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Originally Posted by asphaltgambler
1) Is it wise to buy the material direct to save money? - will installers install the customers flooring?
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No, I would not do that. It is like going to your mechanic for a repair with the parts you bought at autozone. The mechanic will miss out on his markup and on his say what works best for him to install and guarantee.
Quote:
Originally Posted by asphaltgambler
2) There seems to be endless selections / types of flooring. We want something for the long haul = 12-15 years
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My high quality laminate from Wilsonart (now out of business) which I installed 15 years ago looks brand new. 2 dogs, rented several years to family with children etc. Modern laminate is a contender IMHO, it looks very real because it is a printed picture of real wood. It sure sounds like the vinyl materials are similar in durability. Do they look as "real"?
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Originally Posted by asphaltgambler
3) We have a large dog so it needs to be almost scratch proof
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Our dogs accelerate and slow themselves down sliding like crazy with claws scratching. Kids scoot around on "plasma cars" etc. All no problem on a good laminate. You can take a sample and try to mess it up. Laminate is ceramic coated - mine dulled the sawblade fast and there were sparks visible when I cut at night.
Quote:
Originally Posted by asphaltgambler
4) What should I expect for the cost per SqFt for removal of the carpet and tile?
5) What should I expect the cost per SqFt for the material?
6) What should I expect for cost of labor per Sqft
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No clue. Depends on your location too. I am a DIYer. Try to get the demo as a fixed price, that may be a lot harder than you think. I remember putting in my bathroom tile floors, I was super careful not to mess up, getting all that stuff back out must be a nightmare ...
G