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Flooring Design Dilemma Kitchens

Tearing out a wall in the Kitchen and the tile is discontinued-HELP!

2 months ago

We have an L-shaped wall we want to tear out and open the kitchen up to the breakfast area, dining room, and den area. However, we have the same tile throughout the house and it is discontinued. What do we do? Somehow replace the kitchen floor but how does it flow into the other rooms? We cannot just change out the area we are tearing out. I have no idea what to do. Any advice is greatly appreciated.

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Comments (6)

HU-249558342
2 months ago
You have to replace all the tile. It is just one of the consequences of the project scope. Just like the 10-20K structural alterations to take down the wall.
M Miller
2 months ago
last modified: 2 months ago
I agree with the previous comment that once you decide to tear down walls, you have to be OK with the domino effect, such as floor replacement. And things like if the wall you are tearing down has cabinets or appliances, where will you have those once the wall is down. However, I do not agree that you must necessarily replace all the tile throughout the floor. That can be one choice, but depending on the floor plan, you can also make the flooring in the kitchen different from the rest since it's the kitchen. I like wood floors in a kitchen, but there are many flooring choices.

To get the most accurate flooring advice here, you would have to post your floor plan since we cannot tell from your description what the area is going to look like with the wall down.
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If he provided the tile, then it's up to him to QC the tile, and only top quality stuff gets installed. If you supplied the tile, then legally I can see his argument...however, if it's "chipped" chipped, and the homeowner is on site, it wouldn't be out of the ordinary for the installer to point it out and ask "is this really okay for me to install this?" As to the el being installed upside-down, handheld outlet els are usually installed so the water outflow is pointed down towards the floor. Yours is pointing up? The argument that the nipple can't be cut to the right size is ludicrous! If needed I cut them to whatever length I need then thread the ends. If these guys used pre-threaded nipples from the supply house, then you install the dropear outlet fitting at a certain depth behind the face of the finished wall so the proper amount of nipple threading is available for the outlet el to thread onto. Plumbing 101. Now you wrote the plumber was a "subcontractor." If you have a "contratactor" or GC that is overseeing the project, bring these problems to him and let him hammer things out with the subs. If you hired the subs directly, then it's up to you to wield the financial hammer over them until things are repaired to your satisfaction. Best thing is to have a conversation. Then follow the conversation up with a letter. Rehash the conversation, the repairs needed, and a time frame to accomplish. Just the facts, no emotion. No mention of money paid or withheld at this time. If further actions need be taken we'll go into those later.
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Started tearing out the other side of the kitchen. I'm waffling!
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Comments (12)
I agree with Lavender--open it up. Anyone who buys the house will like the openness. I do not like open plans in large houses, they are not comfortable. You can always create "comfy" delineations of space when it's open.(LL's plans have a lot of these areas I noticed) I think of it this way, pubs when done correctly manage to create areas for conversation, areas for card games and drinking/eating. Yes I admit it pubs are my model for home design...I've been to the most basic old style pubs(original worn floors, original cabinets) that rival many houses I have seen for "warmth". If you leave the walls partially closed it's more trouble and expense for the next owner. I knocked out one tiny (TINY)coat closet in my kitchen entryway and I COULD NOT BELIEVE THE RUBBLE that poured down(from the space above). If you decide not to do a bar, can you somehow place comfortable chairs/small couch facing the kitchen(maybe w/ a sofa table behind the couch). I love the idea of having someone near or in the kitchen while I'm cooking. When we were working on the other rooms we kept moving the furniture around out of the way. Everyone loved to sit in the upholstered chair squished into the corner of the kitchen.
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Most engineered floors can not be refinished. Some can not even be screened or need extensive hand work just to renew the surface finish. I can easily tell the difference between engineered and solid when I walk on them - they don't sound right and they are a little spongy. Ask to have sleepers laid so a solid floor can be nailed to the sleepers instead of glued down. For a kitchen, a site finished floor is preferable to a pre-finished floor. The surface doesn't have nearly the nooks and crannies to hold onto -ah- food dust and fluids? In my opinion, floated wood floors are a cheap substitute for hardwood. imo, they are an expensive substitute for hardwood as you need to replace them when scratched up, any water issues and any floorplan change. You can't take new floorboard and thread them in because manufacturers quickly follow fashion.
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marmiegard_z7b
2 months ago
I have seen some examples somewhere of very inventive interdigitated flooring transitions- almost like an artistic mosaic— though I think the examples were of either smaller transitions, like a hallway, or 2 species of wood interwoven. That would be very space- specific and floor height- matching and also require a talented
person/ specialist/ artisan.
A lot also depends on your current tile- some would work better than others for a flooring transition.

But, as noted, it’s usually not part of renovating to an open concept to then have distracting different floorings.

I don’t know anything about aftermarket flooring for sale, but some folks are able to find odd lots of discontinued flooring of other materials.
eld6161
2 months ago
How about posting a picture so we know are dealing with.
L C
2 months ago
You can try asking on your town/neighbourhood social media page, previous owners of our place left behind a box of tiles from when the builders installed originally (10 yrs before we moved in!) You never know!
Laurie H
2 months ago
If it is an open concept area (where all the tile is visible), you will likely have to tear it all out. If it is a closed plan, transition tile could work.

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