to puke.

[spdrun]

You can get large pre-cast slabs of terrazzo. Like 30″ x 30″ or 36″ x 36″. Could you put down a soundproof cork underlayment and just lay the things on top of it, using a thin layer of semiflexible epoxy at the meeting edges?

Cement terazzo is strong enough for use in stair risers, so cracking should not be an issue.

[FlyerInHi]

spdrun, larger tiles are harder to install. You need to use more thinset and special spacers to get the job level. Installation will be $5/ft or more.

I could be wrong but I think the OP wants to get the best result at the lowest cost, using commodity material, not custom material.

[spdrun]

I’m not talking tiles as much as sections that are thick enough to be self-supporting.

[justme]

What are the current trends in hardwood floors? I did a web search and I am still seeing dark colors, wide planks, non-flat planks (whatever that is called, the “warped/ridged” look), and even gray colors.

I’m hoping for lighter colors and smaller shapes to become trendy again. Is there some trend in lighter brown colors that I can get in front of? Gray does not appeal to me very much.

Slightly OT, but…

[FlyerInHi]

I would avoid trends. Don’t what HGTV or shows that are sponsored by warehouse stores, paint companies, etc…

Just read some magazine or illustrated design books and find your own style.

House and home from Canada is pretty good if you like to watch TV

[FlyerInHi]

[quote=justme]
I’m hoping for lighter colors and smaller shapes to become trendy again. Is there some trend in lighter brown colors that I can get in front of? Gray does not appeal to me very much.
[/quote]

I like herringbone wood floor. It has a luxury look of old European townhouses. Goes well with modern and traditional. Looks good when worn.

https://www.google.com/search?q=herringbone+wood+floor&prmd=sivn&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwj58vzwvZXQAhWjslQKHahDCvgQ_AUICCgC

[justme]

Thanks. I agree that classical looks are best. I was just hoping that someone would tell me that the next trend on the horizon would be something that I like.

Herringbone looks nice, I agree with that, too.

[Author]

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