Advice sought - renovating house

[wrench13]

We are planning on having our kitchen floor ripped up and replace with some type of floor tile, likely solid vinyl tiles. I was planning on taking Salty, Geri and I to a motel while it gets done. Whole floor right down to the underlayment. How long should we stay out. Contractor says it will take them 2 days, 1 to rip out, and one to build it back. Knowing contractors, I am figuring 3 days. But how long after that to the fumes of new tile and adhesive to disipate? I'll probably enclose the kitchen in plastic sheeting to deep the dust in one place, but the fumes - those I dont know......

 

[SailBoat]

We are planning on having our kitchen floor ripped up and replace with some type of floor tile, likely solid vinyl tiles. I was planning on taking Salty, Geri and I to a motel while it gets done. Whole floor right down to the underlayment. How long should we stay out. Contractor says it will take them 2 days, 1 to rip out, and one to build it back. Knowing contractors, I am figuring 3 days. But how long after that to the fumes of new tile and adhesive to disipate? I'll probably enclose the kitchen in plastic sheeting to deep the dust in one place, but the fumes - those I dont know......

Go to any of the Big Box Stores and visit their flooring department. Ask to see their Vinyl floor, the full width stuff! It commonly comes in widths of 12, 14 & 16' and is cut to length. The wall and cabinet floor molding locks those areas down and if you are butting up to either carpet or wood floor, the transition piece locks that down. No Adhesive Required! The selection is huge and as long as the surface below the vinyl, the floor is clean and flat they just lay it down. Any rubble left on the floor will be seen as a high spot.

If you are set on Vinyl squares, near everyone is using water based adhesives and what little fumes (off-gassing), if any, is very low and within 24 hours not even a great nose is going to be notice any trace of it.

Double check with the Big Box Store, I was under the impression that the cost to install the squares was greater than the measuring pre-cutting and setting a single piece. It has been awhile, so worth double checking that item.

I ceramic tiled a wall and used the extra strong 'floor' type water based adhesive and there was zero fumes. Lots have changed, so prior to their using the adhesive take a good smell or whoever has the good nose in the house and let that be your guide.

 

[Kentuckienne]

Depending on the age of the floor, and how many layers there are, there might be asbestos.

If the floor is not perfectly even it will require leveling compound which takes a while to dry.

If any damage to the subfloor is uncovered that will take some time to repair. As long as the joists are ok that shouldn’t take too long.

Some of the new “luxury vinyl” tiles have ceramic coatings that make them very durable and wear resistant, and don’t offgas the same chemicals as regular soft roll flooring. Also, linoleum and marmoleum are natural products made of linseed oil and cork. The roll stuff doesn’t require adhesive. I did a vinyl tile floor in the bathroom and while the adhesive isn’t as stinky, it does require good ventilation. Even on a new subfloor I had to do some leveling and put down tar paper.

Some contractors don’t follow all the instructions on the tile/floor/adhesive because they don’t know or don’t want to be bothered. Herd must be ridden on them.

 

[wrench13]

The floor already has 3 layers, so they all need to come up. Grr what gets me is, I had all the materials to lay the 3rd one down a few years ago, and my Ex's BF came over one weekend we were one the road, and "helped" by putting the floor down. Unfortunately he had never done this , so nail and screw indentations were not filled in, and the standard space between tiles was not consistent. Scroll forward a few years and now the vinyl tile has settled into these indentations, created high spots and the tile has failed. Grrr....

 

[Scott]

How old is the house, Al? I'd be more concerned with the vintage layers and residue than your new covering and installation process. Specifically, the residue created when it all comes out.

 

[Aquila]

When I had my kitchen done, it was shortly before I moved in. It was three or four layers of linoleum under the vinyl flooring that was there! They put the subfloor stuff down and then ceramic tile. No odor for that at all that I remember, but that was also grout. Just be aware if they're removing old stuff, the new stuff can still potentially sink a bit afterwards, which is what happened to me!