A whine, anyone got some cheese?

Originally Posted by RoseHawke

*sigh* This is why I do everything myself. I suspect that what is the problem with that carpet is that it can't be gotten up in a reasonable amount of time. I'm sure the contractor was thinking of using some chemical to disolve the glue, which of course would also dissolve the top layer of glue in the particle board.

It could be scraped up with minimal damage to the subfloor, but that is a long, tedious, nasty job.

Taking up the old subfloor and putting down new isn't really that involved. Try looking for a handyman type person rather than a contractor per se, they're usually not as expensive. But also make sure you know exactly what you want done, and get it in writing if at all possible. There are hundreds of contractor horror stories out there.

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Yes there are, a LOT! SHUDDER, which makes me MORE leery! They are trying to tell me that it is now a zoning thing or something to where they HAVE to use this tri-ply "special" underlayment plywood and that it is VERY expensive. I don't know if that is just in California or even if what they are telling me is the truth or if I am getting "hosed" as Howard said. I guess maybe I will go to one more flooring place to get a second estimate and see what THEY tell me....SIGH......

Originally Posted by jennyranson

In my apartment in London I laid marine quality plywood over a pretty bad underfloor, and then put the lino tiles on that. Its really quite easy if you measure everything carefully and can use and electric jisaw. And if you do decide to go for hte Bosch oven - I had one in a house once and it was hte best I ever had! The fan system is better than any other make. I love Bosch products - I still have one of their dishwashers and it is perfect after 15 years.

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Thanks for the info on the Bosche oven, I am leaning more and more that way....

Carol, just a thought. If you phone your municipal office, the building inspectors there will know exactly what you need and what is required by law and that way you'll know if he is being honest with you or not.

Originally Posted by kluchetta

So...this has got me thinking...Carol - is this just the kitchen, or all the first floor. First of all - for your situation, I wonder if there are some high-school/college-age types that could do some labor for you? I'm sure my teenish aged kids would love to destruct things; too bad that we're so far away!

Now (the catch) my situation - I've been thinking about pulling up MY carpeting. Darn new cat pees all over it. Plus it's about 20 years old - I just needed an excuse to get rid of it. So...when you pull up the carpet - just why did you need to redo the subfloor if it's a rubber backing? And if you replace the subfloor, is there this gaping hole in your room until you do? AND...what could you put down that would be waterproof? Pergo? Linoleum? Not wood, I guess. Thanks! Kim.

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SHUDDER, I hope that it isn't going to be the whole first floor as I want to replace the carpet too eventually....oh no oh no.....sob sob....I was told I HAD to replace the subfloor because it CAN'T be fiberboard but I don't know if that is the truth or not, California can be real nit picky about stuff, you may not have the same "laws" there as here. Plus like I said I don't know if that is the truth or not, I am going to try one more floor place I guess and see what THEY say. And yes, I think you have a big gaping hole in you room, that is why they do it in one day, or at least remove the old floor and replace it with the new "underlayment".....ugh..........as far as waterproof I guess it would have to be lino, vinyl or tile, or maybe some of the laminated woods or bamboo floors with a vapor barrier under it, not sure. Good luck Kim, I hope yours is better than mine is lately....sigh

Originally Posted by carolcat

SHUDDER, I hope that it isn't going to be the whole first floor as I want to replace the carpet too eventually....oh no oh no.....sob sob....I was told I HAD to replace the subfloor because it CAN'T be fiberboard but I don't know if that is the truth or not, California can be real nit picky about stuff, you may not have the same "laws" there as here. Plus like I said I don't know if that is the truth or not, I am going to try one more floor place I guess and see what THEY say. And yes, I think you have a big gaping hole in you room, that is why they do it in one day, or at least remove the old floor and replace it with the new "underlayment".....ugh..........as far as waterproof I guess it would have to be lino, vinyl or tile, or maybe some of the laminated woods or bamboo floors with a vapor barrier under it, not sure. Good luck Kim, I hope yours is better than mine is lately....sigh

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Oh, dear. They're not talking about "zoning", they're talking about code. I didn't think of that, we tend to ah, be a bit more lax about such here ....

Although I always try to do stuff up to code of course, as it's there for a reason, but some of it can be awfully nitpicky. And when you're doing something fairly major like replacing a sub-floor, yes, you are running into code issues.

I would say that yes, particleboard (fiberboard) is no longer allowed as sub-flooring (because when it gets wet the stuff swells and disintegrates,) but I can see NO reason for the new sub-floor not to be allowed to be just plain vanilla 5/8" ply (standard sub-flooring.) UNLESS I am missing something about the fact that a goodly part of California must build to earthquake specifications these days.

Yes, we tried to add on a deck here, and you'd think "code" was like the laws of nature like gravity. "No, ma'am, that's CODE."

Originally Posted by carolcat

Gee, were you looking at granite? I was too, but too pricy by the time I hire someone to come and take out the sink and cooktop and then replace them again....sigh

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Oh yes Granite I didn't like anything else I have a large kitchen lots of counter space, but that was still just out of the question, like I said it wasn't a need

Originally Posted by RoseHawke

Oh, dear. They're not talking about "zoning", they're talking about code. I didn't think of that, we tend to ah, be a bit more lax about such here

....

Although I always try to do stuff up to code of course, as it's there for a reason, but some of it can be awfully nitpicky. And when you're doing something fairly major like replacing a sub-floor, yes, you are running into code issues.

I would say that yes, particleboard (fiberboard) is no longer allowed as sub-flooring (because when it gets wet the stuff swells and disintegrates,) but I can see NO reason for the new sub-floor not to be allowed to be just plain vanilla 5/8" ply (standard sub-flooring.) UNLESS I am missing something about the fact that a goodly part of California must build to earthquake specifications these days.

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Thanks for the "politically correct" term . I am beginning to think more and more that they are trying to "hose" me as Howard said. I am almost POSITIVE the floor underneth is PLYWOOD. Possibly hubby is going to help me remove one of the metal strips so we can see for sure but the "darling" kittys have pulled the rug loose in front of the bathroom door and I poked a little hole in the carpet pad and "TA DA" just as I thought it is PLYWOOD, not fiberboard. I don't see why they would use something different in the kitchen but I won't know for sure until we pull that strip to look but after calling and being rather rude I FINALLY got a quote for the kitchen. ONLY $2800.00, what a DEAL!! Needless to say I won't be taking them up on the offer. But we WILL check to see what is underneth this weekend if only for MY peace of mind. I don't like rude people who try to take advantage of me! I also might call the building inspectors to see what "code" is but I don't want them coming out to my house, they are terribly "power concious" here, already had to deal with them once when we put in the doughboy, and YEP had to get a building permit to put in an ABOVE GROUND POOL which is considered "portable". And the guy that came out was a total jerk! Well, I will know this weekend as I said, muahahahhaha!

Originally Posted by kluchetta

Yes, we tried to add on a deck here, and you'd think "code" was like the laws of nature like gravity. "No, ma'am, that's CODE."

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Yes, yes, I know that feeling as well, ugh! They certainly like to clobber you with it! I also wanted to tell you that your new siggy is lovely and so are Smudges eyes, he is just beautiful .

Originally Posted by halfpint

Oh yes Granite I didn't like anything else

I have a large kitchen lots of counter space, but that was still just out of the question, like I said it wasn't a need

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Yes, I am still thinking about that, drool drool, but to hear home depot tell it, granite isn't that great, they would rather sell you some "silestone" which is MORE expensive and not nearly as pretty, or corian which is slightly cheaper and not nearly as pretty either. Like I said, the oven is looking better and better, oh, and one more LITTLE drawback to getting the "solid top" countertops.....you have to REMOVE your counter tops when they come out to MEASURE and so you don't have a kitchen for about a MONTH!!

Originally Posted by carolcat

Yes, yes, I know that feeling as well, ugh! They certainly like to clobber you with it!

I also wanted to tell you that your new siggy is lovely and so are Smudges eyes, he is just beautiful

.

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Thanks so much! I was very excited to get my computer back so I could download those photos. I knew I had a couple good ones. I was waiting for people to come back online to see my new siggy. Impatiently!

You must certainly use some waterproof material - that is why I put down marine quality plywood. But I didn't have to worry about inspectors and code, etc!

Aw, c'mon Howard, don't be SHY, tell us how you REALLY feel!

We took the measurements and they figured it up but at almost $80 a sq ft witch included,putting it in, the drop, back splash, sealing, and tax I almost s**t, and my husband was still trying to justify it by saying well if you figure up everything seperate and the fact that you won't be cleaning it like you have to that white tile, I just LQQED at him and I just told him I LOVE THAT WHITE TILE, can't wait to go home and clean it There is no way I am spending over $5,000 for counters unless I hit the lotto