The Home Ownership Thread

[Gus]

^^I'm sure you will love the newly refinished floors. Congratulations.

 

[Find Finn]



P.S.You cannot buy a condo from 1960s in Northen Europe without hardwood floors.

I would say from ever, they just don't exist here, I live in a building from 54 and there's wood all over except in the bathroom.

I don't know how well sound insulation works when it has to be in solid contact with the floor. Usually to deaden sound you need some kind of air barrier or disconnect between materials, I believe.

Also, some kinds of shoes are worse than others -- a hundred-pound woman in heels can sound like she's driving nails.

Acoustic drywall or Troldtekt takes about 90% of the noise if not more, but in a new building, they shouldn't be required.

You should see what a 200 pound woman in heels can do then, but most people don't allow shoes indoor anyway, so that should solve it self.

I'm allergic to dust mites, so I can't have wall to wall unless I want to feel like I'm about to die all day.

 

[E TF]



Acoustic drywall or Troldtekt takes about 90% of the noise if not more, but in a new building, they shouldn't be required.

You should see what a 200 pound woman in heels can do then, but most people don't allow shoes indoor anyway, so that should solve it self.

I'm allergic to dust mites, so I can't have wall to wall unless I want to feel like I'm about to die all day.

I remember a massive and amusing argument about this here a few years ago, can't find it now.

 

[otc]

It has come along multiple times.

I started a 14 pager back in 2009:
http://www.styleforum.net/t/97584/wearing-shoes-inside-the-house

RSS started a 36 pager in 2011:
http://www.styleforum.net/t/263122/houses-with-no-shoe-rules

and FWIW, I wear dress shoes and wool pants more often than I did when I started that thread...and I tend to take those off when I get home since I usually change pants....I don't typically put shoes back on right away and thus don't usually have shoes on at home, although if I do, I am not concerned about wandering my home while wearing them.
Had a party in my hardwood place a couple weeks ago and I'd say half of the guests removed their shoes (I never asked anyone to). Went to a party last weekend in a carpeted place and I'd say the ratio was similar. No rain/snow in either case so its not like anyone had muddy shoes to worry about.

 

[Find Finn]



I remember a massive and amusing argument about this here a few years ago, can't find it now.

I remember that

 

[E TF]

Ah yes, it was the RSS thread I was remembering I think.

 

[archetypal_yuppie]

Putting in seamless (no transitions) walnut floors throughout my house - ground floor. Upstairs is maple.

Since it's originally a 1949 house, with renovations and additions over time, and started (pre install) with a mix of tile, carpet, and hardwood, the price is ******* painfully astronomical. Tons of demo and leveling.

But, it should take the look to a completely new level vs. the **** they had before. Pretty pumped to see the outcome.

 

[Ataturk]

Walnut's a little soft for a floor, isn't it? Expect a lot of dents.

 

[itsstillmatt]

We are putting in white terrazzo floors. I find that I don't like living with wood floors and wanted something different from concrete.

 

[gomestar]



We are putting in white terrazzo floors. I find that I don't like living with wood floors and wanted something different from concrete.

AKA ... ice for dog paws.

 

[itsstillmatt]

I think this apartment is more likely to be lent to friends who are passing through than to be a place where the dog goes. He lives on polished concrete, though. Without issue.

 

[SkinnyGoomba]



Putting in seamless (no transitions) walnut floors throughout my house - ground floor. Upstairs is maple.

Since it's originally a 1949 house, with renovations and additions over time, and started (pre install) with a mix of tile, carpet, and hardwood, the price is ******* painfully astronomical. Tons of demo and leveling.

But, it should take the look to a completely new level vs. the **** they had before. Pretty pumped to see the outcome.

Why not maple?

I pay something like $15/BF for AAA grade walnut in 8/4, so it doesn't surprise me much that it's incredibly expensive as a floor.

 

[Medwed]



Putting in seamless (no transitions) walnut floors throughout my house - ground floor. Upstairs is maple.

Since it's originally a 1949 house, with renovations and additions over time, and started (pre install) with a mix of tile, carpet, and hardwood, the price is ******* painfully astronomical. Tons of demo and leveling.

But, it should take the look to a completely new level vs. the **** they had before. Pretty pumped to see the outcome.

I take a wild guess and say that your Walnut floor is going to be chocolate brown color when it is finished.

(If I guessed it right my advise would be to leave it a natural color. There is nothing more depressing than a dark floor in a dark room with small windows and 8 feet ceilings)

 

[archetypal_yuppie]



Why not maple?

I pay something like $15/BF for AAA grade walnut in 8/4, so it doesn't surprise me much that it's incredibly expensive as a floor.

The house actually has nice large windows and a relatively open floor plan... gets a lot of light. It can handle a darker floor. We've already bought a lot of our furniture, rugs, etc. Much of it is simple and monochromatic, so the floors are where I'm going for some visual interest. Walnut is uncommon enough that it should pop. Flat sawn mill run 5" width boards.

Maple is so light in color, upstairs is enough.

I take a wild guess and say that your Walnut floor is going to be chocolate brown color when it is finished.

(If I guessed it right my advise would be to leave it a natural color. There is nothing more depressing than a dark floor in a dark room with small windows and 8 feet ceilings)

We did go with natural. Natural finish is much lighter than chocolate brown in my opinion of what colors are. Ceilings are indeed lower than contemporary but rooms get a lot of light, large window, fairly open plan.



I swung by last night after work and saw two rooms in progress, looks awesome.

 

[Medwed]



The house actually has nice large windows and a relatively open floor plan... gets a lot of light. It can handle a darker floor. We've already bought a lot of our furniture, rugs, etc. Much of it is simple and monochromatic, so the floors are where I'm going for some visual interest. Walnut is uncommon enough that it should pop. Flat sawn mill run 5" width boards.

Maple is so light in color, upstairs is enough.
We did go with natural. Natural finish is much lighter than chocolate brown in my opinion of what colors are. Ceilings are indeed lower than contemporary but rooms get a lot of light, large window, fairly open plan.



I swung by last night after work and saw two rooms in progress, looks awesome.

Take phonepics ,this thread could use more visual info.

Great choice on color.

I used to live in recently remodleled apts. in NYC and most of them inexplicably had those fugly cherry-wood floors of reddish-brown vareity. I suspect it affected my mood a lot.