Thursday, September 25, 2008

Installing Laminate Flooring - A Quick Update

Hello all,

I thought I'd just do a quick post to let you know the floor is coming along. As I said in the last post, it is a bear! Now that Sylvia is home the work is going a little faster. We finished the master bedroom today and will tackle the guest bath and bedroom next weekend. I probably wont get to my office until the following weekend.

As far as the shop is concerned, while I was on vacation, I ordered my dust collection system from Oneida and a 12 inch jointer from Grizzly. I can't wait to get the floor down and address the winter accommodations for the dogs. Time has just flown by and there is no way I'm going to get everything I wanted to accomplish this fall done. Oh well, isn't that always the case? My plan at this point is to finish the flooring, build a set of condos for the dogs inside the garage and then go back and install all the trim in the house. After that, I finally will get to tackle the installation of the dust collection system and start tuning up machines. Once the machines are all tuned, then I get to build cabinets and work stations for the shop. I'm sure glad I like to work!!!

17 comments:

Shazza said...

Wow! Looks great Vic! The sofa sure looks comfy!

Vic Hubbard said...

Thanks Shazza. The dogs love it!!

Kari Hultman said...

BEE-YOO-TEE-FULL! Looks like a showroom, Vic. Great job! It appears that at least one of your dogs (in the photo, tucked in the corner) is well pleased.

Vic Hubbard said...

That is Bisket. She prefers to always lay by the front door. It's out of the way and she's an old codger. The other two are really missing the carpet. They've been hanging out in my office, which hasn't been done yet.
Otherwise, they are on the couch with us.

Tammy said...

Hey Vic, thought i posted something last night, but it appears i didn't, oy vey, i was tired. the floor is WOWZER fabulous!! i can't believe all you two have gotten done, you've got to be getting tired though. it's the first of october and i'm thinking about getting to see it in person soon and having pumpkin creme brulee by Julie at your house after we go to the Whoop Em Up, yummo, can't wait. hugs to you both!!

Praki Prakash said...

Hi Vic,

Stumbled across your blog accidentally. I must say, the floors look great.

I too have a dog, a big black labrador who doesn't like his nails clipped. Most of the hardwood in my house is pretty deeply scratched and will need to be sanded and refinished if ever wanted to get rid of the character :)

The question I have is related to your selection of Rhino brand. My family is quite allergic to dust and we are thinking of replacing the carpets in the bedrooms with some kind of hardwood or laminate floor. I have always thought that laminate floors wouldn't stand up to dog (ab)use. Are they really better than hardwood in terms of being scratch-resistant?

Second question is, is laminate floor usable in wet areas such bathrooms and kitchens?

Lastly, what is it about this brand that makes it harder than installing Pergo? Are there more prep steps?

Many questions from a total stranger and hope you don't mind answering.

Thanks,
Praki

Vic Hubbard said...

Praki,

Not at all. Questions are welcomed. I chose this laminate because the wear layer was thick as well as the MDF (medium density fiberboard) was very hard. I'm not sure if there is technically a high density fiberboard, but this product is very dense. The pattern or style was chosen because the dogs' hair doesn't readily show.
As for standing up to dogs, I don't believe there is anything better. They cannot scratch this stuff. I would've loved to install cork or bamboo, but I scratched some with a nail in the store and it showed. Don't tell the store on me. To let you know my best friend has oak flooring and instead of putting a "film" finish, just uses an oil and wax combination once every couple years. He has a rambunctious Golden Retriever pup and she doesn't scratch the floor. Softer woods, such as fir will definitely scratch. But on something like hard maple or oak, the nails of the dogs shouldn't stratch the floor itself, rather the finish on top of the floor.
I believe the floor is a bugger due to internal stresses in the manufacture of the planks. When ripping they are closing up tightly against each other.
In regards to wet locations, yes laminate can be used. You'd have to check with the individual manufacturer for the proper installation. The Armstrong floor I installed at our old house was glued with a waterproof glue and the 1/4 inch space around the perimeter was caulked. On this floor, I simply caulked the perimeter. I couldn't find any specific instruction and the warehouse I bought the product recommended against gluing the planks together.

As a side note, this floor is 12mm, instead of the normal 7-9mm thick. That plus the very dense underlayment, makes walking on this floor sound just like walking on wood. The thinner laminates usually have a distinct clacking sound.

I hope that helps.

Vic Hubbard said...

Thanks Tammy,

I'm looking forward to the Creme Brulee, too!!! Plus, I can't wait to indulge an Whoop 'em Up! 'Love that place!

Praki Prakash said...

Vic,

Thanks for taking the time to answer my questions.

Perhaps my dog has been endowed with extra hard nails :( I do have oak floors and they look pretty badly scratched but not to bare wood. I took another close look and it is almost like it is dented. He weighs about 120lbs and that could be why my floor looks the way it does.

I think I will give this brand of flooring a try.

Thanks much,
Praki

Vic Hubbard said...

Praki,

You are quite welcome. Btw, went to your sites. WAY over my head.

Pops said...

VIC!!! The floors looks great! Sorry we've been hiding lately, but we have been checking your blog often. We think the world you and the MRS.

So whats the next big project.

Vic Hubbard said...

Hey Pops! I've been thinkin' you two were on vacation somewhere. I've checked your blog and haven't seen any activity.
After I finish the floors, I need to make condos for the dogs in the garage. They have the side yard with access to the garage, but since I don't have time to insulate and sheetrock the whole garage, I'm making individual condos for them. After that it's back in the house to install baseboard and door trim. After that I can finally get back into the shop and then install my dust collection system and start building cabinets and work spaces.
Hug Chels for me!

Chellor said...

Vic it looks fantastic! You and Sylvia are amazing at what you can get done in a short amount of time! Yes, Pops and i were on vacation for a while there in September but we're back to bloging full time now! ;)

Chellor said...

P.s. Thanks for the hug. :)

neetzy said...

Vic,

I'm visiting your blog since I always comment on Shazza's. We installed laminate in our addition last year and love it. Our dear friend and builder did the installation. It gave him fits! A year and two retrievers later I must say that it holds up better than any other floor in our house. We used a Mannington. It was some kind of rustic barn oak, but we love it for the ease of care. Priorities are Priorities.

di2727 said...

Vic, old friend, the floors look amazing. You know im in an old old home, with old old oak.......my girl Miki, choco lab, has done major damage and Im considering refinishing. I like the idea of doing the oil finish every year and keeping them good looking. I want to stain darking than the traditional honey........can i do dark stain, and the oil finish too?

Vic Hubbard said...

Hey Di!! How are you? Yes, you could strip the old finish, stain darker, then oil the floors. My buddy Ken has had very good results using an oil finish. Call me if you want the name of the product. Great to hear from you!!