Hi Lori, I know - when we stew over something for so long we do get confused! Too close to the issue, I think. To answer you - well, it depends. I think taking the hard flooring to the stairway is not a problem if there is a door that is usually closed at the stairway. The hard flooring could be installed to meet the carpeting on the basement side of the door (so the break would not be seen from the hall side). If there is not a door to the stairway you could consider taking the hard flooring down one step to give a continuous look before the break of the step. 'Course, if you want to spend more money & have a continuous look (if the stairway is not closed off & especially if it leads to a frequently-used space such as a family room), then the hard flooring with a runner (such as indoor/outdoor - you don't want a high pile or soft, plushy carpeting on stairs) would be a good way to go. The hard flooring would then provide a link between the two levels & offer some more continuity that the existing carpeting would not. I know this answer seems wishy-washy, but the floor treatment does depend on what's around it & the function that goes on in the areas. Hope this helps. Kathleen

I appreciate all of the feedback to my question. You've given me many things to consider. We are adding a shower to the first floor bathroom. It will be a roll-in shower with all of the necessary blocking for grab bars, etc. We experimented with a borrowed wheelchair to be sure that we will be able to roll under the new vanity and negotiate doorways, etc. Our current office could become a first floor bedroom if needed, and we have specified lever handles everywhere. We have been working on the plan for months and thought all was settled until I read this weekend about potential problems with hardwood or other hard surfaces. Previously, I had heard mostly about problems with carpet. Your comments have helped me put conflicting advice into perspective. We probably will go ahead as planned with hardwood. A large area rug in the middle of the living room will probably work since it is not in the main flow of traffic. I will be sure, however, not to use any smaller throw rugs or walk around in slippery socks. As I said, we have been planning this project for over a year. We are almost ready to sign the construction contract, so I am trying to make final decisions and pin down all of the details.

My concern is the layers of vinyl underneath the hardwood. Hardwood doesn't like sitting on vinyl and vinyl doesn't like sitting on hardwood. The two do NOT like each other. If you think this is a good idea (which it is considered on the technical side of things a horrible approach to this) then you might have to add another layer of subfloor. A nice, fat, thick 1/2" plywood to cover those two layers of vinyl. Now you can go ahead and lay the hardwood. Technically, my suggestion is hideous. It is atrocious. It is so "unprofessional" that I could weep. But if you insist on leaving the vinyl in place, then you need to think of a way to separate the vinyl from the hardwood sitting on top....and one very sure way is with plywood. Again, my suggestion is a travesty. Then again so is laying hardwood over two layers of vinyl. In the flooring world, we 'allow' ONE layer of resistant flooring (like vinyl) to sit underneath another floor. For example: the first layer of vinyl was considered "OK" to lay another layer of vinyl over top. All good. No one in the technical department batted an eye. If a THIRD vinyl floor was proposed (or a laminate, or linoleum, or cork, or hardwood, or tile, or even carpet) it would be a "NOOOOOOOO! STOOOOOP! DON'T DO IT!" type of answer. So I will officially say: No. Stop. Don't do it. There. It has been said. That being said, if you as the homeowner choose to forgo the installation instructions and the "Best Practices" as set out by the National Wood Flooring Association (as homeowners your word is "law" when it comes to things like this), you are welcome to go ahead and lay hardwood over two layers of vinyl. If you do it, I suggest a new layer of plywood to help things along - because you need FLAT. And most "old hardwoods with two layers of vinyl sitting on them" are anything but flat. Good luck. You would be better off remediating the asbestos/vinyl and getting down to bare hardwood. Now a new floor (with the help of a layer of plywood) can go down. Or you remove the original hardwood with the vinyl (this is easier to do than scrape off the vinyl...and easier = cheaper) and start with a new layer of subfloor and go after it like it should be done. But as homeowner your word is "law". If you tell a professional to "just do it", they will say "yes ma'am/sir" and do it. But they will not warranty their work. You will be left holding the bag - and all the pit vipers that lay inside. It's your call.

Hardwood all the way. Get yourself a nice rug to bring back some coziness. To me, food+carpet=gross. And I'm a carpet fan.