Hardwood Installation - 3 Bids - Which One Offeres the Best Quality

[davesaint86]

I'm starting a new thread now since I have at least three real bids now where the prep and installation are a little different between the three. The question I have since I'm not an expert which scenario is truely the best for quality and the price.

Scenario 1 - This is the guy who want's the 50% upfront. Told him this is not acceptable and thought he bowed out of the picture. However he called today and now he wants $250 upfront and then x amount a dollars to be paid at the completion of the Dining Room and the balance to be paid at the completion of the Great Room. He said if I supply the roofing felt he would install it, undercut the fireplace, and install the wood. The floor needs to be raised at least 1/8". Since he would be finishing up the prep and installing the roofing felt now the price jumped from $1161 to $1350 + price of me providing the roofing felt which I think would cost at least $100 more.

Scenario 2 - I've know this guy for awhile. He does a lot of remodeling and specializes in custom woodworking. He seems to work slower and charge more but I know he is reliable. He wants to install 1/8" thick luan over both of the floors, knock off the bottom layer of stone veener off of the fireplace, use a wet saw to cut and install it back. He does not want to use the felt because he wants to glue the first row which does not butt against a wall, it butts against a sluether strip next to ceramic tile. He doesn't want to glue the first row to the felt. Price $1792 includes material

Scenario 3 - I do not know this guy. My neighbor, and also a fellow church member recommended him. My neighbor is a general contractor and uses him to install the flooring in all of his new houses. He thought that removing the stone and cutting it with a wet saw was a good idea. He wants to used 30lb felt and feather the felt out in the great room that butts against the tile. The wood run lengthwise along side the tile. However on the left of the Great Room where the Great Room meets the Breakfast room he is talking about using some vinyl to raise the wood flooring. Over in that area the end of the wood strips would butt up to the sleuther strip. Price $1500

[davesaint86]

I thought I would have had some responses by now. Please some of you experts please respond. The wife is bugging the heck out of me. I would like to make a decision today.

Thanks,

Dave

[rgfloor]

The Winner is------!!!

Door #2

Why?
1. You know him!
2. He is reliable!
3. He offered solid suggestions and will carry them out!

In my mind quality wins over price! EVERY time.

You will not get , you can sit back and, you'll end up with a

[davesaint86]

Thanks. Question for you. Other than quality do you agree that laying the 1/8" luan down is a better solution that feathering roofing felt, etc or laying down enough roofing felt to equal 1/8 of an inch. This is what I'm talking about quality also. Is Installer #2 prep/installation plan better than Installer #1 or #3?

Thanks,

Dave

[Kman]

Other than quality do you agree that laying the 1/8" luan down is a better solution that feathering roofing felt, etc or laying down enough roofing felt to equal 1/8 of an inch.

I'll have to say that this is the only part of the installation I don't care for. 1/8" is going to be shredded by the nails/staples that is used for the wood floor. What is the purpose of installing it anyway? (I may have missed something when this thread split off the original one) He could just as easily face-nail a sacrificial row or a straight edge, then start from there without having to glue anything.

I also think you need something (15lb. felt or 4-6 mil plastic) to keep the finished floor and the subfloor from rubbing against each other and squeaking.

[stullis]

The 1/8" is so the hardwood matches up closer in height to the existing tile and Schluter metal.

I think it is a far better idea using the 1/8" rather than trying to get that 1/8" height using roofing felt.
Haven't seen the layout so I don't know about the starter row issue that Kman is talking about? I'll trust the installers judgement on it for now.

I also agree with Roger on the installer choice.

[davesaint86]

Thanks Stullis, you understand the layout. I'm trying to add a drawing of the Great Room layout and some pictures of the Great Room and Dining Room. Let's see if this works.
Dave

http://s434.photobucket.com/albums/qq67/davesaint86/

[rgfloor]

I looked at your diagram, with Schluter on two sides I believe you need the luan and not try tapering with felt. Get it flat and you will not see elevation changes.

Still #2, he has a good plan.

By the way, what kind of wood is going down?

[davesaint86]

Thanks. 3/4 - 3 1/2 Stained Maple.

[rgfloor]

What brand is it?

[Tandy Reeves]

Is this to be site sand and finish? Maple does not stain well at all. If this is pre-finished have you seen any more than samples? Be very very careful.

[davesaint86]

I agree, stain maple can look blotchy. I already have the wood and emptied two boxes and laid out the wood on the floor. Out of any stained maple I've seen I like this the best.

[davesaint86]

I'll post pictures when it's complete.

[davesaint86]

http://s434.photobucket.com/albums/qq67/davesaint86/
Here's what the wood look's like. You can't tell from the picture but when you stand over the wood you see a peal type sheen. The wood has a rich look to it and it doesn't seem as blotchy as alot of stained maple. Mullican Muirfield Golden maple doesn't looks pretty good also.

#1, tell him no deposit and the job is his.

Undercutting in the way to go. Make sure he has the proper saw and diamond blade.

1/8" is nothing, go with the felt won't be detectable.

#2 is not a floor guy, obviously. If #3 doesn't have an undercut saw he has no business doing wood floors.

sleuther=Schluter