[Greenbuilding] Redoing all floors

[Ktot (g)]

It's all high traffic area.

NO vinyl. I hate it and it doesn't have the required thermal mass.

Not interested in a wood look. More than enough wood in the house already.

So thanks, but I need other ideas.

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Ward Edwards" <ward at buildgreen.ca>
To: "Green Building" <greenbuilding at lists.bioenergylists.org>
Sent: Wednesday, July 27, 2011 12:51 PM
Subject: Re: [Greenbuilding] Redoing all floors


> 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?  _______________________________________________
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>
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