What kind of Material?

Question

Not sure if this has ever been suggested before, but I thought it would be nice to develop some sort of Rehabber's Materials Cheat Sheet. Maybe like a chart with House Type on the top and Sections on the right?

For example, the subjects at the top could be Low Level Home (Price Range), Mid Level Home (Price Range), High Level Home (Price Range). Then on the left for rows you could have the different sections like flooring, countertops etc. In the boxes you could have the iddferent materials like granite, traverstine marble etc. with average prices.  This way it is a simple chart that you can look at to get an idea of what cheaper substitutes are out there and available.

I personally don't have enough experience in different housing types to do this, but if anybody with lots of experience wants to volunteer then please, I know I would benefit from something like this.

Richard F. · Answer

Thanks for the kind words of encouragement, and yes, I am currently writing a book on Property Management. Stay tuned.

As for installation of tile, as always, you should follow the manufacturers recommendations. Having said that, yes, I have installed over a variety of other materials, always utilizing a floor leveling compound. Revealing underlying patterns from embossed floorcoverings is less of an issue than laying over offset joints or other significant irregularities. The composition tile will crack in time when not installed on a flat substrate. It also WILL exaggerate any raised defects in the substrate. It really is easier to throw down some 1/4 inch luan plyboard if you can't/don't want to  strip the old floorcovering down to the underlayment (definitely something you do NOT want to do in the case of asbestos containing tile and older linoleum). DO always pull the toilet if installing a bathroom floor, by the way.

Kevin S. · Answer

Beachbum,

I'm curious if you've ever used cvt over previous floor coverings. Manufactures usually direct use of a leveling compound if going over old sheet vinyl to fill in the embossing so it doesn't telegraph through. I've found the adhesive doesn't bond well to leveling compound although I haven't had any tiles come loose. I'd rather just apply the adhesive directly to the sheet vinyl (given its bonded well to the floor) figuring the cvt is thick enough not to allow telegraphing anyway.

And BTW, you've offered some excellent advice in well written entries on this forum. Ever thought about a book?

Account Closed · Answer

Beachbum,

No problem with the original post. Just did not recognize the product. Thanks for the added info.

John Corey

Richard F. · Answer

My apologies for any confusion-

Some call it cvt, or commercial vinyl tile, others refer to it as
vct, or vinyl composition tile, as seen here...

http://www.armstrong.com/commflooringna/product_details.jsp?category=vct&item_id=381

It comes 45 square feet to a case, for around $32. You can cut it cold by scoring with a utility knife and snapping, or heat it with heat gun and it cuts like butter.

N/A N/A · Answer

Thanks John. I'd love to get one started but I am leaving for a month to teach ABoriginals up North and so I won't be here. The issue was at some price ranges certain things are seen as a must by the buyer like marble, granite etc. Also this could introduce me to new materials such as CVT like you've mentioned. If anybody wants to draw up the table and add rows as necessary, maybe it can bounce back in replies to this topic as it gets filled out?

Just a thought.

Account Closed · Answer

I would think such a list would be a jewel in any rehaber's manual.

Beachbum just posted how he used a particular flooring material when he was managing 100 units of innner city Section 8. It was long wearing, presented very well (attracted positive comments from the tenants) and easy for the tenant to maintain. I not even sure I know what the product it but I would certainly check if it was on a list and I had Section 8 rentals (likely I soon will).

The flooring material in question is cvt.

John Corey