The wood flooring in my parents kitchen was refinished one to many times and
they now have to replace the floor.
They have hired a contractor and he has suggested that they install the new
tongue & groove hardwood flooring directly over the old hardwood flooring.
My parents have told me that the contractor will be installing the new floor
perpendicular to the old floor. The contractor has told them that this is
perfectly fine. I think that this is a classic cross grain situation and
when the floor tries to move they will end up with a horrible mess.
What does the contractor know that I don't?
I would want the old stuff ripped out. Will the increased height of the
floor bother them? Or the loss of ceililng height? One thing that will
certainly bug them is the counter tops will suddenly be 3/4 inch lower.
And so will the sink. This is the situation in my kitchen right now.
There is little substitute for the joys of doing something the hard way.
John
Gren wrote:
>The wood flooring in my parents kitchen was refinished one to many times and
>they now have to replace the floor.
>
>They have hired a contractor and he has suggested that they install the new
>tongue & groove hardwood flooring directly over the old hardwood flooring.
>My parents have told me that the contractor will be installing the new floor
>perpendicular to the old floor. The contractor has told them that this is
>perfectly fine. I think that this is a classic cross grain situation and
>when the floor tries to move they will end up with a horrible mess.
>
>What does the contractor know that I don't?
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
cross-grain is probably ok from an
installation standpoint, but I think
the issue could be the final direction of
grain relative to the room. As I understand
it, the grain (and thus the boards) should
run parallel to the long wall in the room. If
the kitchen is square, then it may not be an
issue. I have also heard that the boards
ought to be run perpendicular to a wall that
has a window.
Putting down new flooring perpendicular to
the existing hardwood may violate these
esthetically pleasing rules of thumb.
mjbrna
Gren wrote:
> The wood flooring in my parents kitchen was refinished one to many times and
> they now have to replace the floor.
>
> They have hired a contractor and he has suggested that they install the new
> tongue & groove hardwood flooring directly over the old hardwood flooring.
> My parents have told me that the contractor will be installing the new floor
> perpendicular to the old floor. The contractor has told them that this is
> perfectly fine. I think that this is a classic cross grain situation and
> when the floor tries to move they will end up with a horrible mess.
>
> What does the contractor know that I don't?
>
>
>
>
>
>
You've made a good point. To satisfy aesthetics AND proper construction
technique, might require either the ripping up of the first hardwood
floor, or the laying down of plywood, which would cause that new floor
to ride pretty darn high!
EmbErna wrote:
> cross-grain is probably ok from an
> installation standpoint, but I think
> the issue could be the final direction of
> grain relative to the room. As I understand
> it, the grain (and thus the boards) should
> run parallel to the long wall in the room. If
> the kitchen is square, then it may not be an
> issue. I have also heard that the boards
> ought to be run perpendicular to a wall that
> has a window.
>
> Putting down new flooring perpendicular to
> the existing hardwood may violate these
> esthetically pleasing rules of thumb.
>
> mjbrna
>
> Gren wrote:
>
>> The wood flooring in my parents kitchen was refinished one to many
>> times and
>> they now have to replace the floor.
>>
>> They have hired a contractor and he has suggested that they install
>> the new
>> tongue & groove hardwood flooring directly over the old hardwood
>> flooring.
>> My parents have told me that the contractor will be installing the new
>> floor
>> perpendicular to the old floor. The contractor has told them that this is
>> perfectly fine. I think that this is a classic cross grain situation and
>> when the floor tries to move they will end up with a horrible mess.
>>
>> What does the contractor know that I don't?
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>
I agree, tear the old stuff out. If it isn't removed their will be
substantial problems. The base underneath will move seasonally. Seasonal
movement will affect how well the nails hold down the new floor, think of
how small of an area the nails are getting their purchase on in the new
floor, probably a little less than a 1/4 inch on the bottom portion of the
groove. The other problem is the greater height, you now have an additional
3/4 inch on top and the transition mouldings from the adjascent flooring
will be substantial. If the flooring guy suggested that your parents put
this down over the old floor, I would wonder why he was not inclined to
remove the old floor. Is he telling them what he thinks they want to hear?
Is he too lazy to remove the old stuff? Either way, I would be looking for
a second opinion and possibly a different floor guy.
Blair
"Eddie Munster" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> I would want the old stuff ripped out. Will the increased height of the
> floor bother them? Or the loss of ceililng height? One thing that will
> certainly bug them is the counter tops will suddenly be 3/4 inch lower.
> And so will the sink. This is the situation in my kitchen right now.
> There is little substitute for the joys of doing something the hard way.
>
> John
>
> >The wood flooring in my parents kitchen was refinished one to many times
and
> >they now have to replace the floor.
> >
> >They have hired a contractor and he has suggested that they install the
new
> >tongue & groove hardwood flooring directly over the old hardwood
flooring.
> >My parents have told me that the contractor will be installing the new
floor
> >perpendicular to the old floor. The contractor has told them that this is
> >perfectly fine. I think that this is a classic cross grain situation and
> >when the floor tries to move they will end up with a horrible mess.
> >
> >What does the contractor know that I don't?