Brooke, how did the Pergo turn out?

[Gomboman]

How did the Pergo floors turn out Brooke? Was it easier or harder than you anticipated? My wife wants some installed in our kids bonus room upstairs. Post some pics when you have time. I'm sure it looks great.

 

[Brookenstein]

Man, you have tight dealdlines and expectations, huh.    We haven't started it yet.  We are still in process of tiling the bathroom.  J wanted that done first.  We should be done in the next week or so with that.  But we have vacation coming up in the beginning of April, so I think we will probably wait till the first of May to do it.  Plus the neighborhood association is getting strict on CC&Rs and we got letters this weekend saying we have to paint the house (which is less than 2 years old, the paint job... not the house), replace the fence (the 1/2 we didn't do), etc.  If I can't win appeal, $$$ may go to that instead.  Hopefully not.

 

[Gomboman]

I'm so sorry. :-[ I thought I read somewhere that you finished your flooring.  Take your time.  Good luck with the neighborhood police.  ;D

 

[Brookenstein]

No need to apologize.  We shoulda been done by now.  My mom is flying in next week and so I had every intention of being done before she got here, now I just hope to have a toilet installed in the bathroom by then.

 

[autoplay]

You're tiling your bathroom?  Walls and/or floor?

Need any tips?

 

[autoplay]

Oh,here's a good site for tile/stone...

http://www.johnbridge.com/vbulletin/

 

[Brookenstein]

We are just doing the floor.  We got all the pieces cut/chipped last week and dry fitted and just have mortar them down.  

Thanks for the help.

 

[Brewman]

You got a letter telling you that you HAVE to paint your house?  
In your opinion, is the house needing paint?

Just wondering.

 

[Brookenstein]

You got a letter telling you that you HAVE to paint your house?  
In your opinion, is the house needing paint?

Just wondering.

Yes, the letter says we have until the 30th of March to paint the house (we got the letter Saturday).  We have owned the home since Aug 04 and the house was painted prior to it being listed for sale.  The house looks like it was painted yesterday.  There is not one spot that even looks like it needs to be hosed off.  I talked to our person at the management company and apparently more than 200 letters were sent out.  She is noting my file for the time being and said the board of directors will send someone out to re-evaluate it.

The other letter said we have until the 23rd (we got it Wed) to repair the back fence.  There is nothing wrong with it, so once again she is noting the file and someone will re-evaluate and let us know what to do.  I'm guessing they either a) don't like that we have 1/2 wood 1/2 vinyl fencing (though you don't see them meet from street it is covered by the house) or b) they don't like that I added the bamboo reed fencing around the hot tub to give us privacy.

 

[Brewman]

Boy, they sure didn't give you much time, did they?

Hopefully common sense will prevail and they'll see that your home doesn't need this work.  And if they don't like your fence you'd think they'd say what they thought was wrong with it, like citing some association bylaw that forbids your fence stuff.  

Maybe it's time for you to run for Association President.
I bet you could get Terminator to pose for some campaign posters.  Something like-

"Vote for Brooke for Association President, and nobody gets hurt"  Something like that.

Good luck with the association, though.

 

[Brookenstein]

Looks like I'm buying Pergo today... Home Depot has some on sale for more than 50% off...

 

[Tman122]

Hey I have a bunch of Pergo in my house. I did it all myself and I gaaaaaauruntee you will love it. Opt for the thicker pad instead of the white cheapo stuff. Get the proper install tools and a good fine toothed blade for your table saw.

 

[Tatooed_Lady]

Associations are good for miscommunication....UGH.
As far as the fencing......if it's over your bamboo, let 'em know that you tub in the NUDE with your 90 year old GRANDMOTHER who's "slightly overweight, and can't shave anymore but SUCH a nice woman!!" (nude also), but if they REALLY want that fencing down.....you want no letters complaining, or asking for a better view!  

 

[Brookenstein]

Boy did I score.  I think I got almost as good of a job on my floor as I did on my tub.  I paid $9/box (21 sq ft) for 8mm 25yr warranty Floormaster laminate flooring (regular price was $43/box).

 

[Tman122]

Can't tell you how to install that kind. They all have different tounge and groove set up and a little different install procedure so? Should be close to the same (fine toothed blade to cut)

 

[Vinny]

I'd have to say that associations sometimes can be a PITA. I lived in with a condo association for 13 years and they sometimes made the stupidest rules! I joined the board to try to straighten out the business practice and realized that some people have no business sense. I'm sure the "official letter" went out because of some stupid reason.

As for the flooring, I bought Wilson Art laminate for my family room. It is the older style with glue and I had it installed. I watched them install it and it seemed fairly easy but they had a lot of straps to keep everything together. Today's laminate supposedly just snap together (my wife and I are looking to put laminate into the kitchen) and seem really easy to install. I still am having a professional install it since they need to remove a subfloor in a kitchen full of appliances and cabinets.

Anyway, when my original laminate was installed the people used a 4" battery operated saw that looked like a grinder not a circular saw. I believe the blade has a very fine cut patten to it. Make sure that you cut the side that's going to be hidden by the trim - sounds stupid but lay it out so that you know which side it'll be. There's 2 tongue sides and 2 groove sides ... of couse I'm probably stating the obvious since it sounds like you have more project experience than I do!  

 

[Brookenstein]

Thanks for the input Vinny and Tman.

This is a glueless product, so I don't think the install should be too bad.  We haven't looked into the tool side of things yet.  I should actually look and see if Depot or Lowes has a how to class today as Tball was cancelled due to the rain.  I'm not real worried about the install... even though we are clueless we fake it well and usually it turns out well.  I doubt we will start for at least another month.  I want to be done with the entire house in less than 90 days though, as that is what I have on my return policy for the 'extra'.

 

[Brookenstein]

Tiling is done!  Wahooo!

I'm stoked to get started on the pergo, but I think we will wait till the end of April beginning of May to do it.

 

[drewstar]

You're tiling your bathroom?  Walls and/or floor?

Need any tips?

I do.   I have a "typical " bathroom (about 6x 12)  with a fiberglass tub/shower insert, linolium floors, and old vanity and sink, and of course a toilet.

Want to rip out the tub/shower and  tile in one large shower with a bench. I am thinkning on having the tile in the shower match the floor tile.   New vanity/sink and a new toilet.  I am planning on having a pro come in and do the tile work. Any tips?  

 

[Brewman]

Expect a bid for at least twice as much as you think it'll be, and expect it to take at least double the amount of time you're told.  
That's from the 3 people who I know who've had this done.