Home and garden projects
Jan 14th 2019, 10:30 pm
#1186
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Jun 2011
Location: Los Angeles
Posts: 6,159
Re: Home and garden projects
Last October, around Halloween, one of our disposal units failed, then one of our dishwashers, then the other one, then the built-in fridge/freezer.
All within 10 days.
The fridge/freezer itself cost $2300....to repair!
You've got to laugh...
When we got married I gave Mrs H. the choice of a diamond ring or a 'gourmet' kitchen. We have a 'gourmet' kitchen.
All within 10 days.
The fridge/freezer itself cost $2300....to repair!
You've got to laugh...
When we got married I gave Mrs H. the choice of a diamond ring or a 'gourmet' kitchen. We have a 'gourmet' kitchen.
Jan 14th 2019, 10:49 pm
#1187
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Feb 2013
Location: State College Pa.
Posts: 1,585
Re: Home and garden projects
I picked up scrapped $1500 bean to cup machine off Ebay "Badly Leaking" spent $10 on new seals and it works great. :-)
Jan 18th 2019, 6:53 pm
#1189
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 302
Re: Home and garden projects
For the past three plus years I have been building a new house doing most of the work myself including taking a untouched jungle of a lot and cleaning it up largely by hand with a chainsaw and a small tractor I owned. It is built a lot like what I understand British houses are built with masonry walls and brick covering. I built this way and even filled all block cavities with steel rebar and poured cement to have a strong house. I even made my own kitchen cabinets and installed granite counter top. Here is a couple of photos of cabinets. I bought the doors and built everything. The counter granite was found on Craigslist for $350 and I have about $1800 total in the project. All the wood is hickory.
Jan 30th 2019, 6:44 pm
#1190
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Nov 2007
Location: Bay Area, CA
Posts: 13,103
Re: Home and garden projects
Question for the brain-trust about laminate flooring. Just bought a new place. Two story. Ground floor - ceramic tile, lovely. 2nd floor and stairs - carpet, not so lovely. I'm considering options for replacing the carpet. Laminate flooring is on the cards; seems like nowadays there's way better options in this department (I DESPISE the classic 'three-plank wide laminate flooring!). While there are many good options in laminates, what does one do about stairs? Pergo have seemingly great laminates at Home Depot and Lowes, but they don't offer stair 'nosing'. Home depot offers the product - https://www.homedepot.com/b/Flooring...vZare1Z1z0z6kk but how do you match the exact grain / stain / texture of the main body laminate? Here's one laminate I'm looking at: https://www.homedepot.com/p/Pergo-XP...0773/205661735
So what's the trick for getting the stairs to match the main floor, when it comes to laminates?
So what's the trick for getting the stairs to match the main floor, when it comes to laminates?
Jan 30th 2019, 7:05 pm
#1191
Thread Starter
Joined: Dec 2001
Location: Dixie, ex UK
Posts: 52,439
Re: Home and garden projects
Which is why I have never put hardwood or laminate either on the stairs or on the landing. 
While Lowe's and HD have some decent products these days, I prefer a flooring specialist, with Lumber Liquidators being a personal favourite; there are other alternatives, but I have found them to be significantly more expensive without necessarily having better products.
Jan 30th 2019, 8:12 pm
#1192
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Jun 2015
Location: Near Lynchburg Tennessee, home of Jack Daniels
Posts: 1,381
Re: Home and garden projects
Question for the brain-trust about laminate flooring. Just bought a new place. Two story. Ground floor - ceramic tile, lovely. 2nd floor and stairs - carpet, not so lovely. I'm considering options for replacing the carpet. Laminate flooring is on the cards; seems like nowadays there's way better options in this department (I DESPISE the classic 'three-plank wide laminate flooring!). While there are many good options in laminates, what does one do about stairs? Pergo have seemingly great laminates at Home Depot and Lowes, but they don't offer stair 'nosing'. Home depot offers the product - https://www.homedepot.com/b/Flooring...vZare1Z1z0z6kk but how do you match the exact grain / stain / texture of the main body laminate? Here's one laminate I'm looking at: https://www.homedepot.com/p/Pergo-XP...0773/205661735
So what's the trick for getting the stairs to match the main floor, when it comes to laminates?
So what's the trick for getting the stairs to match the main floor, when it comes to laminates?
Jan 30th 2019, 8:28 pm
#1193
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Jul 2015
Location: Panama City, FL
Posts: 2,057
Re: Home and garden projects
I used pergo and tile on my house which is on slab. I put it all down myself. I used pergo because concrete does not work well with wood flooring. I have been very happy with the pergo mainly due to scratch resistance. When installing sparks would fly from saw as it was being cut. We have a 120 lb dog that stays in house and he has not scratched it anywhere. It is so slick he had trouble walking on it. As for the stairs you could use wood and don’t go for a perfect match. Just a color that goes well and doesn’t clash. In your case I would look into 3/4 hardwood nailed down. In my case I would be doing the install myself so labor would not be an issue. I have installed a lot of hardwood and it is not difficult and you are adding structure to your house making a very rigid floor. But you can’t go wrong with pergo and it installs easier than wood.
The only thing I don't like is the noise when walking on it. We used underlay which probably helps but doesn't eliminate the hollow sound. In hindsight I wish I'd gone with tile.
We have hardwood in the kitchen which is showing multiple scratches from the dog. At some point I'll need to replace that and will definitely go with tile. Probably the hardwood-look tile.
Jan 30th 2019, 9:27 pm
#1195
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Jun 2015
Location: Near Lynchburg Tennessee, home of Jack Daniels
Posts: 1,381
Re: Home and garden projects
I used pergo and tile on my house which is on slab. I put it all down myself. I used pergo because concrete does not work well with wood flooring. I have been very happy with the pergo mainly due to scratch resistance. When installing sparks would fly from saw as it was being cut. We have a 120 lb dog that stays in house and he has not scratched it anywhere. It is so slick he had trouble walking on it. As for the stairs you could use wood and don’t go for a perfect match. Just a color that goes well and doesn’t clash. In your case I would look into 3/4 hardwood nailed down. In my case I would be doing the install myself so labor would not be an issue. I have installed a lot of hardwood and it is not difficult and you are adding structure to your house making a very rigid floor. But you can’t go wrong with pergo and it installs easier than wood.
I installed Pergo in our bedroom last year to replace the carpet. It went down easy and looks good. We also have a 120lb dog who has the same problem. He can no longer get up on the bed as he can't get a grip to jump. That's a bonus.
The only thing I don't like is the noise when walking on it. We used underlay which probably helps but doesn't eliminate the hollow sound. In hindsight I wish I'd gone with tile.
We have hardwood in the kitchen which is showing multiple scratches from the dog. At some point I'll need to replace that and will definitely go with tile. Probably the hardwood-look tile.
The only thing I don't like is the noise when walking on it. We used underlay which probably helps but doesn't eliminate the hollow sound. In hindsight I wish I'd gone with tile.
We have hardwood in the kitchen which is showing multiple scratches from the dog. At some point I'll need to replace that and will definitely go with tile. Probably the hardwood-look tile.
Jan 30th 2019, 9:41 pm
#1196
Concierge
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 46,383
Re: Home and garden projects
Question for the brain-trust about laminate flooring. Just bought a new place. Two story. Ground floor - ceramic tile, lovely. 2nd floor and stairs - carpet, not so lovely. I'm considering options for replacing the carpet. Laminate flooring is on the cards; seems like nowadays there's way better options in this department (I DESPISE the classic 'three-plank wide laminate flooring!). While there are many good options in laminates, what does one do about stairs? Pergo have seemingly great laminates at Home Depot and Lowes, but they don't offer stair 'nosing'. Home depot offers the product - https://www.homedepot.com/b/Flooring...vZare1Z1z0z6kk but how do you match the exact grain / stain / texture of the main body laminate? Here's one laminate I'm looking at: https://www.homedepot.com/p/Pergo-XP...0773/205661735
So what's the trick for getting the stairs to match the main floor, when it comes to laminates?
So what's the trick for getting the stairs to match the main floor, when it comes to laminates?
Also ground floors where there are no basements and the house, such as mine, are on a cement slab cannot use wood but must use laminate.
P.S. I, for one, do not recommend prego. One of the worst laminate floors I've seen. Two dear friends have had it installed and both floors saw the top coating of wood laminate peel off.
Went with a product from HD which was laminate nearly 1" in depth with an affixed cushion on the back and placed it over a waterproof and installed barrier on the floor first. We have two cats with claws and there is not one starch on the flooring in over two years of having it laid.
Last edited by Rete; Jan 30th 2019 at 9:48 pm. Reason: Added PS and photo
Jan 30th 2019, 11:11 pm
#1197
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Jun 2015
Location: Near Lynchburg Tennessee, home of Jack Daniels
Posts: 1,381
Re: Home and garden projects
I would be leery of any contractor supplied product. There are a lot of Chinese made laminate flooring out there that could be sold to a unsuspecting homeowner as Pergo and be a cheap imitation. I used pergo and it has worked great for the two years in use.
Pergo on right and tile on left.
Pergo on right and tile on left.
Jan 31st 2019, 5:05 pm
#1198
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Nov 2007
Location: Bay Area, CA
Posts: 13,103
Re: Home and garden projects
I was back in HD yesterday and chatted with a decent store guy. He pointed me to this:
https://www.homedepot.com/p/Zamma-Ri...1732/205655800 - it's the exact same finish - 'Riverbend Oak', but made by another company (Zamma). So it looks like one CAN match the stair finishes to the floor finishes. Sounds like no one here has tried these stair products, though. This is the corresponding floor product I was looking at: https://www.homedepot.com/p/Pergo-XP...0773/205661735
How does Lumber Liquidators compare in terms of choice and price? What's a realistic price per sq ft for laminate install?
The sound of walking on Laminate is one of the things I really don't like about it. In several previous homes, I had classic oak hardwood flooring - simple strips of tongue-in-groove oak, edge-nailed to plywood subfloor. I loved the 'feel' of that. The Pergo flooring I'm looking at is one of the thicker choices, at 10mm; I'm assuming the thicker products produce a more 'solid' sound? Apparently since I'm looking at a 2nd floor installation over plywood subflooring, I don't need 'extra' underlay as the laminate has a built-in layer. But I don't mind paying for an extra underlay layer, as long as it makes it sound 'less tinny'. It's really hard to explain the sound that I don't like, but I would have thought - casually - that less underlay would provide a more 'solid' feel and sound?
I adore Travertine, even though it's one of the less durable choices. But I'm trying to do this project on a bit of a budget, and also without a devastating mess ... I'm assuming you will have a big mess on your hands if you do travertine, what with the cutting, grout, etc. In your experience, can you realistically insist that the installers do all their cutting outdoors (or garage) vs 'on the floor'? I'm sure that would extend the install time and therefore cost.
There seems to be a wide range of quality choices with Pergo (and other brands). They have several budget options, but the top-of-the-line choices are up to $2.99/sq ft, and claim to be very durable, even waterproof to a point.
https://www.homedepot.com/p/Zamma-Ri...1732/205655800 - it's the exact same finish - 'Riverbend Oak', but made by another company (Zamma). So it looks like one CAN match the stair finishes to the floor finishes. Sounds like no one here has tried these stair products, though. This is the corresponding floor product I was looking at: https://www.homedepot.com/p/Pergo-XP...0773/205661735
Jan 31st 2019, 5:30 pm
#1200
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Jun 2015
Location: Near Lynchburg Tennessee, home of Jack Daniels
Posts: 1,381
Re: Home and garden projects
Regarding the cutting/mess of traverine it could depend on the tile sizes and shape of room. When I do tile which is always just my own personal porjects I leave the edges requiring tile cutting until the end. Then rent a saw and cut all at once which is best done outside anyway. I did buy a small $40 tile saw from HF for my recent house project and did all the cuts outside on porch. Grouting is messy but only for the floor and cleanup leaves nothing else involved.