[Greenbuilding] Redoing all floors

[Ward Edwards]

You could do tile in the higher traffic areas and then marmoleum in the  
lower traffic areas.  There are also some vinyl plank floors that look  
like wood.  I used that in my house.  I didn't like the idea of using  
vinyl, but in order to keep peace with the wife, I allowed it.  It wears  
fairly well, and has next to no insulating value (I have radiant floors as  
well), however, there are some areas with very high traffic (in front of  
the sink for example) where it has started to wear a bit after 5 years.  I  
have seen a similar product in a hotel once that had the color layer under  
a clear coating that would wear better, but I have been unable to find out  
the manufacturer.

Ward Edwards

On Wed, 27 Jul 2011 13:09:06 -0400, Ktot (g) <ktottotc at gmail.com> wrote:

> I have a brand new home (finished mid-May) that is completely off-grid.  
> Solar and wind power, solar thermal radiant heat and hot water, and  
> passive solar design.
>
> The problem--the stained concrete floors and countertops are defective.  
> The countertops should be an easy fix--sanding and applying another  
> layer of epoxy. But the floors are very problematic.
>
> First, the supposedly very experienced contractor who did them is  
> refusing to take responsibility for their defective work--they didn't  
> allow the concrete even 1/2 the curing time required--but my attorney is  
> addressing that.
>
> My question for the list members--any thoughts on redoing the floors? I  
> had been planning to do stained concrete again but am now leaning away  
> from it, leaning towards ceramic tiles. (Re stained I've looked at  
> redoing water-based stain, doing acid-based, and doing grind and polish.  
> If water-based, at least, I'd probably have to go with overlay. The  
> original was just regular water-based staining except overlay in the  
> bathroom. The concrete is regular concrete, not gypcrete.)
>
> My requirements:
> 1. Great thermal mass as they are the sink for the sun's heat in my  
> house.
> 2. Very durable--I live in the mountains, am in and out all day with  
> multiple dogs, have a lot of gravely/rocky grit that comes in with us
> 3. Very easy to maintain
> 4. Can go over the stained concrete (which has been cracking due to the  
> house settling) with minimal hassle. I do know the sealer at least has  
> to be removed, and also the concrete isn't level--with a five foot  
> level, in a few spots there's a full 3/4 in. variation
>
> Also I have radiant pipes in the floor but a normal thin tile or similar  
> covering shouldn't negatively impact that, I believe, as the concrete  
> layer is only 2 in. thick.
>
> Any suggestions?  
> _______________________________________________
> Greenbuilding mailing list
> to Send a Message to the list, use the email address
> Greenbuilding at bioenergylists.org
>
> to UNSUBSCRIBE or Change your List Settings use the web page
> http://lists.bioenergylists.org/mailman/listinfo/greenbuilding_lists.bioenergylists.org