Installing new floor - suggestions needed on 5 inch width
pacerwaala
9 years ago
Featured Answer
Sort by:Oldest
Comments (8)
Related Discussions
Flooring decision - White vs Red Oak, Q&R vs Select, 5 vs 7 inch
Comments (4)With the dark stain, it visually won't matter that much. White oak will tend to have tighter grain (softer texture) than red oak. It is also a slightly harder wood which is better for dents. Rift and quartered has a different look than plain-sawn flooring. It is linear looking with annual rings running more or less in straight lines along the planks. 10-20% of the R&Q lot will exhibit ray fleck, which is quite pretty. Plain-sawn produces a cathedral pattern with the annual rings, what most people think of with oak. R&Q is superior in dimensional stability and should seriously be considered if you go with solid wood and 5" or wider planks. Anything over 8' in length is probably overkill unless you have huge rooms or very wide hallways where it might show. I installed a mixed width and I don't care for the 7" wide by 1' long. It seems out of proportion. Average length is the key and look for 4'-5'. An 8' long by 8" wide is actually as large as I would recommend for a typical remodel because of access (unless the wood comes in through the windows). Here is what I did (you can zoom in on the pics to see the grain and fleck): Here is a link that might be useful: Waterlox on Oak...See MoreWhere to find 5.5 inch floor mouldings?
Comments (7)Are you going to have a shoe mold/quarter-round in addition to the baseboards? If so, you might be able to make the 5.25" baseboards work, because the shoe will cover the gap. We recently removed all of our carpet and installed glue-down cork. We did it the cheater's way by not removing the baseboards. This left big gaps -- huge gaps in some places where the base had been cut away aggressively over time to acommodate different carpets. We looked for the right shoe/quarter-round and none of it was tall enough to cover the biggest of the gaps. The solution? Window stop molding. It was 1-1/4" and did the trick....See MoreHas anyone installed 5 1/4 inch hardwood in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada?
Comments (4)You can have your cake and eat it too. You can have the 5" wide plank but you MUST have GLUE ASSIST! MUST! That means more money for glue and more money for installation. There is NO WAY around the GLUE ASSIST! That being said, if your CONTRACTOR (ahem...NOT a flooring professional...not even close!) is hesitant to do this, it means they have had BAD experiences because they do not use flooring PROFESSIONALS on their crew. They use "guys with hammers" to do ALL the work. That's why your GC is hesitating here. That's fine. At least s/he knows the limitations of their crew. You can ask the GC to REACH OUT to PROFESSIONAL flooring installers (you will agree to pay for the UP CHARGE for doing this) so that you can have your 5" wide maple. So...you will be looking at the glue-assist up charge (can be $1.50 - $2.50/sf MORE for the install) and the up-charge for the PROFESSIONAL flooring company to come in and do the install (can be $2 - $4/sf more). If you have a GC coming in, you might want to have your HVAC (heating/cooling system) inspected to see what is needed to maintain a constant humidity level. Your summers are HUMID (dehumidifier and/or A/C required) and your winters can be humid AND dry (because of all the heating required indoors the air becomes very dry = whole home humidifier). At worst, the $6K up grade to the home's HVAC will be money well spent. And just to be clear, 3 3/4" wood needs the same humidity requirements. Nothing will get you out of the need for humidity control with wood flooring. Nothing. So....ask yourself if all the up charges are worth the 5" plank (could be as much as $6.50/sf added to the build). The HVAC will need the up grade no matter what type of solid flooring you have in there. Even laminate and vinyl require this level of stability....See MoreGetting new HAVC installed. Should I go with 2 (3ton & 4ton) or 1 5ton
Comments (12)Your situation really doesn't surprise me, if I have seen it once I have seen it a thousand times. While the bedroom / bonus room have low air as you stated the combination of this problem plus no return or thermostat control in those areas just due to where the equipment is placed or the longer run of those ducts can create comfort issues in the heat of summer. When there is light exposed to what the real problem is gives a better ability to offer things that will rectify the issue. In dealing with hot spots a zone system is a higher cost option to rectify the issue for the simple reason a zone system has the ability to better control a system. The caveat if you will is the 'design'... the other thing is architectural limitations of the structure. While some situations in which a zone system is used can reduce equipment costs, that is not it's only function. If rooms are a considerable difference from the equipment that serves it, a zoned system may be the best method to rectify that issue. The other method would be to relocate the equipment to a more central location within the structure so that the ducting to each area is more equal. In a zone system the equipment will cool / heat each zone independently so while location of the equipment is still some what important, not as much as a non-zoned system. A new return added to a hot spot will help, but it may not rectify the issue 100% for the simple reason the thermostat location now can not sense temperature in that area. If you move the thermostat then the problem is merely shifted to a new area outside the reach of the thermostat. This is how a zone system excels. Provided the design is done correctly. While it's true that 2 speed, 5 speed and full on inverter systems excel in a humid climate, that is not the only purpose of those machines. Because of the high utility cost in the location of where this structure is... it is in the interest of this home owner to choose the most efficient equipment they can. If it were me I would go with Inverter system 20 SEER or higher. (5 speed or full inverter variable) If you can't afford both at once or you want to make sure a company is worth their salt, consider awarding a company with the system that has the problem area first. Tell them if they rectify the issue with the trouble spots you will reward them with replacing the other system as well. If you hire them and it goes terribly wrong, hire in another contractor to fix the problems and then you have something to use leverage to get another contractor to take over the maintenance and service of both systems... the contractor who fixes the problem system gets the right to replace the other system. Additionally given the information of those hot spot problems, trying to drop this to total of 5 tons of cooling would be a disaster. For others that happen to read this thread with similar problems I service the Katy, Texas area....See Morepacerwaala
9 years agoAndrew K.
9 years agopacerwaala
9 years ago
Related Stories
DOORS5 Questions to Ask Before Installing a Barn Door
Find out whether that barn door you love is the right solution for your space
Full StoryKITCHEN BACKSPLASHESHow to Install a Tile Backsplash
If you've got a steady hand, a few easy-to-find supplies and patience, you can install a tile backsplash in a kitchen or bathroom
Full StoryREMODELING GUIDESContractor Tips: How to Install Tile
Before you pick up a single tile, pull from these tips for expert results
Full StoryFLOORSWhat's the Right Wood Floor Installation for You?
Straight, diagonal, chevron, parquet and more. See which floor design is best for your space
Full StoryWINDOWSContractor Tips: How to Choose and Install Windows
5 factors to consider when picking and placing windows throughout your home
Full StoryTILE6 Questions to Answer Before You Install Tile Flooring
Considering these things before tackling your floors can get you a better result
Full StoryLIGHTINGReady to Install a Chandelier? Here's How to Get It Done
Go for a dramatic look or define a space in an open plan with a light fixture that’s a star
Full StoryBATHROOM DESIGNShould You Install a Urinal at Home?
Wall-mounted pit stops are handy in more than just man caves — and they can look better than you might think
Full StoryMOST POPULARHow Much Room Do You Need for a Kitchen Island?
Installing an island can enhance your kitchen in many ways, and with good planning, even smaller kitchens can benefit
Full StoryTHE HARDWORKING HOMECES 2015: Inching Toward a Smarter Home
Companies are betting big on connected devices in 2015. Here’s a look at what’s to come
Full Story
Champion Floor Company