Is there a floating vinyl floor like konecto that looks like stone?

san diego jim · May 8, 2008, 04:15 PM

cproader · May 8, 2008, 05:59 PM

Welcome Jim, IVC makes a sheet vinyl with stone patterns that are floatable.

Barry Carlton · May 8, 2008, 06:13 PM

As does Tarkett, Mannington, and Armstrong

barry

welcome aboard!

lesakflooring · May 9, 2008, 09:20 PM

Duraceramic can be installed as a floating floor if you use their underfloor. Underfloor is basically vinyl sheet goods with no print on it. It can be butted up to each other or spaced and grouted, we have installed it both ways, it's a pretty good product.

stullis · May 11, 2008, 11:29 PM

Konecto has some tile looks if they would ever get them onto the market.
They have managed to get the low end Allure product into the big boxes though.

DuraCeramic would out-perform Konecto or those sheet vinyl products.

Congoleum also has their own product as well as the manufacturers Barry mentioned but if you loose-lay them you asking for trouble.

seamsealer · May 12, 2008, 12:40 PM

stullis said

Konecto has some tile looks if they would ever get them onto the market.
They have managed to get the low end Allure product into the big boxes though.

DuraCeramic would out-perform Konecto or those sheet vinyl products.

Congoleum also has their own product as well as the manufacturers Barry mentioned but if you loose-lay them you asking for trouble.

Stullis, I have a question, why is loose lay looking for trouble? 99% of what I do is loose lay and I have very little trouble. Just got to ask.

Seamsealer

cproader · May 12, 2008, 12:53 PM

seamsealer said

Stullis, I have a question, why is loose lay looking for trouble? 99% of what I do is loose lay and I have very little trouble. Just got to ask.

Seamsealer

....yeah stullis, what up.....

....I am the same way. If it is in heavy traffic areas or commercial areas I wont looselay, but in a residential setting, I am most likely looselayin it.......

stullis · May 12, 2008, 04:19 PM

I've had nothing but trouble with loose lay vinyl over wood subfloor structures even when going over existing vinyl. Buckling.

On concrete substrates I haven't had any problems.

seamsealer · May 12, 2008, 04:42 PM

I know if they are tight around the edges, they will bubble up. A lot of these homes have movement in them when the seasons changes. Either no baseboards or quarter rounds need to be put on later. Less is more with these floors. Less glue, less baseboards, less quarter rounds. It takes a bit to get it right, but it is good for me.

Seamsealer

"Floors get me down"

stullis · May 12, 2008, 05:28 PM

How many have you put down and have the homes went through seasonal changes yet? And will your customers contact you if there is a problem?

As well as the base and quarter round you better consider the fridge and stove.

Next lets think about the recomendation to tape or glue the areas under appliances... hmm .... I wonder if that is then considered a "pinch point".

How often have the installation "rules" changed for the products? Then tell me that the sales reps know what the chit they're talking about. Same BS they try everytime they try to bring out these loose-lay products.

Heck I've only been in the flooring biz for 20 years and this is at least the third time I've seen these methods pushed. Others I've talked to who have been in it longer say it been tried more often.

If it works for you, good, but you can't say I didn't warn you when you do get those calls.

Nick Arrera · May 12, 2008, 06:02 PM

My brother worked for Mannington when Gold came out .. Said they almost went under from that one .. Personally i full spread everything .. I think it is just more BS from the mills to target the diy crowd , and take food off our tables ..

seamsealer · May 12, 2008, 07:08 PM

Last year, Jan-Dec, I put down about 4,000 yards of vinyl, not counting baths, mostly loose lay. Plywood, maybe 100 sheets all year. Do very little plywood these days. Mostly go over existing. I may have had 5-10 call backs for repairs, puffs or bubbles. Nothing I couldn't fix or straighten out. It's a learning experience and makes us good at what you do. We all do what works best for us.

Seamseler

stullis · May 12, 2008, 10:19 PM

5-10 callbacks is unacceptable to me but if it works for you that's fine.

Last loose lays I did I had problems on every wood substrate type. They were in an apartment complex, trying to save them some money, and 5 residential jobs.
The only ones that worked were the ones on the bottom floors where the substrate was concrete.

seamsealer · May 13, 2008, 02:49 PM

stullis said

5-10 callbacks is unacceptable to me but if it works for you that's fine.

Last loose lays I did I had problems on every wood substrate type. They were in an apartment complex, trying to save them some money, and 5 residential jobs.
The only ones that worked were the ones on the bottom floors where the substrate was concrete.

When you consider I probably do 4-7 jobs per week, the call backs are minimal. It is usualy a very minor problem. You can't do work like we do and not have call backs. It's just a part of the business we are in. Way too many variables.

Funny how you had no problems over the concrete and if I don't glue over concrete we seem to have lots of problems.

Seamsealer

stullis · May 13, 2008, 10:45 PM

Now that is weird.
My issues I attributed to seasonal changes causing wood substrates to move leading to buckling.

Strange that you are doing that much sheet vinyl.
Vinyl jobs have become very rare the past couple of years. Mostly LVT, ceramic and hardwood lately. Even laminate is rare as it has become primarily DIY in this area.