Question about flooring - Vinyl Plank in particular

[gregpark]

Originally Posted by Shaun @ Tru6

Great and timely thread. Now I'm considering something like this instead of carpet.

https://coretecfloors.com/en-us/products/coretec-premium/blended-sienna-vv704-04018

How easy is this to install yourself?

Easy peasy. Go back a page and read my tips on install

[Shaun @ Tru6]

Perfect, thank you!

[Baz]

Originally Posted by gregpark

The Texan jack of all trades guy will probably do a great job but he can't get to it for a couple of months? When can the floor store schedule installation? Their quote is about 12 bucks a foot for everything ( pretty reasonable) and mom's insurance is covering it anyway? A legit floor store will handle the installation and stand behind it, handle any warrantee claims, etc. And the job will be done in 3 days by a crew that just does flooring every day. Contracting with the flooring store would eliminate potential hassles and probably get your mom's house back to normal faster. I've been in the biz longer than I care to admit and have seen this senario play out many times...jus sayin

Hi Greg.....

Other way around.

Texan can start right away.

In fact, he already moved his schedule up to remove the carpeting (originally was going to be Saturday) to tomorrow (Wed.) after he finishes with his Serve Pro responsibilities - so around 6pm.

I've been hustling at Mom's all day getting ready. So far all rooms are ready except for the smallest which I can knock out tomorrow.

I'm also picking materials up tomorrow and they will help me unload when they get there.

I think the plan now is to do the install on Sunday.

Good to know the flooring company's estimate was fair. Last I spoke to the owner, he had about 23 jobs lined up so not sure he'd be able to get to me for a while.

I also heard from the insurance company and we are getting a check from them but get this......looks like it's only due to roof damage.

What I interpret that to be is I can still apply to FEMA for this flooring stuff.

Boy my Mom sure has a LOT of crap!

[gregpark]

Oh, sorry, I got it backwards. Let Tex tackle it and give mom her house back!

[gregpark]

The insurance companies are inundated with claims after a flood and many will try to get out of paying. Back in '86 I was doing flooring in Marin and we had floods that winter. I dealt with a restaurant owner who was told "this water is too muddy to be called a flood. It's earth movement. You're not insured for that." Man, was he pissed.

[Baz]

There's a TON I will never understand about how insurance works.

[Baz]

Looks like I will need 60 cases. Each case weighs 33.5 lbs. so that will be approx. 1 ton. No problem with the Silverado! There's 28 cases per pallet so it will be 2 pallets plus 4 more cases. With my 8' bed they should fit right in.

They are showing 189 cases in stock so I should be all set.

Appreciate your help, Greg.

Lot of work but I'm excited about how it will all look when done and how happy Mom will be!

[gregpark]

Use your hand truck to off load and save your back. Lots of trips from truck to house, two cartons at a time. Look at it as good exercise :^)
It'll look great, a different house. Your mom will be thrilled

[Baz]

Originally Posted by gregpark

Use your hand truck to off load and save your back. Lots of trips from truck to house, two cartons at a time. Look at it as good exercise :^)
It'll look great, a different house. Your mom will be thrilled

Great idea! Didn't think of using a hand truck. I have one here I use all the time and will take it over with me tomorrow.

Thanks once again for your invaluable tips and advice, Greg!

[herr_oberst]

Still one of the best BBS's I belong to. Good luck with the project, Baz

[Baz]

Originally Posted by herr_oberst

Still one of the best BBS's I belong to. Good luck with the project, Baz

Thanks, Herr Oberst......and I agree about our brain trust here!

BTW, regarding the handling of this product.......I was in the fertilizer business for 10 years and we sold our product in 50 lb. bags, so I always think about carrying weight in terms of 50 lb. increments.

A ton to me will always be a pallet of 40 x 50 lb. bags of fertilizer.

The number of those I handled over the years......

[Baz]

OK - at Mom's house right now. Picked up LVP and it's all unloaded. Was looking at the directions and noticed "No sections should be less than 8".

So I assume if working in a rectangular area going left to right.....with a slant on one side.....make sure I end up with the slant to my left?

And how important is that "No less than 8" section" provision?

Thanks!

[gregpark]

Not sure what "section" refers to but the staggering of butt joints is important to the overall look. The rule of thumb is no butt joints on adjoining courses closer together than the width of a board. Also, if the material has varied shading from plank to plank (many do and it's a good look) I avoid putting 2 dark shaded boards together side by side. It'll look like a dark area in the over all floor. What you selected may be consistent in color though and the installers won't need to pay attention. The instructions could be referring to short starters or finishers but I never worry about that. I start or finish a course with a piece less than 8" all the time and have never had a call back because of it. All the field boards are probably all 4' long so no short sections possible

[Baz]

Originally Posted by gregpark

Not sure what "section" refers to but the staggering of butt joints is important to the overall look. The rule of thumb is no butt joints on adjoining courses closer together than the width of a board. Also, if the material has varied shading from plank to plank (many do and it's a good look) I avoid putting 2 dark shaded boards together side by side. It'll look like a dark area in the over all floor. What you selected may be consistent in color though and the installers won't need to pay attention. The instructions could be referring to short starters but I never worry about that. I'll start a course with a piece less than 8" all the time and have never had a call back because of it.

OK thanks, Greg. By "section" I meant a piece of plank. Specifically one that is shorter than the original length.

I gotta tell ya......now I'm wondering about just doing this myself. It sorta looks like fun more than work!

The hardest part would be moving some of the bigger pieces of furniture that remain - but even that I think I could handle - especially considering my experience in both landscaping and the stuff I have moved around at my place!

This place can really be an enabler sometimes...lol....

[gregpark]

It's really pretty simple with just a few rules of thumb, but the work is on the floor so buy some good knee pads! It's designed for do it yourselfers and anyone with a clue can do it. I edited my post above. Check the label on a carton, the lengths are probably all the same (4' usually) so no shorts possible in the field. The boards lock together side to side and end to end so it's not possible to install a short piece in the field.

[gregpark]

The cut off at the end of a course starts the next. There's no waste end to end. Every now and then the planks length is a common denominator of the rooms length and a pattern of butt joints can occur which is not desirable. In this case I lop a bit off a starter and keep the butt joints random.

[Baz]

OK thanks. We'll see what happens when the Texan arrives tonight. I will discuss with him and then make a decision. His help in just removing the carpet is much appreciated.

[KFC911]

If you want to get mom "back to normal" asap.... hire Tex. If ya wanna save some bucks and have it look like a pro did it .... you can do that too .

Good luck Baz!

[Baz]

Texas was a no show - he called later after I got back home and said he was going to call but his phone died.

I'm just going to take the carpet out myself and then go ahead with the new flooring work myself. It just seems like it will be easier and faster this way.

People are just busy right now doing other jobs. I understand that and am just glad I have the ability to do stuff on my own, if need be.

I got a lot done today to prepare for both the carpet removal and the new flooring so things are still moving forward.

[herr_oberst]

Does vinyl need to acclimate to the room like natural wood flooring does?