Let's talk about hardwood floors

[_Q_]

So I am considering purchasing a condo. Everything seems great about the place, but I don't like the floors. The place is just shy of 1000 square feet. Simple question, how much will it cost me for hardwood floors + installation? I can live with only doing the living room and dining room, which are about 300 square feet total. What kind of price am I looking at? I am not handy with stuff like this at all, so I would need a good installer to do it for me.

[Bigtime]

PM sent.

[Canada 02]

when I built my home a few years back, it was about $3/sq ft for installation, and anywhere from $3 to $15/sq ft for materials, depending on the quality, thickness of the boards, solid vs engineered etc (these are American prices, as I live in the midwest)

estimating $10/sq ft would not be unreasonable

[bizaro86]

I would make sure the condo board will allow you to put hardwood floors in, some buildings do not allow it. Also, some have requirements regarding what type of materials can be used, which may increase your costs.

[Bigtime]

Most will allow an engineered floor with an adequate sound reduction underlay. Has to meet a certain IIC and STC rating.

[darklord700]

For just 300 sq ft, it shouldn't cost you more than $4000 all in.

Forget about the hardness of the wood, they all get ding if you drop something on it. Go with the look you like. And the finishing is the most important part, make sure it has multiple coat of Aluminum oxide on it.

And don't go with glossy finish, it won't last, matte finish is the way to go.

[_Q_]

Originally Posted by bizaro86

I would make sure the condo board will allow you to put hardwood floors in, some buildings do not allow it.

I never thought of that. Thanks. I do recall seeing another unit in the building with (very crappy) laminate floors, so it might not be an issue. Maybe I should discuss it with my realtor if I decide to purchase the place.

[photon]

Definitely check with the board, I wanted to put hardwood into the bedrooms of my condo to match the rest and I wasn't allowed to, I had to put carpet (and a specific weight of carpet and underlay too).

[bizaro86]

Originally Posted by photon

Definitely check with the board, I wanted to put hardwood into the bedrooms of my condo to match the rest and I wasn't allowed to, I had to put carpet (and a specific weight of carpet and underlay too).

I think Bigtime's experience is with concrete highrises downtown, which might explain the diffence. I definitely have a condo that would look great with laminate/hardwood, which currently has old-ish carpet. I wanted to put in laminate (more durable) but the board said carpet only for noise reasons. It's an older wood frame building, which obviously makes a difference.

To the OP: You should definitely talk to your realtor. Just because someone else has done it doesn't mean it's allowed. They could be grandfathered, or they may just have done it without getting permission.

[Bigtime]

Lots of new wood frame buildings are using engineered hardwood in the entire unit, including bedrooms. But some boards can be pretty set in their ways, and there is little that can be done to budge them.

In the arriVa building engineered flooring was no problem in bedrooms, as long as the underlay met the boards required sound reduction ratings.

[bizaro86]

Originally Posted by Bigtime

Lots of new wood frame buildings are using engineered hardwood in the entire unit, including bedrooms. But some boards can be pretty set in their ways, and there is little that can be done to budge them.

In the arriVa building engineered flooring was no problem in bedrooms, as long as the underlay met the boards required sound reduction ratings.

Yeah, it definitely should be allowed if done properly, but that isn't always the case.

[undercoverbrother]

Would the bylaws speak to what the unit owner can and can't do to the unit.

[mykalberta]

Have you thought about laminate instead. Much cheaper and wont dent.

[_Q_]

Originally Posted by mykalberta

Have you thought about laminate instead. Much cheaper and wont dent.

I have. Maybe all the places I have checked out have cheap laminate flooring, but they all have a weird feel to them. I don't know, again, maybe good laminate floor is indistinguishable from hardwood.

[AMG_G]

Sorry for the hijack but what are my options if I want a gym type floor in my basement exercise room? Currently just bare cement but in the process of developing my basement.

[bizaro86]

Originally Posted by AMG_G

Sorry for the hijack but what are my options if I want a gym type floor in my basement exercise room? Currently just bare cement but in the process of developing my basement.

Could try cork.

[undercoverbrother]

Originally Posted by AMG_G

Sorry for the hijack but what are my options if I want a gym type floor in my basement exercise room? Currently just bare cement but in the process of developing my basement.

You can get rubber tiles


http://www.homedepot.com/Flooring-Ex..._d2/Navigation

[BEANZ]

Originally Posted by AMG_G

Sorry for the hijack but what are my options if I want a gym type floor in my basement exercise room? Currently just bare cement but in the process of developing my basement.

Send me a PM with how much square footage you need.

I work in the Sports industry and can find you something suitable for a good price.

[Tron_fdc]

Hey guys, I might need some help here.

I hired a guy to do my flooring last year, and he's made an absolute MESS of my house. Long story short, between his constant excuses and continual f-ups, I have a house I want to sell that has half the main floor sanded and refinished, and about 80% of the upstairs flooring installed.

I need someone to finish the clearcoat downstairs, finish installing the flooring in a spare bedroom, and finish some paint touch ups in the hallways/living room.

If anyone can recommend a company or a REFERENCED tradesman that can do it I'm all ears.

[red sky]

Sounds like a job for Mike Holmes!