I hope you can help us with some info needed to make a decision as to best choice of flooring material. I couldn’t find an answer in the Breaktime archives.
Background info: Husband and his (3) sibs co-own a property on Cape Cod. 4 BR deck house, split entry, 2 BR down, 2BR up. Lower floor (concrete slab) also has FR, bath and utility room.
Lower floor BRs and FR has dingy old indoor/outdoor carpet, bath is vinyl tile, some of which are have popped loose. This level had an issue with mold/mustiness (it’s ocean front, and had a plumbing leak problem about 15 yrs ago) We had it cleaned, and heavy-duty dehumifier installed 1 1/2 yrs ago, now are ready to re-do the floor
There is general agreement that some sort of tile is the best option, to prevent mold re-occurence. Finding agreement on the actual type of tile is harder. Some are suggesting porcelain, others suggesting terracotta (I think they really mean quarry tile)
Requirements of the floor – durable, low maintenance, and light colored enough to lighten a dark space, and not too expensive (and, of course, we all have different definitions of not too expensive.) The tile will be used in the bathroom, so slipping is an issue (tho that’s true of just about anything except for carpet – which is definitely not an option for this space.)
Any info re pros and cons of porcelain/terra cotta/quarry tile would be appreciated.
Also – saw mention in some posts about the slipping-rating of tile. What do we ask our floor dealer/installer to get that rating?
Thanks very much for any info.
-Ellen
Replies
Greetings Ellen, and Welcome to Breaktime.
This post, in response to your question, will bump the thread through the 'recent discussion' listing again which will increase it's viewing.
Perhaps it will catch someone's attention that can help you with advice.
Cheers
sobriety is the root cause of dementia.
Thanks very muh, rez.
I've been to this (and OTF and CT and others) enough to realize lack of response can e bad timing or bad wording (too long, or whatever) So I reposted, and received several very helpful replies.
This has been a very challenging project (and thank heavens we are not doing the install ourselves) It's a shared home with 3 of dh's sibs - turned over to them by their father. All seem to have different opinions - on everything from cost to color to product. Now that's a subject for a totally different kind of message board.
It's all worth figuring out, though, as we couldn't afford to maintain, let alone buy, anything else that's oceanfront without it being shared.
I'll try to remember to post some before and after pictures when we get this done
View Image
sobriety is the root cause of dementia.
TC is NOT quarry tile. TC is much softer under foot but will require a specialist to install and finish it.
You will likely be fine no matter what type of tile you choose as long as you choose something durable.
If you search Terra Cotta here you should get some hits.
[email protected]
ellen, didn't you post this question once before recently? There were some answers to the original post, see if you can search or use the "unread msgs to me" button.
best of luck.
EDIT: here you go http://forums.taunton.com/tp-breaktime/messages?msg=94453.1
A great place for Information, Comraderie, and a sucker punch.
Remodeling Contractor just outside the Glass City.
http://www.quittintime.com/
Edited 9/11/2007 9:34 pm ET by calvin
Yes, Calvin, I did post it twice - got no answers to this one, and realized my original post was probably too long (see my response to rez)
I've been getting lots of good info under both threads - thanks to all!
go to a good tile store ...
not HD or Lowes.
they'll be able to show U a bunch of different choices ...
and they should be able to show U the diferent Hardness Ratings.
place I send losta customers usually has it marked right on the price tag.
Jeff
Buck Construction
Artistry In Carpentry
Pittsburgh Pa
thanks, we started by talking to a good tile store. They came out, looked at the space, talked about suitable products, measures.
We visited the stores - selected 5 choices, took them back to the house, lived with them on the floor for a coupla days, tried pouring a small amount of water on each and testing them for slipperiness (immediately discarded the one I stepped on accidentally and almost slipped on my @##) Narrowed it down to 3 choices, which the tile store worked into estimates (5,700-7,700 for 750sq ft)
that was all well and good - until we presented the options to the rest of family (co-owners of the property) who started throwing in suggestions of terra cotta, polished concrete, etc. I'll tell ya - it's a lot easier to do these things without a committee.