My boyfriend owns a house in North Florida that needs to have the floors in the kitchen and living room redone. He rents out the house. He's looking for a good 'middle way': not expensive, but not so cheap that it will have to be replaced soon; nice, but not so nice that it it might get easily damaged by renters (nor ugly, which would lower rent value). N.B.: the price has to include installation since he won't be around to install it himself. Any suggestions for what types of flooring he should look at, especially given N. Florida's climate?
posted by flibbertigibbet
on Apr 17, 2013 -
13 answers
Can you recommend a floor refinisher in Los Angeles? It's for an elderly couple in a 1940s home very close to the intersection of Wilshire and Fairfax.
[more inside]
posted by palliser
on Apr 13, 2013 -
2 answers
Help us figure out how to cover up or replace this god awful kitchen floor. We just purchased a farmhouse that was renovated in the mid 50s. The mudroom and kitchen have 9" asphalt tiles that are all coming up (so not level), and on top of that, the prior owner used these rooms as a kennel for his incontinent daschund.
[more inside]
posted by checkitnice
on Feb 16, 2013 -
20 answers
Will we regret buying engineered hardwood or bamboo flooring from Lumber Liquidators?
[more inside]
posted by amarynth
on Feb 13, 2013 -
18 answers
Should I install "bamboo hardwood," hardwood, or laminate floors? This is for a rental unit in a not-that-upscale neighborhood in Oakland, California. I'm most concerned about long-term maintenance costs and potential resale value.
[more inside]
posted by slidell
on Feb 8, 2013 -
12 answers
My very dark strand woven bamboo hardwood floors have a semi-glossy finish. Even after they've been freshly mopped, every speck of dust is visible and they'll look dirty the minute someone – wearing socks fresh out of the laundry, even – walks across the room. Is there any way I can change their finish to matte?
[more inside]
posted by halogen
on Jan 15, 2013 -
6 answers
I would like to install raised/tiled flooring in the new electronics lab I am outfitting. (So its easy to string new cables of all sorts around the lab with no mess or moving furniture around).
I can afford the enterprise tiles I have found on the net so far.
Can anyone think of a creative way to implement it without breaking the bank? I would be very happy.
posted by digividal
on Dec 22, 2012 -
5 answers
I've gutted my kitchen, and the concrete floor is uneven. Can I get away with only leveling the floor where I'll install the floating flooring, or should I really pour leveler where the cabinets will rest, too?
[more inside]
posted by jacob
on Dec 21, 2012 -
10 answers
How hard is it to install click together vinyl plank flooring like
Allure Ultra? Please assume that this is to be done by two people with a limited budget and limited practical skills.
[more inside]
posted by maurice
on Sep 2, 2012 -
12 answers
So I'd like to know if homes built in the USA in 1958 commonly had wood floors and it is possible this owner added the carpet later. If true we'd have hope that the wood below has possibility for restoration.
[more inside]
posted by usermac
on Jul 20, 2012 -
21 answers
I am fixing the flooring in our kitchen and pulled out some pieces of white oak. They are 5/8" x 2 1/4" tongue-and-groove. The pieces have stamped underneath: "MO. HDW. FLG. CO. BIRCH TREE. MO.N.O.F.M.A."
[more inside]
posted by Blazecock Pileon
on Jun 28, 2012 -
13 answers
Any advice on getting the cheapest possible decent quality flooring? How to shop for it?
[more inside]
posted by slidell
on Jun 16, 2012 -
19 answers
I want to use my unfinished basement as a workout space and have laid down some interlocking foam tiles on the bare concrete floor. However, the floor under the tiles has started showing mildew after a few weeks in place. How can I set up a comfortable workout space in a typically humid but not wet basement without having to lift the tiles every couple of months to scrub out the mildew?
[more inside]
posted by wexford_arts
on Feb 13, 2012 -
13 answers
What is the best flooring for a basement? Has anyone had experience with the wood-like laminate?
[more inside]
posted by amicamentis
on Dec 27, 2011 -
15 answers
How hard is it to "sister" floor joists or is it something a reasonably skilled home handy man/woman could do without breaking the bank?
[more inside]
posted by wwax
on Aug 25, 2011 -
6 answers
Where can I buy an undercut saw (jamb saw) in Canberra (or online to arrive within a few days)?
[more inside]
posted by lollusc
on Aug 9, 2011 -
11 answers
What color engineered hardwood should I put in? What are the trends? What are the fads? What color would you NOT recommend?
[more inside]
posted by Toto_tot
on Jun 14, 2011 -
14 answers
What’s the cheapest way to make an unfinished basement work as usable living/working space?
[more inside]
posted by victoriab
on Jun 3, 2011 -
11 answers
What options can you suggest for replacing carpet in a "catbox room" with something moisture-resistant and easily cleaned? Some of the cats occasionally get confused and miss the boxes. The sub-floor is plywood. I've been thinking along the lines of the 2-part epoxy coating I applied to the concrete garage floor several years ago, but don't know if it works well on wood, which flexes. Flooring companies have pointed out problems with conventional floor coverings either absorbing or being etched by cat urine. The room has a wood-burning stove in it, so something that won't burst into flame if exposed to an occasional ember would be best. X/
posted by Death by Ugabooga
on May 30, 2011 -
15 answers
We are buying a one-story 1959 ranch-style home in Austin, Texas. The floors are 70% polished concrete (which is just the top of the slab). I want to add wood floors and our contractor is suggesting that we float the engineered wood floor on the slab.
[more inside]
posted by seventyfour
on May 9, 2011 -
12 answers
A small section of my wood parquet flooring is cracked and/or buckled. When I step on this area it creaks and springs up. Can I replace only the damaged section?
[more inside]
posted by ranunculus
on Apr 28, 2011 -
2 answers
DIY: is it easier to go a good DIY job painting walls (interior) or installing laminate floors?
[more inside]
posted by lollusc
on Apr 22, 2011 -
32 answers
Now I need help choosing tile for the shower floor. Is the one I picked going to hurt me? I know you are not my tile setter but I've got to order tile soon. Testing the tile before ordering is not an option.
[more inside]
posted by bilabial
on Apr 14, 2011 -
12 answers
We're about to tear up old, nasty carpet and install some new non-carpet flooring. But after way too much time spent researching, I'm still completely confused about the best option that combines sustainability, durability, and appearance without breaking the bank.
[more inside]
posted by laze
on Apr 12, 2011 -
12 answers
My wife and I are about to close on a house. Most of the rooms are carpeted and we're wondering what we should do; we'd like to rip out the carpets but are worried that the hardwood floors underneath (assuming that the floors
are hardwood) might be covered with lead-based paint. Also, we pretty much have less than one month to do the floors.
[more inside]
posted by Deathalicious
on Mar 20, 2011 -
23 answers
What material should we use as the flooring of a raised outdoor patio? The tile isn't hacking it.
[more inside]
posted by dinger
on Mar 4, 2011 -
9 answers
May I please tap the Hive Mind for some advice about hardwood floor stairs? I'm not sure how to identify what I want.
[more inside]
posted by mccxxiii
on Feb 21, 2011 -
13 answers
My beloved 12 year old mini dachshund has suddenly developed incontinence. I've got the medical issues covered but I'm having trouble with the clean-up.
[more inside]
posted by Pennyblack
on Jan 6, 2011 -
6 answers
We have purchased some new flooring and would like to rent/borrow a surface moisture meter before we install it. We've checked several tool rental places (home depot, aurora rents, etc.). We've been able to find the "pin" type meters, but really need one of the "surface" variety.
I know it's a long-shot here, but does anybody have a source that I might try?
thanks.
posted by jimmereeno
on Dec 20, 2010 -
6 answers
What kind of wood flooring should we get for our new house? Complications: two small kids, largish dog, budget.
[more inside]
posted by ish__
on Dec 16, 2010 -
13 answers
Builders and contractors: is there anything that can be done, after-the-fact, about
very uneven, sloped concrete floors?
[more inside]
posted by rkent
on Dec 15, 2010 -
17 answers
My roommate and her dogs are finally moving out. Now how do I rehabilitate the floors in my house?
[more inside]
posted by elsietheeel
on Aug 16, 2010 -
10 answers
My new apartment is awesome, except for the kitchen. What are some non-permanent things I can do to make it nicer?
[more inside]
posted by oinopaponton
on Jul 18, 2010 -
23 answers
i want to fix up the sunroom in my house and I need a little guidance, as this is beyond some of the other home repair stuff we've done.
[more inside]
posted by katers890
on Jun 21, 2010 -
5 answers
So, Mr. Sunny and I need to get some work done on our house.
We need to replace the sliding glass door, probably with another sliding door. There is condensation in-between the panes.
[more inside]
posted by annsunny
on Jun 16, 2010 -
8 answers
How can I rehab or replace my gross kitchen floor for under $500? (Manhattan specific)
[more inside]
posted by kimdog
on Jun 10, 2010 -
19 answers
Is cement polishing a viable and cost-effective way to treat cement floors that have been carpeted for decades?
[more inside]
posted by arnicae
on Mar 17, 2010 -
14 answers
We just put in a new floating laminate floor and it looks great, but we aren't sure what to do about the trim.
[more inside]
posted by bristolcat
on Mar 5, 2010 -
14 answers
