My thoughts are…

Kitchen floor redo!

January 6th, 2010

When we bought our house (in 2001), the kitchen/fireplace/den room had peel and stick tile flooring. I’ve wanted to replace the floor pretty much since we moved in. I really wanted to use terrazzo tile, I just love the look and the forever-ness of it, however, the cost per square foot is really more than we want to spend until we’re ready to rip out and remodel the kitchen completely.
At first, on recommendation from my father in law, we were going to use a Trafficmaster Dimensions Glueless Hardwood flooring, but after doing some research, I found that it’s not recommended for homes with pets (we have 4 dogs) because it scratches easily AND since we were going use it in the kitchen, I was kinda freaked out about the kids spilling, or dropping ice and leaving it to melt, (the Trafficmaster site says to clean up spills as soon as they happen), and general kitchen cleaning.. The Trafficmaster site specifies no soap, water, cleaners, oil-soap or liquid cleaners can be used. So there went that bright idea. Glad I did a little research before I made a huge mistake.
So, we decided to just go with more peel and stick tiles. I figure they’ll last a good 5 years (with a 15 year warranty) and by that time I’ll have figured out what I want to do with the kitchen and I’ll have enough cash saved up to put in the terrazzo floor I want.
Peeling up the old flooring was a breeze in some places and crazy hard in others. I’d read somewhere online to use a blow-dryer to loosen the old glue and that worked like a charm.
I’ve gotten the majority of the tiles down now, just have about 15 more to do to finish the major traffic areas, B has to cut tiles to fit around the edge of the kitchen. I thought it was going to be pretty easy, overall, and it has been. The only real issue I’ve found is, when the previous owners put the floor in, they didn’t fit the tiles exactly (butt them up next to one another) and there are some weird gaps (where dirt and other yuck has accumulated over the years) so I’m not able to peel one, stick one. That’s a bummer.
Oh.. and I haven’t told B yet, but.. When I was moving the stove, I lifted it by the handle (DUH) and broke it. Ugh. Gonna make his fave supper and break the news to him tonight.
I’ll post pix when it’s done.

Entry Filed under: scattered