Flooring choice for basement/tank area

[lastlight]

I have the option (and the tiles) to lay a row around the tank. You're saying for spills in the viewing area?

Fishroom will just be sealed concrete.

[sphelps]

Yeah pretty much for spills or seepage from a larger leak or spill in the fish room. I do like the look of tile but it can be a little cold and hard in the basement. My preference would based on how the space is used and what the rest of the house had. Carpet is nice and cozy and will be what I use in my basement since the rest of the house is hardwood but I would use hardwood if most of the house was carpet. Hardwood is much easier to clean as well so if it will see a lot of traffic it may be a better choice, but if you have a dog it scratches however still better for cleaning and allergy issues (if any).

[lastlight]

Since my office is just a desk off the end of the tank I'd prefer a hard surface to slide my chair on. I'd rather not do carpet and then tile just my office corner. Dog doesn't come downstairs.

I'll be redoing the upper floor a few years down the road so I'm not concerned about matching anything up there. Carpet will be a bit warmer and of course cheaper but I won't install it myself whereas with the engg hardwood I'd install myself which is appealing.

Sounds like I should do tile around the tank no matter which I choose (carpet or wood). The tank stand has a 3" lip around it so spills might not make it down to the floor.

[sphelps]

Are you doing stairs as well? This creates a real delima between safety and ease of cleaning.

[lastlight]

Originally Posted by sphelps

Are you doing stairs as well? This creates a real delima between safety and ease of cleaning.

Yes the stairs need to be done. Hence me not wanting to do carpet since I won't touch stairs...

[therealshark]

i did some searching on it before i purchased it but couldnt find anything. i purchased it from homehardware.
here is a link to there. there is more options than the 4 shown here.
http://www.homehardware.ca/en/cat/se...resso+flooring

i think it was around $2.50 or $2.75 a square foot. kinda pricey, but no more than good quality laminate.

[lastlight]

Originally Posted by therealshark

i did some searching on it before i purchased it but couldnt find anything. i purchased it from homehardware.
here is a link to there. there is more options than the 4 shown here.
http://www.homehardware.ca/en/cat/se...resso+flooring

i think it was around $2.50 or $2.75 a square foot. kinda pricey, but no more than good quality laminate.

Oh they're press and go? Yeah I'm def wanting something that installs like hardwood. My experience with stick ons has been mixed.

Now that I look again they are planks...weird they call it press and go. Do these lock together?

[therealshark]

this isnt the peel and stick stuff. it has 2 grooves that clip together, i used a rubber hammer. you will have to see it in person to see how easy it is.

[sphelps]

Originally Posted by lastlight

Yes the stairs need to be done. Hence me not wanting to do carpet since I won't touch stairs...

Hardwood stairs can be pretty dangerous, especially if kids are around, hardwood stairs are also pretty expensive as you have to buy the nosing which costs around $60-$90 per stair. Carpet is much safer but hard to keep clean, installers do charge more for stairs but not that much more.

[lastlight]

Originally Posted by sphelps

Hardwood stairs can be pretty dangerous, especially if kids are around, hardwood stairs are also pretty expensive as you have to buy the nosing which costs around $60-$90 per stair. Carpet is much safer but hard to keep clean, installers do charge more for stairs but not that much more.

Yeah somehow I keep getting excited about the floor and forget about the nose pieces. I suppose I could carpet the stairs and do the hardwood downstairs...