Congoleum Ultima vs. Airstep

xoliwt2000 · September 18, 2008, 10:06 AM

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Hi guys - me again, the pain in the butt newbie on board.

We have narrowed our floor choices down to Congoleum sheet products. We are talking to two different dealers. One of them has told us that Airstep will be replacing Ultima. I am leary of using Airstep since it is a new product and it is very hard to find reviews on the Airstep (I have found none!)

What are people (consumers or pros) saying about the Airstep? Which would be a better choice for a kitchen/DR/entryway? I've brought home samples of both and like patterns in either line, but I just need to pick the line!

Any help??

Jackreed · September 18, 2008, 12:45 PM

I mainly install Congoleum products as far as vinyl material is concerned. From what I understand Congoleum came out with Airstep because all the other companys had a full loose lay floor. I can't tell you what the wear layer is for Airstep, But Ultima is 20 mils. which is very good. it can be fully adhered or perimiter glued. I beleive it has a lifetime warranty. If it was my choice I would pick the Ultima and fully adhere it.

stullis · September 18, 2008, 10:19 PM

Ditto, Ultima is the superior product.

November 7, 2008, 04:41 PM

I'm the other newbie struggling with a very similar question. The key difference for me is that the Airstep would be used in basement laundry room - the real kind, not the million $$ home that never actually does laundry. We also grow our own veggies and I start the seedlings in this room, so water/mist will be an issue. Is the Ultima really worth the extra dollars for my purposes.

Thanks for your thoughts

stullis · November 7, 2008, 07:21 PM

What's the difference in prices of the products you are comparing?

sodak · November 7, 2008, 11:35 PM

Ultima is a superior floor. We've had it installed in our family room since it was introduced and it looks like the day it went down. Thuis room is a hub, right off the garage with access to the sunroom and kitchen. It's a major traffic area and it's seen lots of teen traffic and get very little TLC. Our daughter has it in her very well used kitchen -- 4 schoolage kids, a dog & a cat. Same story - looks brand new. You won't regret this choice.

November 12, 2008, 11:15 AM

stullis said

What's the difference in prices of the products you are comparing?

Difference is approx $700 and budget is an issue. There are no kids except the 4-legged fur ball variety

November 12, 2008, 11:18 AM

Oops - I forgot to add on emore question...the glue-down versus no-glue issue b/t these 2 types of products. Would the Airstep have a tendency to heave?

stullis · November 12, 2008, 10:37 PM

Does your washing machine ever walk/move around on you? If so gluing may be best.
Hard to say though without knowing you exact layout and what other heavy items would be in the area. The plus for a loose-lay is that you are on a concrete subfloor.

That seems like quite a difference in price? How big of an area is this?

Which Airstep product are you specifically looking at? There's a couple of levels of quality in that line.

November 13, 2008, 08:19 AM

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The Airstep that we are looking at is "Cloud Nine" and the room is about 20x15 sft. Fortunately our washing machine does not travel but then again you never know how many years it will take for it to start. The majority of other items in the room will be workbench and storage cabinets...eg. for all the stray tools, paints, fix-it stuff. In addition, there will be the light stands and tables for my seedlings and these will be moved around quite a bit. I am not a very careful person when tending the plants, so water and soil will likely end up on the floor.This room also has the sump pump so we will need to make a removable cover for that part, thought we could glue a matching piece of vinyl to it. The cement floor is currently covered with a layer of orange bubble wrap type of insulation and then plywood on top, so the vinyl will lay on the plywood. We do have a very high water table in our area so we needed the barrier to keep the moisture away.

melissa mcgowan · November 15, 2008, 06:38 AM

How much does the installation and prep work cost? Does 1.25 for installation and 1.50 per sq. ft for prep sound way too high?

stullis · November 15, 2008, 06:14 PM

melissa mcgowan said

How much does the installation and prep work cost? Does 1.25 for installation and 1.50 per sq. ft for prep sound way too high?

Install price is fine, HD charges $1.50 in my area, prep work really depends on what all is involved. Many times the prep work is more involved and therefore more expensive than the install, sometimes it is not.

stullis · November 15, 2008, 11:13 PM

Mouse due to the size I would recommend a glue down install BUT with your subfloor system you would need underlayment first, thereby raising your cost even further.

For your situation I would recommend Konecto or similar product that utilizes a floating installation method.
Will you be attempting to do this yourself or have it professionally installed?

By the way, Airstep replacing Ultima?? I don't think so.

Ultima is definitely the better quality product and will probably be more than double the cost of the Cloud Nine line of Airstep.

Mouse · November 18, 2008, 10:05 AM

We'll be using a professional installer. It will be the same person that we had bought other flooring materials from and so far have not had any problems with his work.

To put another clink into the question....someone suggested a product line from Congoleum called Highlight that may be a suitable, middle of the road product for a laundry room and not as expensive as Ultima. As far as I know it is a glue-down product. Have you heard anything about this product.

BTW - tks for all the help

stullis · November 21, 2008, 11:44 PM

Lots of products out there at all sorts of price points that will work.
Highlight is a glue down vinyl.

Sounds like you have an installer you are comfortable with and I would recommend you ask for their opinion.