I’m giving serious thought to installing hardwood floors in my condo. The carpeting is taking a beating from the snow, grit, and dirt that my wheels sometimes track inside. My wheels also tend to sink into the carpet, which can make maneuvering difficult at times. And I just like the look of wood floors. When I was looking for a place to buy, I wanted hardwood floors, but couldn’t find anything I liked. I think I’ve built up enough equity in my place to allow me take out a loan to cover expenses, with maybe a little extra for a Paris vacation in the fall. It seems like a good deal, especially considering that I can write off the interest on my taxes. To paraphrase the Cranberries, everybody else is doing it, why can’t I? Now I need to find a contractor, preferably using a method that doesn’t involve throwing darts at the yellow pages.
The city is ordering buses off of Nicollet Mall from 6:00-11:00 every evening, beginning later this month. I’d like to think someone was getting ideas from my blog, but I’m fairly certain nobody at the city has heard of The 19th Floor. Regardless, I’m looking forward to spending some exhaust-free evenings on the Mall this summer.
As an alternative to hardwood floors, there’s laminate. We installed it and it’s beautiful, indestructible, and easy to clean.
Not good for a large dog who’s legs are getting wobbly, but that’s not your problem is it?
As an avid woodworker, I was going to suggest using real wood for your floor. I think that laminate can get to look kind of blah, it’s all the same. With real wood, you get the natural variations in color and the occasional defect. I think it gives a floor character. It will probably cost about 2.00 more per square foot though, based on my observations.
Hope this helps
mark
Leningrad Cowboys
Home Improvements
Home Improvements
Home Improvements
If you’re taking votes, I say laminate. We (ok, my husband Paul) are putting down laminate (lock-in-place) throughtout our entire house. We’re about half done and we love it. Easy to keep clean, nice to roll around on (in a wheelchair I mean of course), and not as expensive as hardware.
Good luck in this endeavor,
Lori
(42 y/o, sma ll, medical case manager in Houston)
Hey, you should try Angie’s List for local home-owners’ reviews of contractors in the Twin Cities. Used it lots when I was living in my house.