Latest Discussions : Flooring & Stairs

09:12AM | 07/21/03

Member Since: 07/20/03
1 lifetime posts

New house: linoleum or bare floors? (installing hardwood floors)

We're planning to install hardwood floors (5/16" solid planks) for entire downstairs of our new house. Need to determine whether we're better off having the builder install linoleum in the areas we'll be putting hardwood; or whether we're better of closing with bare floors (i.e. concrete). Apparently the builder will use a full-spread adhesive when installing the linoleum (i.e. shouldn't be floating)...wondered if if would serve as a good moisture barrier?? ...or would we be better with bare concrete? Cost not a factor for this particular decision...just looking for best option. Feedback would be appreciated...need to know ASAP. Thanks!

carpetman

05:45PM | 07/21/03

Member Since: 01/26/03
542 lifetime posts

i,m not sure i understand the question,but here go's...the 5/16 wood is to be qlued down? if so a lino under the wood won't hurt anything,but if cost is not an issue,have the builder put down the wood...good luck

woodgrrl

09:35PM | 07/24/03

Member Since: 07/24/03
7 lifetime posts

The linoleum will act as a moisture barrier however, you may not be able to glue directly to the linoleum without first prepping the surface, ie. scuffing it up so the adhesive can "grip" better

be sure to read the manufacturers instructions CLOSELY when installing a glue down floor, use their recommended adhesive AND tools. if you don't, you may have problems with the warantee down the road.

also, check out the national wood flooring association for more installation guidlines.

cheers! have fun!

KD Fisher

02:32PM | 07/25/03

Member Since: 03/17/03
49 lifetime posts

"be sure to read the manufacturers instructions CLOSELY when installing a glue down floor"

Ain't that the truth! There have been some problems that I'm aware of when installing underlayment with glue down hardwood floors. My experience deals specifically with cork sound control and hardwood floors. This won't be found in many ordinary installation specs.

Over the last five years I can't count how many "hardwood experts" here in South Florida ran into failures with cork sound control. $10,000 here 15K there..on down the line. Basically what happens is; a common suggested adhesive for glueing down cork to concrete does not have the holding strength to withstand some of the stronger hardwood adhesives that is placed over top of it.

What happens is the cork will release from the subfloor. Having done a few vinyl moisture barriers on concrete with hardwood glued to it....many of us feel much safer using the same adhesive as is used for the hardwood.

I'd say skip the vinyl. Why take the chances. Considering it's a "builders job" they may find the cheapest adhesive around. A few months later you may wonder why the glue down floor begins to act like a floating floor and makes all sorts of strange sounds when it comes loose from the concrete slab.

I wonder what Piper ended up doing? Could be too late

Ken Fisher
South Florida

Yes, I personally handle installations too.

Mucho Hardwood Flooring Stuff

[This message has been edited by KD Fisher (edited July 25, 2003).]

AWoodFloorSpecialist

07:14PM | 07/25/03

Member Since: 07/24/03
80 lifetime posts

LOL This is a very interesting question. I have actually ran into a situation very similar. A couple were having a house custom built for them. They wanted wood floors throughout the house. The contractor's price on installing wood flooring was out of site. I mean the contractor knew that he had them as they could not close on the house until there was a floor covering installed due to the financing.

What they did was they had the cheapest carpet the contractor would install just to get the house closed. As soon as it closed they ripped out every bit of that carpet and had me help them install wood floors.

We ended up installing diagonal centers of select red oak with a border of cherry two boards of oak and another board of cherry with a nine in skirt of oak around the border.

See http://home.123india.com/booksby/Pict2/imgg38.jpg

and
http://home.123india.com/booksby/Pict2/imgg41.jpg

for a similar floor.

So the question is do you have a contractor who is gonna give you a reasonable price on installing the floor or is he or she going to take advantage of the situation and over charge you.

If the later you might want to consider carpeting the bathroom as this will work as a temporary floor that can easily be rmoved until you close on the house.

Franklyn
Http://www.WoodFloorist.com