Taking the plunge... - HomeModders.com

99sidude · 01-18-2010, 08:24 PM

As I posted some time back on HS, I'm buying my own place. As it stands right now, I'm due to close anywhere from this week to 3 weeks from now. The home is a foreclosure, so I'm waiting on the deed to be transferred over from the sheriff.

The house is a 1600 sq ft all brick ranch built in 1995. 3br 2ba. 2 car garage. 2 acres. The place is trashed, so I'm planning on sinking considerable sweat equity into the house right away. I will be doing as much work on my own as I can. Here's a list of what will be done in the month of February. My mom happens to be a well established interior decorator, so she is going to deck this place out, and get me everything at cost.

-Paint all walls in the house
-Re-floor the entire house
-Re-do kitchen cabinets
-Clean up the basement
-Purchase refrigerator (craigslist special)
-install water softener

Right now the kitchen floors is a crappy plastic surface. I've been debating on whether to go with faux wood or ceramic tile. Real wood floors are too $$$ and I am too rough on my floors. What do you feel has more appeal? A ceramic tile kitchen floor, or a decent faux wood floor?

Any other words of wisdom as I jump into this would be appreciated

briansol · 01-19-2010, 02:52 AM

Tile will likely cost you more than wood.

Pergo is cheap and done right looks pretty good. But, real hardwood isn't that much more sometimes. There's ranges of everything, but you can get a decent hardwood for about 50 cents a sq ft over the cost of pergo. If you're pretty rough, pergo is probably the better way to go. it's pretty easy to lay down.

99sidude · 01-19-2010, 07:11 PM

Have you ever installed the pergo flooring yourself? I wonder if you need any special tools/materials like for a hard wood floor. Buffer? Sander?

briansol · 01-20-2010, 05:06 PM

i haven't, but a few friends have.

no special tool required, except you may need to rent a slam nailer from home depot for a day.... depends on the style.

they are pre-finished. cut, lay, and nail. thats about it.

How to Install Pergo Flooring | eHow.com

Konstruction · 01-22-2010, 10:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 99sidude

Right now the kitchen floors is a crappy plastic surface. I've been debating on whether to go with faux wood or ceramic tile. Real wood floors are too $$$ and I am too rough on my floors. What do you feel has more appeal? A ceramic tile kitchen floor, or a decent faux wood floor?

Any other words of wisdom as I jump into this would be appreciated

First I want to congratulate you on your home purchase.

Second, about your kitchen floors. I have seen alot of homes start putting hardwood in the kitchens now. Seems to be the new fade. In my opinion tile is more appealing and durable in the kitchen. And easy to install yourself with a lil research on installation. If you need to know a how to, I can get one written up for ya w/ pictures. I already have the pics, just need to get it wrote up. But it all falls back on what you want on the floor, I dont recommend a cheap pergo flooring for the kitchen. Kitchens see alot of traffic and that stuff isn't durable enough to take the beating. I know, I had the stuff in my kitchen and after a while it started buckling at the joints. Looked really bad after 2 years. If you wanted to go with real 3/4" hardwood, you can buy it prefinished. Which most home owners do. The color options are endless and you can get the flooring fairly cheap. Try lumber liquidators. Or call flooring contractors and see if they have any over stock in the amount of square footage you need. Be surprised the deals you can get from guys holding material and nothing to do with it. Of course the color options are limited. But its a good start and later down the road you should be able to get it refinished to a different color stain at around $2.00-$2.50/sqft . And you can install the prefinished flooring your self. Only thing you need is a miter saw, rent the flooring nailer, and the mallet comes with the nailer. If you did it all yourself, you can spend less money and get hardwood flooring installed. I would recommend you save up for tile or 3/4 hardwood vs putting a quick cheaper fix in the kitchen.

cycle1667 · 07-01-2010, 04:11 PM

Wear good, looks nice, easy to clean. I think it is fairly inexpensive as well.
_________________________________________________
Basement Dehumidifier

01-18-2010, 08:24 PM	#1
99sidude home newb Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Dayton, ohio Age: 24 Posts: 2 Rep Power: 0	Taking the plunge... As I posted some time back on HS, I'm buying my own place. As it stands right now, I'm due to close anywhere from this week to 3 weeks from now. The home is a foreclosure, so I'm waiting on the deed to be transferred over from the sheriff. The house is a 1600 sq ft all brick ranch built in 1995. 3br 2ba. 2 car garage. 2 acres. The place is trashed, so I'm planning on sinking considerable sweat equity into the house right away. I will be doing as much work on my own as I can. Here's a list of what will be done in the month of February. My mom happens to be a well established interior decorator, so she is going to deck this place out, and get me everything at cost. -Paint all walls in the house -Re-floor the entire house -Re-do kitchen cabinets -Clean up the basement -Purchase refrigerator (craigslist special) -install water softener Right now the kitchen floors is a crappy plastic surface. I've been debating on whether to go with faux wood or ceramic tile. Real wood floors are too $$$ and I am too rough on my floors. What do you feel has more appeal? A ceramic tile kitchen floor, or a decent faux wood floor? Any other words of wisdom as I jump into this would be appreciated

01-19-2010, 02:52 AM	#2
briansol Administrator Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Central CT Age: 30 Posts: 482 Rep Power: 10	Tile will likely cost you more than wood. Pergo is cheap and done right looks pretty good. But, real hardwood isn't that much more sometimes. There's ranges of everything, but you can get a decent hardwood for about 50 cents a sq ft over the cost of pergo. If you're pretty rough, pergo is probably the better way to go. it's pretty easy to lay down. __________________ 1997 2050sqft Split Level

01-20-2010, 05:06 PM	#4
briansol Administrator Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Central CT Age: 30 Posts: 482 Rep Power: 10	i haven't, but a few friends have. no special tool required, except you may need to rent a slam nailer from home depot for a day.... depends on the style. they are pre-finished. cut, lay, and nail. thats about it. How to Install Pergo Flooring \| eHow.com __________________ 1997 2050sqft Split Level

07-01-2010, 04:11 PM	#6
cycle1667 Junior Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: indianapolis Posts: 2 Rep Power: 0	saltillo tile Wear good, looks nice, easy to clean. I think it is fairly inexpensive as well. _________________________________________________ Basement Dehumidifier

01-19-2010, 07:11 PM	#3
99sidude home newb Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Dayton, ohio Age: 24 Posts: 2 Rep Power: 0	Have you ever installed the pergo flooring yourself? I wonder if you need any special tools/materials like for a hard wood floor. Buffer? Sander?