| It all started with ceramic tile,
lot's of it. Our showroom had been used by a kitchen cabinet company
in the past who preferred tile. Time for it to go! Not an easy task by
any means. A quick visit to the local labor pool off the Beach Road
and we arranged for three laborers that took three solid days to
remove the tile and thinset mortar.
Dust and more dust! Folks, if you're looking for
a new hardwood floor but have tile in the way, our preference is
removing and starting from new. Many prefer a less costly and faster
floating floor installation
over ceramic tile. Our method eliminates problems that are often
associated with transitions from one floor covering to another. Sure, removing the old tile is labor intensive
and messy, but you'll find a more agreeable final appearance by doing so.
For a better understanding let's assume you have
carpet that connects to the existing tile. Better quality floating
hardwood floors are over 1/2" in thickness. Add the underlayment and
the overall finished height increases by approximately 5/8". Hardwood
manufacturers do not make a suitable molding/transition that works in
this scenario.
Often inappropriate methods are used which
create unsightly transitions that can become uncomfortable toe stubbers.
There are ways to make it work. However we've found many don't bother
spending the time to do so. We chose the
Owens unfinished engineered plank for our
showroom. The product
is ideal for installation on concrete using the
gluedown method.
By following our showroom
link you'll get a much better idea of why we
chose the product.
What a better touch than to have a custom hardwood
floor medallion inserted into the main entry way (images right). Yes,
custom made hardwood medallions are available at very reasonable
prices. The one shown in our showroom measuring 42" x 32" required
approximately $150.00 in design time and typically retails for $
1,400 depending on the design itself. Shop somewhere else and expect
prices to be double ours.
 Finding
the right people for finishing hardwood floors in Florida can be a
daunting task. An art that has almost been lost as wannabe's are
always trying to break into the market.
More important than the actual finishing process
is the preparation. Vacuum, vacuum, and vacuum more, you won't find
nary a flaw in our showroom floor. It's a shame most of it gets
covered up with display racks, but if you're in the area please stop by
and see the beauty of this select grade white oak floor.
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