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**CountryFit** · 08-29-2018, 09:57 PM

I have been researching and planning the vinyl flooring, probably the last major upgrade, for a long while. As weather is getting milder, I've just hit the ground.

I'll take it slow and post it piece by piece, along with my progressing. If anyone else is interested in doing the same on an older cc, please feel free to ask and we can share our experience to make the jobs easier and more fun.

My plan is to replace the entire flooring with vinyl, including bathroom and driver feet area. But will not touch the unseen areas under the couches...

**CountryFit** · 08-29-2018, 10:07 PM

The most challenging task in this project is probably cleaning the grout under the tiles. It's super hard and strong. Somebody used a wood chiesel and a hammer, very slow, while others used grinder but made whole house full of dirts...

**CountryFit** · 08-29-2018, 10:18 PM

I bought a shop vac and made a tool for using a grinder. Notice two opennings on the clear box - one end is connected to shop vac, another hole is for my hand in to do the grinding. When doing it, the dirts were sucked into the vac before it could escape to the air. It worked.

**CountryFit** · 08-29-2018, 10:33 PM

I had been looking for Brazillian cherry vinyl planks (I like old fashion). Unfortunately, unlike wood or laminate which has all kinds of colors to choose from, vinyl plank colors are very limited and mostly pale and cold. Finally I settled with oak which matches with my furniture's.

Started from stair top. Flat stair nose.

Off Road · 08-29-2018, 10:50 PM

Looking good. A big project.

smlranger · 08-30-2018, 05:12 AM

That is going to look very nice. Are you gluing the planks to the subfloor or using the floating, snap-together vinyl?

**CountryFit** · 08-30-2018, 07:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by smlranger

That is going to look very nice. Are you gluing the planks to the subfloor or using the floating, snap-together vinyl?

My planks are of click lock type.

The stair nose and the plank adjacent were glued down to subfloor. The entire third row from front to bedroom is glued down. All of the rest (left or right) are floating.

Here is the photo showing 3 rows...

**CountryFit** · 08-30-2018, 08:21 AM

For the carpet under the couch - I removed the drawer and two pieces of "face panels" to its left and right, cut the carpet about 5 inches from the drawer surface. After the install and put the drawer and face panels back on, nobody could see it's carpet under there...

Below are cut and afterward...

Cacique · 08-31-2018, 02:56 AM

Nice job!! Looks great

**CountryFit** · 08-31-2018, 10:31 AM

Thanks! There are a lot of cuts and nitty gritty details to deal with. I am taking this slowly; will update...

mike brez · 08-31-2018, 12:22 PM

How thick are the planks 4mm? Also no under layment directly on the plywood floor?

**CountryFit** · 08-31-2018, 12:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mike brez

How thick are the planks 4mm? Also no under layment directly on the plywood floor?

You are correct Mike, 4mm. I ground off the grout debris, filled up all the holes with wood filler, then sanded most areas. I consider I prepped it carefully. It was perfect flat so no need for underlayment (I knew some people used underlayment, best practice). Maybe it's just me not following the "norms"...

Smitty77 · 08-31-2018, 10:18 PM

Please excuse me. But DANGIT! How the heck am I supposed to keep straight arming (Are you ready for some Football???!!!) the DW, if she see's a post like this...

Could you have not at least sent out the secret CC Upgrade Light into the skies (Yeah, a lame Batman Beacon sidebar...) - to protect the rest of us????

All kidding aside. Respect the work involved to make this happen. Like the color, looks, of you final choice too.

Please keep us posted on the progress... As it could help us all.

One question. No heated flooring tile that you popped up, at least tha I could see. Form what you see doing the job. Am I correct (My DW would say that would be a first, well, except for asking her to marry me

!), that to save a heated tile area, like kitchen and bath area of many of the mid 2000's CC's, the 4mm Vinyl flooring you choose would need an underlayment to bring it to the same level?

Please keep posting your progress, and challenges... As it will help us all...

Best,
Smitty

**CountryFit** · 09-01-2018, 12:05 AM

Thanks Smitty! Always fun to read your posts.

To your question - the thickness of ceramic tile used on CC in early 2000's is about 6mm. 4mm LVP plus a 2mm underlayment would be perfectly level.

Will post more photos tomorrow.