Posted by rise2it(VA) on May 17, 2008 at 11:30:46:
In Reply to: How about vinyl composition tiles? posted by Sherm on May 17, 2008 at 09:22:04:
I've got them down in some in 4 homes - this is what I started with when I got into this a few years back, and I did entire homes with them.
(1) The colors carried by the chain stores (Lowes,etc) are horrible. While some nice colors can be special ordered, going with the standard colors (dirty white, beige, grayish-blue) will make it look like a dentist office.
(2) While the stuff is pretty resistant to scratching, it CAN stain. I have several ruined tiles from me or other workers setting down various cans, etc while working - and have nice bleached out 'rings' on some tiles.
*** Yes, this is MY fault, but something to be aware of.
(3)VC tiles NEED to be cleaned and waxed after installation, or they are still going to look bad (dull). This is just more work for me.
(4) They will 'scuff' easily from furniture, etc.
(5) If you miss getting a nail or screw (from the subfloor) all the way down, it WILL show up as a bump in the tile.
(6) Unused adhesive goes bad after a few months. I think it even says on the containers that it's only good for six months once opened....I've tossed a lot of money into the garbage because of this.
*** Again, this is MY fault. I tend to 'overbuy' to save myself trips to the store. IF you have 'helpers' working with you, and you have 4 cans of adhesive for a job that only requires 2 cans, you can bet that all 4 cans will end up 'opened'.
My goal was to have something that would require little maintainance, and it fit the bill....but having installed some laminate in my home since then:
(1) Laminate goes a heck of a lot faster.
(2) Laminate looks MUCH MUCH better.
Sherm, my thinking was the same as yours - $1 a square foot, counting the tile and glue. But with the deal Tony and the guys are getting in their area ($1 a foot) or during sales at Lowes/HD (I think I've paid .78 a foot before) the cost is virtually the same.
So, I'm officially jumping on the laminate boat, except in small bathrooms and possibly kitchens.
- Re: How about vinyl composition tiles? Sherm 12:12:53 05/17/08 (2)
- Bathrooms Ryan (NC) 20:25:41 05/17/08 (0)
- Re: How about vinyl composition tiles? Tony Colella 15:15:52 05/17/08 (0)
- Testing laminate Don-NY 11:57:30 05/17/08 (0)