Home Renovating Recommendations

[fundmark19]

Well I purchased a home in Cochrane and I will be doing a whole bunch of renos to it and plan on putting in laminate flooring for the house roughly 2400 sq ft

Where is the best place to buy in Calgary? Or is it a better option to purchase online? I don't want the real cheap 88 cent laminate special but more the nice looking stuff that is a good alternative to hardwood.

If anyone knows any good contractors as well I will take their names and hopefully can get a bunch of good quotes

[Bigtime]

PM sent.

[DownhillGoat]

There's two flooring stores in Cochrane you might want to take a look at. You might find a better deal locally.

Also, Costco does flooring and services Cochrane. I went through them to do my blinds.

[surferguy]

Originally Posted by Bigtime

PM sent.

beaten to it, talk to Bigtime

[Russic]

Bigtime helped with ours... he's awesome.

[fundmark19]

Originally Posted by kunkstyle

There's two flooring stores in Cochrane you might want to take a look at. You might find a better deal locally.

Also, Costco does flooring and services Cochrane. I went through them to do my blinds.

Kunk,

Thanks for the tip! I am still not sure if we will be friends yet since you keep stealing my things.

[DownhillGoat]

I didn't steal your 3 reclining and 1 non-reclining chairs, you gave them away. As far as the blackjack table is concerned, I was thinking solely about your welfare. I didn't want you to have to face the wrath of your wife when you brought it home.

[fundmark19]

Well when you put it that way it sounds like you would be a great friend!

Anyone else know of any contractors that like cochrane? I am hoping to get a couple of quotes done. Big items are gas fireplace install as well as a wet bar in a finished basement

[surferguy]

when are you looking at getting the work done Fundmark?

I may be interested

[fundmark19]

First week of October 1-12th. You may enjoy it as well here are the things I want to get done by pros.

Gas Fireplace in living room ( not roughed in so starting from scratch)
Wet bar in basement ( full finished want to make it sort of custom that my mini fridge fits as well as my kegerator. Would like it to be hidden behind cabinet doors)

Other less important things.
Updating 3 bathrooms just putting the fiberglass inserts and tiling much like we did in my rental property. I was thinking probably doing this part myself
Counter top resurfacing thinking about going with those spray on granite guys
Laminate flooring everywhere will probably do this myself
New carpet on stairs about 20 stairs
Tile landing entrance way probably tackle this myself as well

[surferguy]

pm'd

[Knalus]

Not to be a troll or anything, but I would recommend against Laminate floor. No one pulls up carpet, hoping they have laminate floor underneath.

[fundmark19]

Originally Posted by Knalus

Not to be a troll or anything, but I would recommend against Laminate floor. No one pulls up carpet, hoping they have laminate floor underneath.

The house is not old enough to have hardwood under the carpet. The current carpet is in terrible condition and the kitchen has lino. I don't want hardwood due to my dogs and future kids ruining it. New laminate is quite nice I am curious why you don't like it?

[Kybosh]

I did the flooring in my house last summer ~1000 sqft of coverage for the main floor and stairs.

My two cents:
1) I initially started looking at laminate like you, but was not overly impressed with the installations and the look of the final product. You can buy some real nice hard wood these days and some of them are even better for dogs than laminate. Hardwood just looks better in my opinion.
2) If damage is a concern, consider laying tile in high traffic areas. Honestly, putting tile down throughout the mainfloor and stairs is the best thing I've ever done. My dog can't put a dent in it, it has a cool modern look and it's ridiculously easy to keep clean.

I put hardwood in the closed off rooms, but tile everywhere else. Surferguy has seen it, and he might agree that it's a decent option for you. Laying tile is more labour intensive for prep and installation etc., but the final product adds to the resale.

Oh, and if you pay someone to do the work for you always remember that the cost to install el cheapo materials is the same as installing quality stuff. Don't cheap out on the raw materials.

[fundmark19]

Originally Posted by Kybosh

I did the flooring in my house last summer ~1000 sqft of coverage for the main floor and stairs.

My two cents:
1) I initially started looking at laminate like you, but was not overly impressed with the installations and the look of the final product. You can buy some real nice hard wood these days and some of them are even better for dogs than laminate. Hardwood just looks better in my opinion.
2) If damage is a concern, consider laying tile in high traffic areas. Honestly, putting tile down throughout the mainfloor and stairs is the best thing I've ever done. My dog can't put a dent in it, it has a cool modern look and it's ridiculously easy to keep clean.

I put hardwood in the closed off rooms, but tile everywhere else. Surferguy has seen it, and he might agree that it's a decent option for you. Laying tile is more labour intensive for prep and installation etc., but the final product adds to the resale.

Oh, and if you pay someone to do the work for you always remember that the cost to install el cheapo materials is the same as installing quality stuff. Don't cheap out on the raw materials.

Flooring I will be installing myself 99% sure of. Wife is not a fan of tile in main areas I have it in one of my rental properties.

[Kybosh]

Originally Posted by fundmark19

Flooring I will be installing myself 99% sure of. Wife is not a fan of tile in main areas I have it in one of my rental properties.

Fair enough. My house is smaller than the one you're describing, so the tile works (it's also big tile - 18"x18"). I just found hardwood was easy to install (even easier than laminate according to some professionals I know) and, if you buy a decent product, it's possible to resurface it after years of damage.

[Hans Landa]

If you want a good hardwood product that can stand up to Kids and Dogs, then check out Vintage Hardwood's Solid Sawn Handscraped line:
http://vintageflooring.com/product_ss_hs.php

Canadian company. They also make laminates.

I had installed in my Ontario home and most recently put the same stuff in my Alberta home. Not cheap though... around $9.25 sq/ft for the white oak (that's what I paid in Alberta... it's a bit 'cheaper' in Ontario)
The handscraped'ness hides scratches and dings. I have a very dark stain, so I just keep a black sharpie on hand to fix any unsightly blemishes.
Anyone that has come in to either of our homes, just spends their visit with their head turned down at the floor the entire time. Very rustic and the 5" planks on a 45 looks dynamite.

I called around to a dozen places in Calgary, plus one in Cochrane and Maple Leaf Flooring on 32nd Ave NE was by far the cheapest. They were aggressively priced right out of the gate. A bit dodgy on the service, but if you know what you want and just need them to order it, they can handle it.

[fundmark19]

Unfortunately I am not like most cp members and can afford 9.25 a sq ft. I bet it is very beautiful though. That would take up almost half my budget. I would much rather a fireplace and wet bar over hardwood floors

[Hans Landa]

Originally Posted by fundmark19

Unfortunately I am not like most cp members and can afford 9.25 a sq ft.

Neither are we... that's why we drive POS econobox Kia's

Are you sure you need the Wet Bar? According to CP, if you don't live within a stone's throw of Stephen Ave, 17th Ave or Kensington you won't have any friends, nor will you be blessed with the cosmopolitan lifestyle that, apparently, everyone longs to be a part of.


In any case, I'm jealous. I like Cochrane (from what I see driving through it, since I take 1A every weekend to get to the mountains). I looked there when considering my options of places to live around the YYC, but nothing in our price range was freehold, and for me, I'll sacrifice a few kms of location inconvenience if it allows me to have have a my high end luxuries to come home to.

Sounds like you have some fun projects lined up. Pics when it's all done!

[fundmark19]

That's exactly why I need the wet bar. Kunk lives close by and only way I could convince him to be my friend is to give him alcohol. I need to have at least 1 friebd