Is sheet vinyl the only, or best flooring for use on an uneven kitchen floor?
I've been here almost 20 yrs., and suffered with the rolling floor, so I'm not
interested in spending money to cure that problem at this late date.

I'm an over the hill female who will have to pay for everything to be done by
someone else. So I want to choose the easiest installation for them, to
hopefully save money. However, I do want a good flooring product. The one I
have now is still shining after all these years, but it has some black marks I
can't get rid of, and is pulling away from the walls where the floor has warped.

Any advice and/or suggestions on brands/products/prices, will be appreciated.
bj

This is going to be a tough one, sortof. I hate to say it, but you must
deal with the uneven floor. You wouldn't drive your brand new car down
the roughest road and tear it up would you ?

There are two options available, one less expensive. The first is to
either tear up the top floor layer and replace it or put down a 1/4 inch
covering if the underfloor is not that bad. The second method is to
take some floor leveling compound (white power you mix with water) and
apply it to level the floor in the bad areas. It hardens quickly.
After getting it level then you can proceed to the flooring. That's a
matter of taste, lot of options out there.

J


chicagofan wrote:
Is sheet vinyl the only, or best flooring for use on an uneven kitchen
floor? I've been here almost 20 yrs., and suffered with the rolling
floor, so I'm not interested in spending money to cure that problem at
this late date.

I'm an over the hill female who will have to pay for everything to be
done by someone else. So I want to choose the easiest installation for
them, to hopefully save money. However, I do want a good flooring
product. The one I have now is still shining after all these years, but
it has some black marks I can't get rid of, and is pulling away from the
walls where the floor has warped.

Any advice and/or suggestions on brands/products/prices, will be
appreciated.
bj

"Joey" wrote in message
...
This is going to be a tough one, sortof. I hate to say it, but you must
deal with the uneven floor. You wouldn't drive your brand new car down
the roughest road and tear it up would you ?


If the road between where you work and where you live is a rough road, do
you just stay home and hibernate because you don't want to drive on it.?
Sure, fixing it is a good idea, but flexible sheet goods can be and have
been laid on uneven floors for decades. If she is willing to accept the
tradeoffs, she should just go for it. Fixing that floor may be much too
costly for her.

Sure there is some money involved, but would she be happy with uneven
flooring a year from now ? The level compound is only $7 a bag where I
live.

J


Edwin Pawlowski wrote:

"Joey" wrote in message
...

This is going to be a tough one, sortof. I hate to say it, but you must
deal with the uneven floor. You wouldn't drive your brand new car down
the roughest road and tear it up would you ?



If the road between where you work and where you live is a rough road, do
you just stay home and hibernate because you don't want to drive on it.?
Sure, fixing it is a good idea, but flexible sheet goods can be and have
been laid on uneven floors for decades. If she is willing to accept the
tradeoffs, she should just go for it. Fixing that floor may be much too
costly for her.

On Tue, 19 Apr 2005 19:53:56 -0400, chicagofan
wrote:

Is sheet vinyl the only, or best flooring for use on an uneven kitchen floor?
I've been here almost 20 yrs., and suffered with the rolling floor, so I'm not
interested in spending money to cure that problem at this late date.

I'm an over the hill female who will have to pay for everything to be done by
someone else. So I want to choose the easiest installation for them, to
hopefully save money. However, I do want a good flooring product. The one I
have now is still shining after all these years, but it has some black marks I
can't get rid of, and is pulling away from the walls where the floor has warped.

Any advice and/or suggestions on brands/products/prices, will be appreciated.
bj

Sounds like you need some estimates from local craftsmen that can
inspect your kitchen and see what can be done. I don't think vinly
is any better than any other covering on an uneven surface. In fact,
I consider it the worst.

Sure there is some money involved, but would she be happy with uneven
flooring a year from now ? The level compound is only $7 a bag where I
live.


I suspect, given the descriptor "rolling" in the original post, that
the unevenness is a little more than what you'd normally try to
fix with leveling compound.

Depending on what's under the existing surface, sheet vinyl or
even paint is going to be the most cost-effective.

" Sounds like you need some estimates from local craftsmen that can
inspect your kitchen and see what can be done. I don't think vinly
is any better than any other covering on an uneven surface. In fact,
I consider it the worst. "

While I agree the job should be done right by leveling the old floor if
at all possible and that she may not be happy with the results if she
doesn't, why would sheet vinyl be the worst material? I would think
it would be one of the best as it's flexible and has few if any seams.
What's better then?

Vinyl tiles? Pergo? Wood? Seems all over to open up
Ceramic Tile - Will surely crack
Carpet - Poor choice for a kitchen

What's left then?

On 20 Apr 2005 08:07:30 -0700, wrote:

" Sounds like you need some estimates from local craftsmen that can
inspect your kitchen and see what can be done. I don't think vinly
is any better than any other covering on an uneven surface. In fact,
I consider it the worst. "

While I agree the job should be done right by leveling the old floor if
at all possible and that she may not be happy with the results if she
doesn't, why would sheet vinyl be the worst material? I would think
it would be one of the best as it's flexible and has few if any seams.
What's better then?

Vinyl tiles? Pergo? Wood? Seems all over to open up
Ceramic Tile - Will surely crack
Carpet - Poor choice for a kitchen

What's left then?

Actually, I don't see any of those things happening. You use the
proper amount of thinset or paste or mastic and the stuff will stay
where you put it and nothing will crack if it has a solid layer of
'stuff' on it. What will happen is that it will still be unlevel
and uneven, whether vinyl or ceramic. Round things will roll to the
corner when you drop them so don't drop them!

On a limited budget like she has, I still vote for mildly expensive
beautiful tile applied over uneven floors for the most bang for the
the buck.

Danger! -- Asbestos Hazards and floor tile - I heard a program about
Asbestos Hazards on Wisconsin's - WPR The Ideas Network
The Asbestos particles that do the damage float in the air and are so small
you can't see them.
Those particles can float all over the kitchen, hallway, and living room
areas.
They will go through a vacuum cleaner bag and a furnace air filter!
Have a professional remove the old floor tile so that the asbestos is safely
contained!

Read all, the information you can on Asbestos Hazards! Asbestos is NOT
outlawed, congress is debating outlawing it, NOW!.

http://www.ehso.com/asbestos.htm

http://www.ehso.com/asbestos.htm#Where -- Darrell -- udarrell
-- --
What EER, SEER, and BTUH is your Air Conditioner delivering?
Get what you paid for, -- easy checks -- Crank it up to specs!
http://www.udarrell.com/air-conditio...city-seer.html
======================================
"Joey" wrote in message
...
This is going to be a tough one, sort of. I hate to say it, but you must
deal with the uneven floor. You wouldn't drive your brand new car down
the roughest road and tear it up would you ?

There are two options available, one less expensive. The first is to
either tear up the top floor layer and replace it or put down a 1/4 inch
covering if the underfloor is not that bad. The second method is to
take some floor leveling compound (white power you mix with water) and
apply it to level the floor in the bad areas. It hardens quickly.
After getting it level then you can proceed to the flooring. That's a
matter of taste, lot of options out there. J
==========
chicagofan wrote:
Is sheet vinyl the only, or best flooring for use on an uneven kitchen
floor? I've been here almost 20 yrs., and suffered with the rolling
floor, so I'm not interested in spending money to cure that problem at
this late date.

I'm an over the hill female who will have to pay for everything to be
done by someone else. So I want to choose the easiest installation for
them, to hopefully save money. However, I do want a good flooring
product. The one I have now is still shining after all these years, but
it has some black marks I can't get rid of, and is pulling away from the
walls where the floor has warped.

Any advice and/or suggestions on brands/products/prices, will be
appreciated.
bj

So you just buy the $7 bag of level compound and the floor is level? I
don't think so.


Joey wrote:

Sure there is some money involved, but would she be happy with uneven
flooring a year from now ? The level compound is only $7 a bag where I
live.

J


Edwin Pawlowski wrote:

"Joey" wrote in message
...

This is going to be a tough one, sortof. I hate to say it, but you
must deal with the uneven floor. You wouldn't drive your brand new
car down the roughest road and tear it up would you ?



If the road between where you work and where you live is a rough road,
do you just stay home and hibernate because you don't want to drive
on it.? Sure, fixing it is a good idea, but flexible sheet goods can
be and have been laid on uneven floors for decades. If she is willing
to accept the tradeoffs, she should just go for it. Fixing that floor
may be much too costly for her.

" Actually, I don't see any of those things happening. You use the
proper amount of thinset or paste or mastic and the stuff will stay
where you put it and nothing will crack if it has a solid layer of
'stuff' on it. What will happen is that it will still be unlevel
and uneven, whether vinyl or ceramic. Round things will roll to the
corner when you drop them so don't drop them!

On a limited budget like she has, I still vote for mildly expensive
beautiful tile applied over uneven floors for the most bang for the
the buck"


On a limited budget, tile over sheet vinyl? You gotta be kidding.

Plus, floors that are rolling out of level on an old house that she
won't fix are the absolute worst place to put ceramic tile. Uneven
rolling floors are signs of serious movement which there is no reason
to believe isn't going to continue, unless fixed. That will crack or
pop tile. Vinyl sheet will just flex.

JimL wrote:
On 20 Apr 2005 08:07:30 -0700, wrote:


" Sounds like you need some estimates from local craftsmen that can
inspect your kitchen and see what can be done. I don't think vinly
is any better than any other covering on an uneven surface. In fact,
I consider it the worst. "

While I agree the job should be done right by leveling the old floor if
at all possible and that she may not be happy with the results if she
doesn't, why would sheet vinyl be the worst material? I would think
it would be one of the best as it's flexible and has few if any seams.
What's better then?

Vinyl tiles? Pergo? Wood? Seems all over to open up
Ceramic Tile - Will surely crack
Carpet - Poor choice for a kitchen

What's left then?


Actually, I don't see any of those things happening. You use the
proper amount of thinset or paste or mastic and the stuff will stay
where you put it and nothing will crack if it has a solid layer of
'stuff' on it. What will happen is that it will still be unlevel
and uneven, whether vinyl or ceramic. Round things will roll to the
corner when you drop them so don't drop them!

On a limited budget like she has, I still vote for mildly expensive
beautiful tile applied over uneven floors for the most bang for the
the buck.



You were spot on with your earlier post.

chicagofan wrote:
Is sheet vinyl the only, or best flooring for use on an uneven kitchen
floor? I've been here almost 20 yrs., and suffered with the rolling
floor, so I'm not interested in spending money to cure that problem at
this late date.

I'm an over the hill female who will have to pay for everything to be
done by someone else. So I want to choose the easiest installation for
them, to hopefully save money. However, I do want a good flooring
product. The one I have now is still shining after all these years, but
it has some black marks I can't get rid of, and is pulling away from the
walls where the floor has warped.

Considering the conditions, your budget, etc; and without corrective
measures to make the floor even, the vinyl would probably be the least
expensive. It would certainly be the easiest install compared to
ceramic or wood.

wrote:
snip

On a limited budget, tile over sheet vinyl? You gotta be kidding.

Plus, floors that are rolling out of level on an old house that she
won't fix are the absolute worst place to put ceramic tile. Uneven
rolling floors are signs of serious movement which there is no reason
to believe isn't going to continue, unless fixed. That will crack or
pop tile. Vinyl sheet will just flex.

I think everyone has convinced me I should stick with the sheet vinyl for
easiest installation and performance. It's only real drawback is fewer design
choices. :\

This rolling floor problem was in the house when originally built. I had it on
my inspection sheet to be repaired before closing, but allowed them to postpone
the date... which was a mistake. After hounding Centex Homes for weeks after
the closing, they sent a guy out here, who took a #&^%$#@ hammer out and started
beating on the *surface* of the floor. Of course, I immediately stopped him,
but not before he left some indentations. Needless to say, I never got any
satisfaction out of them, but I just wanted everyone to know it wasn't a *new*
problem. A man might not even notice the roll unless told about it, I'm not
sure... but most women would I'm sure.

I really appreciate all the answers guys... thanks so much.

Barbara

G Henslee wrote:

chicagofan wrote:

Is sheet vinyl the only, or best flooring for use on an uneven kitchen
floor? I've been here almost 20 yrs., and suffered with the rolling
floor, so I'm not interested in spending money to cure that problem at
this late date.

I'm an over the hill female who will have to pay for everything to be
done by someone else. So I want to choose the easiest installation
for them, to hopefully save money. However, I do want a good flooring
product. The one I have now is still shining after all these years,
but it has some black marks I can't get rid of, and is pulling away
from the walls where the floor has warped.


Considering the conditions, your budget, etc; and without corrective
measures to make the floor even, the vinyl would probably be the least
expensive. It would certainly be the easiest install compared to
ceramic or wood.

That's what I was thinking, thanks for the confirmation. I have unfinished
basement storage space under the kitchen, but I still think it would probably
be too costly to level the floor.
bj

This home was new 20 yrs ago and the floor was not level then? Before
I put a new one down I would find out exactly what's wrong and how to
fix it. The way you initially described it, I had the image of an old
house with lots of uneven settlement. A problem that might continue
and could be costly to fix because there could be structural issues.
But if were talking about a floor that was just a little uneven when
the house was built 20 years ago and has stayed pretty much the same
over that time, I think that's a different story. I would definitely
look at what it would take to get the floor straightened out, as it may
very well not be that expensive or hard to do.

wrote:
This home was new 20 yrs ago and the floor was not level then?

It's really almost 19 yrs, but yes... from build date.


Before
I put a new one down I would find out exactly what's wrong and how to
fix it. The way you initially described it, I had the image of an old
house with lots of uneven settlement. A problem that might continue
and could be costly to fix because there could be structural issues.
But if were talking about a floor that was just a little uneven when
the house was built 20 years ago and has stayed pretty much the same
over that time, I think that's a different story. I would definitely
look at what it would take to get the floor straightened out, as it may
very well not be that expensive or hard to do.

Since the floor structure is open in the unfinished storage room below, I will
ask for estimates, if they can see what is wrong. Thanks for the advice.
bj