Flooring conundrum - what would you do?

NeonNoon · October 2014

Our downstairs floors are largely covered in Saltillo tile (rustic, uneven clay tiles that look like this: https://www.google.com/images?client=safari&rls=en&q=saltillo+tile&oe=UTF-8&hl=en&sa=X&oi=image_result_group&ei=YzA8VI72DaHo8AGc4YCYAQ&ved=0CCwQsAQ).

They're pretty unfriendly to young children just learning to walk. They are easy to trip over and are hard as stone. Stylistically, we don't like them, but lots of people do. We have a couple of rugs that cover some of it, but there are still very large areas that are bare.

I was thinking of punting for now and then once LO is learning to walk, cover as much of it as we can in carpet tiles that stick to each other as opposed to the floor. The tiles can be removed individually for washing when there are messes, and if the condition holds up we can re-use them at a future property. This option would cost us several thousands of dollars but we could install it ourselves in a few hours.

We could just remove the tiles and replace them with engineered wood. We can't use solid wood because there's concrete underneath and the moisture from it could warp the wood. I think this option would cost two to three times the amount of the carpet tiles and would be hugely disruptive because the tiles don't come off easily and all the baseboards would have to be re-done. (And DH and I work from home, so there would be no-where to hide!) The engineered wood might make the property more sellable in the future.

Right now I'm leaning towards the carpet tile option because it's easy and cheaper. What would you do? Any other ideas?

JilliansMoma · October 2014

I'm a designer for a new home builder we do sell quite a bit of the engineered hardwood floors. It is really popular and can add to your resell value. I do tell my buyers that it's like walking on furniture so you do need to be a little more careful with it. That being said I have it in my house and after three kids, a husband and a dog it has taken a beating but overall it still looks nice.

While not an ideal install method, can the base boards stay and quarter round be used to fill the gaps? What about the new tiles that look like wood. Can the tile be skimmed right over the top of the saltillo tile? Then you wouldn't have to worry about the demo part? I know if you go to www.emser.com we sell a ton of the Heritage and the Country lines and it is so realistic that my construction superintendent thought I had our tile installer doing the hardwood installers job!

How long do you plan to be in your home? I would try to calculate the price difference over the remaining time you expect to spend in the home also vs. any other children/pets you may have in the future.

GL it's not an easy choice but I would hate for you spend a lot of money and hate the carpet even though it's easier and then be out that amount that you could have put to a more permanent solution that would have netted you more if you sell the house.

JM

2ndGeneration · October 2014

You could get those interlocking foam floor mats-it would be...colorful lol, but it's only temporary and would only be used for a while. Then you just take them up and have your regular floor. It would be cheaper than the carpet tiles.

Lazzlee79 · October 2014

I've had experience with all three

We just had engineered hardwood flooring installed and we ABSOLUTELY LOVE it. I did the hand scraped and purchased it from BuildDirect (great pricing and wonderful customer service). So far it's keeping up with my two crazy kids.

The carpet tiles we purchased at InterfaceFlor and we loved them too! What I loved about the tiles is the fact that you can replace one vs replacing an entire rug (for those stubborn stains). The tiles were easy to install, but I believe the one I had, required a flat surface. I'd order a few and see how well they fit over the tile. https://www.interface.com/US/en-US/homepage

The faux hardwood tile - I only have it in a bathroom, but a girlfriend of mine had it installed on her entire first floor and it was beautiful.

Good luck to you! I'm sure whatever you decide will be great for you and your little one.

[Deleted User] · October 2014

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NeonNoon · October 2014

Thanks for all the tips and creative ideas everyone!

We are hoping to stay in our current townhouse for at least another few years, which suggests that upgrading the floors would let us get good use. I think we'd love the engineered wood floors ideally, but we've been burned before even with small projects creating/revealing bigger problems in this house. I don't think it's the right time for us to risk a renovation that may end up costing a lot more time and money than planned. And if we're gonna do something permanent, we'd want to do it right.

I love those faux wood tiles @JilliansMoma and @Lazzlee79.

Those are awesome! @JimBobCooter - We won't have a nursery for LO. But we have plenty of room in our living room for a biggish play/nursing area where the foam hardwood floor might just be perfect.

I think I will order some samples to see what works best. I thought of laminate too, but DH doesn't like that. At least we don't have to decide for a while.

NicoleWI · October 2014

You are right that tearing up that tile would be a huge job, and expensive. Plus, if a lot of people like it, you may want it for resale??

I like the ideas of doing something on top of it, whether it's just a foam mat or the carpet tiles.

BostonGayGal · October 2014

I think it is beautiful and I really wouldn't worry about it with a new walker. It will only be an issue for a very short period of time.

jcdorsey74 · October 2014

Haha! We just purchased a new home about a month and a half before I got pregnant. We walked in and ripped up the carpet exposing the concrete slab beneath in the family room and formal living room. We were content to live with just the concrete for a few years while saving the money for real hardwood floors. Oops baby changed our plans and now we are scrambling with what to do between now and when baby starts to walk at least. Not to mention, my 2 year old, daredevil, gonna give momma a heart attack DS now runs and tries to jump onto and off furniture. He's been in trouble more than once already...so I expect a cracked skull in our near future if we don't do something about the floor... I wish I had more to offer on suggestions, but I am in a similar boat.

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