Flooring at home?

[RickRS]

As my wife has developed allergies, she talking about wood flooring to replace the carpet in family room, living room. As this could allow a really nice practice area for dance, any pointers? I'm wondering if there are certain woods, and/or finishes I should look for that would work best or if pretty much any wood floor would work?

[DMD]

Don't know too much about wood floors but supposedly, if you're planning to do it yourself, there are some wood "tiles" that fit together pretty easily, thoough I think you pay extra for the convenience and ease of installing them.

[Rugby]

Parkay is hardy though a bit more expensive. It will last you a long time, makes a great dance floor and is repairable. Watch out for laminate flooring as it is just a picture of a wood floor on a backing, like a puzzle piece. There are different qualities and its best to go for the better one if that is what you would like to get to save money over the hardwood. With the laminate, like a puzzle piece, the edges can peel up or flake off if you catch it with your heel, furniture or whatever. If you have dogs they may damage it with their toenails. Are you sure she is allergic to the carpets or could it possibly be something else? Anyway I'm not a pro so this is just my 2 cents for what it is worth.

[Zhena]

Here's one of a couple of previous threads on this:

http://www.dance-forums.com/showthread.php?t=13147&highlight=flooring

Rugby, from my understanding of allergies, it's probably not the carpet itself, but the fact that it is a great tool for accumulating dust and the associated dust mites and allergens, that causes problems. The standard advice to people with allergies is to remove anything soft and fuzzy from the house -- particularly from sleeping areas. This often includes curtains and certain kinds of upholstered furniture in addition to rugs and carpets (and stuffed animals ....).

[RickRS]

Zhena is correct, carpet is a problem that it habors dust mites and various allergens, not that people have carpet allergies. A solid floor, like wood or tile, which can be thoroughly, and easily, cleaned to remove allergens is a standard recommandation for patients with allergy problems.

Thank for that link, Zhena. While it was addressing a "portable" dance floor question, comments by tsb did answer a question of mine. The wife was interested in bamboo. I wasn't sure if there was some "rule" that a dance floor had to be oak, or whatever. tsb mentioned doing his home dance floor with bamboo, which suggest it would do fine.

And yes, this would be a DIY project. I have concrete slab subfloor, so it will be a snap-together floating floor or a glue-down type.

[RickRS]

I have spend a few hours combing the forums for tips. From that I got the following:

Seems like the first thing is to go for is a floating floor. if possible, for protection of the dancers joints.

Finish appears to be a great unknown. Most mentions don't seem to have any problem with DIY wood flooring from a home center. There a very small number that suggest wax over an unvarnish wood as the only way to go. And one suggestion to avoid polyurthane finish at all cost. Since I'm looking at "engineered" and "snap-lock" wood plank flooring available at home improvement centers like Home Depot and Lowes, all which are prefinished, likely with polyurthane......

Vince A's garage conversion was mentioned several times as an example to check out, but I couldn't find in via my search. Have PM Vince in hope he could point me to the thread.

[Rugby]

My dance partner is a professional flooring salesman and installer. He told me to tell you not to go cheap though the temptation is to do so. Also, he said to get the heaviest flooring you can get as the joints of the boards will last you longer.

[elisedance]

one thing - make sure the edges of each wood piece are flush - there is not that small gutter. A woman I know put in a dance floor with scalloped edges - useless if you are wearing a heel....

[RickRS]

one thing - make sure the edges of each wood piece are flush - there is not that small gutter. A woman I know put in a dance floor with scalloped edges - useless if you are wearing a heel....

Yes, beveled edges... Another thing to avoid.

[elisedance]

Yes, beveled edges... Another thing to avoid.

Yes, thats the word I was looking for! :)

[etp777]

Heh, I have that on my current floor, but not exactly the issue for guys shoes that it is for women's heels.