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Most common hardwood flooring installation mistakes which homeowners don't pay attention to but they should.
I see it all the time & it's upsetting that some installers don't care

Go take a look at your own floors, you might be surprised...

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The OFFICIAL Hardwood Flooring Thread

Here are some recent pics of beautiful 5" Hand Scraped hardwood floors.
It's a great alternative for people who want something different especially in a wide plank size with low gloss. Also great if you have kids as the scraping on the floors helps to hide dents/defects

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The OFFICIAL Hardwood Flooring Thread

Patrob,

Is that your house? It looks great. What colour is that floor and how much would something like that cost approximatly?

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Andrea
In and loving every minute of it.
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No, it's not my house but that same floor in 7" will be going into my home eventually

The product on that pic is Vintage Baroque Hand Scraped in 5" http://www.vintageflooring.com/colorshs.asp

Let's just say the cost for this floor with installation will be less $$$ than what Mattamy charges for their Mirage upgrade

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Hi Patrob,
I am looking to put hardwood in my dining room and hallway, parlour and great room after I move in.

Mirage Maple hardwood in Sierra 3 1/4 X 3/4 (the wider plank).
here is a link to the house plan:
http://www.mattamyhomes.com/communities/hawthorne/sub.asp?id=2154

Can you please send me an estimate?

Thanks!!

No problem, I'll PM you the details

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Hi patrob,

We are looking at hardwood throughout most of the house after closing but are considering cork and/or leather in what will be an upstairs exercise room and main floor office. Specifically. we were intrigued by a mailing we got recently about Torlys leather flooring.

Have you had any experience with leather floors? How would you rate them for comfort and feel, and secondarily for durability, vs. cork? Any info would be appreciated.

Thank you.

Leather floors are totally new. I doubt anyone has any experience with it yet. But the same base is used for their other products, incl. cork which I have experience with.

Torlys leather floors have the same 25 yrs. residential warranty, so I am sure it will be durable. Torlys makes great products overall. I really like their cork, especially in the dark brown colour. It's soft, warm & it has that trendy look. I am sure leather will be the same if not more popular.
http://torlys.com/Home/tabid/376/Default.aspx

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The OFFICIAL Hardwood Flooring Thread

Thank you, patrob. We really like the idea of the cork (and leather) for the exact reasons you state re. adding some softness and warmth. And doing a couple of rooms differently from the hardwood might break the monotony a bit.

We're really torn on the leather thing ... maybe staying with the cork will be the safer bet after all ... decisions, decisions. Thanks again.

Hi Milton Leo and Patrob,
Have you seen the rubber flooring? I saw it in a model home years ago they covered the basement with it. The way they did it it was very attractive, it flowed from the TV room - playroom - Gym changing in colour. It was very soft and would be durable in an exercise room, not sure but maybe it will also help with sounds coming from an the upstairs gym. It also has a little bounce/shock absorber and was also nice and warm on the feet in the basement. Something you may want to consider.

Patrob not sure if you install stuff like this? I am assuming you do. What are the pro's and cons. Do you have any pics of the product?

Not sure about rubber floors, but maybe it was cork that you saw? Great fr basements, it feels soft & warm on your feet. Or maybe it was some kind of rubberized underlay that the builder used in the model home as temporary flooring material

Here are Torlys cork tiles installed over existing tiles in the kitchen without the need to rip them out. Great for a quick make-over

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Hi justagirl,

I've not heard of rubber flooring, sounds intriguing for a basement workout room though. Kind of like a big preinstalled gym mat!

For our upstairs exercise room I do have my heart set on cork or leather. But by 'exercise' room I am meaning the more genteel types of exercise like treadmill, yoga mat, exercise ball. My husband has his free weights and a heavy bag but he gets to keep those in the basement. Just the thought of him dripping sweat on our new cork floors or crashing weights down on leather floors, well my lungs would be getting some extra exercise too lemme tell ya, LOL.

I'm joking, really -- he has absolutely no desire to use the heavy bag on a hot 2nd floor anyway; the cooler basement is definitely his choice for that. If there is rubber flooring AND it's washable (I am talking sweat that literally flies!) that would really be neat to do. Thx for the idea, justagirl.

Yes, there is a big diff. between Mirage & Bruce & $1000 is nothing, should actually be more.

You don't have to match your cabinets to your floors (who gave you that idea?) Your kitchen cabinets & floors are two separate things. You match both of them to your lifestyle not to each other. What if you chose cream/pearl cabinets, would you also go with cream floors

IMO the Colorado colour does have that outdated honey oak look. Vienna is a much richer colour & goes well with everything.

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The OFFICIAL Hardwood Flooring Thread

You are referring to piano staircase. Yes I have seen it & it has its look. Neither of those looks are overpowering, it's just a personal preference & surrounding decor. I don't think Mattamy offers the piano (two tone) stairs option but I could be wrong.



If you are not doing the hardwood in the kitchen, then choose the cabinets that you like. It doesn't have to match the hardwood floors in the adjoining room. Your tiled kitchen is a separate living space. But if you like the dark chocolate cabinets & you also like the dark floors, then it's a perfect combination [/img]

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No, the runner is only for the look. Some people like it, some don't.
The hardwood stairs will not be slippery unless you have a high gloss finish.
I personally really like the dark colours for hardwood & I don't think they will go out of style anytime soon. The dark colours were always available & always will be available.
You can always change it in 10-15 years if you don't like it anymore So if you really love it, just go for it.

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