Replies

1. 
   LeslieT | Oct 06, 2006 09:23pm | #1

   I went with prefinished Brizilian Rosewood in the kitchen, dinning and living rooms- looks great - the finish is harder than what you can do locally --  I have a lab and she cant even dent or scratch the floor, even when all four legs are moving fast, but she is standing still because of lack of traction.  I was able to do 100% of putting down the floor, and I didn't have to vacate the house for 3-4 days.

   In a previous house I went with a sweadish (sp) two part finish over soft pine.  There the dog could dent the floor, but not scratch it.  I loved the look - but the smell was really bad.  Again I did 100% of the refinish,  I used full face masks with organic cartridges - never smelled anything till I took off the mask -- then almost fell over because of the smell.

   Before making a decission - look at how things work in your family -- one of my biggest fears is that one of the kids will spill some milk - and it will seep into the cracks -- causing a smell that won't go away.  I've had spills - but nothing that smells as it is rotting.

   Les

1. 
   carolmc | Oct 06, 2006 10:34pm | #2

   Hi Leslie,Thanks for the feedback.....I'm really so confused.
   I'm told you can get prefinished with beveled cracks or butt tight and straight. The straight is less likely to hold spills. My contractor also said I could sand and refinish if the cracks become a problem (ugh).I worry about the kitchen area and milk too. I am about to become a grandmother for the first time.... so I see bottles flying.Do you have a lot of variation in grain with the Brazilian Rosewood?
   I have seen the walnut from two different suppliers and they look totally different. I love the multi shading, however, it's a large area so it may be too busy once down.
   How long ago did you install?

1. 
   FastEddie | Oct 06, 2006 10:45pm | #3

   Check this forum for some good advice, and good prices on quality flooring: hardwoodinstaller.com 

   "When asked if you can do something, tell'em "Why certainly I can", then get busy and find a way to do it."  T. Roosevelt

2. 
   cliffy | Oct 07, 2006 05:47am | #4

   Ive put various hardwood into a number of kitchen and would recomend prefinished. The bake on about 6 coats of polyurethane and you just can't reproduce that quality on site.

   My kids spill milk ( what the hell, I took my 10 year old twins to DQ tonight and I'm the one with  chocolate on my shirt!) but we usually wipe it up right away.

   Laminate is just a picture of hardwood printed on countertop for your floor.

   Have a good day

   Cliffy

1. 
   carolmc | Oct 10, 2006 10:22pm | #5

   Thank you Cliffy, you just helped me with my decission.I love this Black Walnut, however, the prefinsih is very dark. Worse case senerio, if I don't like it I could always sand it down, it's 3/4 width.
   Thank You,
   Carol