It must be a relief to have finally made a decision. That looks like it will match the bar nicely.
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Home bar. Decor advice requested.
- Thread starter Eric Perry
- Start date
It does, thanks. More importantly, it matches the tile it'll bump up against. That's 16" tiles, laid at a 45°, and offset, with accent pieces that are dark between them. This color matches those accents pretty well.
The planks came in early. They got here Wednesday. So I picked them up to get them in the house to acclimate. I ripped the bar apart Friday, and installed the floor Saturday. It was a bitch of a job. I honestly think tile would have been easier. These planks don't lock together without a fight. I'm sure they're all different, but these particular ones weren't friendly to work with. The area done is 12x22. Doing just final floor prep and laying the planks was a full day job.
Now, for a review. They look great! I couldn't be much happier with the planks, the finished floor, and the look of the room now. Significant upgrade from the grungy carpet. The variation in color, pattern, etc. between planks is fantastic. The "woodgrain" looks very good, and the plank texture is very nice. The room almost looks like a real bar now.
For cons, they feel, and sound, cheap (even though other options would have cost less). The feel under your feet, and the sound when walking on them let's you know you're walking on plastic. Not a fan at all. That really does offset how good it looks. Do I regret going this route? I'm torn. I'm hoping as it settles the sound/feel will minimize. If not, I'll be really bummed.
Overall, I don't think I'd recommend them, in all honesty. At almost $3.50 sq./ft., I expected more.
Anyway, what do you think?
Now, for a review. They look great! I couldn't be much happier with the planks, the finished floor, and the look of the room now. Significant upgrade from the grungy carpet. The variation in color, pattern, etc. between planks is fantastic. The "woodgrain" looks very good, and the plank texture is very nice. The room almost looks like a real bar now.
For cons, they feel, and sound, cheap (even though other options would have cost less). The feel under your feet, and the sound when walking on them let's you know you're walking on plastic. Not a fan at all. That really does offset how good it looks. Do I regret going this route? I'm torn. I'm hoping as it settles the sound/feel will minimize. If not, I'll be really bummed.
Overall, I don't think I'd recommend them, in all honesty. At almost $3.50 sq./ft., I expected more.
Anyway, what do you think?
That's why we always spent the extra for real wood. That plasticky feel was a no go.
-Mike
-Mike
But hey, it looks rad bro.
In the event I ever made it to your house to check it out, I am certain I wouldn't even notice unless you brought it up.
Whatever you do, as guests arrive to check out your upgrades, do not bring it (the way the floor feels) up or apologize for it. Most people will probably never notice.
-Mike
In the event I ever made it to your house to check it out, I am certain I wouldn't even notice unless you brought it up.
Whatever you do, as guests arrive to check out your upgrades, do not bring it (the way the floor feels) up or apologize for it. Most people will probably never notice.
-Mike
Well it looks fantastic.
I’m sorry to hear about your issues
There are different profile locking mechanisms, and some go together easier than others, and some once you figure out the trick, they go together quicker.
Our guys do about 350’ - 400’ a day, so you didn’t do too bad for an amateur, lol
I’m curious on the sound though. Did that stuff have a foam attached? We find most are pretty quiet.
Is there unevenness in the subfloor, and therefore a springiness in it?
It may settle in with foot traffic.
By the rule book, you should have gone around the bar, and put a quarter round around it to cover the expansion gap.
Speaking of which, you left expansion around the walls and at the tile, correct?
I’m sorry to hear about your issues
There are different profile locking mechanisms, and some go together easier than others, and some once you figure out the trick, they go together quicker.
Our guys do about 350’ - 400’ a day, so you didn’t do too bad for an amateur, lol
I’m curious on the sound though. Did that stuff have a foam attached? We find most are pretty quiet.
Is there unevenness in the subfloor, and therefore a springiness in it?
It may settle in with foot traffic.
By the rule book, you should have gone around the bar, and put a quarter round around it to cover the expansion gap.
Speaking of which, you left expansion around the walls and at the tile, correct?
Nothing at all to be sorry about. I chose this route. I still greatly appreciate your input.Well it looks fantastic.
I’m sorry to hear about your issues
There are different profile locking mechanisms, and some go together easier than others, and some once you figure out the trick, they go together quicker.
Our guys do about 350’ - 400’ a day, so you didn’t do too bad for an amateur, lol
I’m curious on the sound though. Did that stuff have a foam attached? We find most are pretty quiet.
Is there unevenness in the subfloor, and therefore a springiness in it?
It may settle in with foot traffic.
By the rule book, you should have gone around the bar, and put a quarter round around it to cover the expansion gap.
Speaking of which, you left expansion around the walls and at the tile, correct?
Yeah, these planks did have underlayment attached. The sound is minimal, to be honest. My initial description provably exaggerates it. But, with my first walk across it, my ears were wide open. It's not so much the sound from under the planks, it's the sound of bare feet on top of them. I am hoping as it settles it will improve.
Yes, I did leave a gap. About .125 all the way around. How much do these things expand/contract? The quarter rounds aren't done yet. I was so done with the project I just wanted the room cleaned and put back together. They'll be done in the upcoming weeks.
Well, I hope you had a cocktail once it was put back together!
Every manufacturer has different recommendations (RTFM!) but you’re probably fine. We like .25” but that goes back to the laminate days, these solid/ridged core floors have less expansion.
I’m sure it’ll settle down, we usually tell people when they bring it up to give it a month, and call us if it’s still bothering you. We rarely hear back.
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Lol. I did. It called for more, but the remaining tile edge was so jagged that if I went .250 for a minimum, the there would have been spots of .500. Too much for the transition strips. I never realized how poorly the tile was cut and laid at that edge because the carpet hid the imperfections. That was all done before we bought the house.
Most floors have coordinated T-molds to cover that gap. What do you plan on using?
Oh ok, looks like they weren’t in yet when you took that pic. They usually give you some play room for less than straight edges.
As a flooring guy, if that stripper pole is tight, I assume it fits by compression? That would worry me.
Floating floors are supposed to float.
And get some good quality felt pads on the bottom of the stools, if they have those round tacks nailed in the bottom, get them out PDQ!
Floating floors are supposed to float.
And get some good quality felt pads on the bottom of the stools, if they have those round tacks nailed in the bottom, get them out PDQ!
Yeah, that pole is compression mounted. I asked you before I installed if there was any worry there and you said no. Lol. Welp, too late now. That general area will not be floating.
And there are felt pads on everything now. The bar, bar back, both fridges, stools, and barrel chairs.
And there are felt pads on everything now. The bar, bar back, both fridges, stools, and barrel chairs.
