Perfect timing. I am about to try my first flooring project. Estimate for our house is about 35K for both floors all rooms/etc (incl carpet removal). I figure I can save about 30K or so in upcharges, labor, etc doing it myself. Grabbed 8 boxes of Mohawk at Costco to try one room. Been watching so many videos and one thing that throws me (well two) is this thing where you mark the panel, cut it and reverse it. I think it's for when you get to a wall and you need to cut to fit just right, you mark the panel, cut it and use the other piece and turn it around? I dont know will figure that out when I get there. The other thing is.. well downstairs is cement, and upstairs is wood. So besides removing the carpet and tack bars and any nails and all that, the leveling process scares me a little. I have a 24" level (not a good metal one though so may go pick one of those up). I seen some videos where they put some compound down and then use a long level wood stick to scrape it to fill in the area I guess. Not sure if the same goop is used for cement and wood but I would assume different goop for that? The last one is the need for the barrier. The panels I got apparently have some sort of barrier attached. But I am told cement (bottom floor) can have more moisture come thru. One of my neighbors spent like $5K having his entire bottom floor sealed before doing floors. That is yet another cost I can't afford so unsure if thats only needed if you plan to put real wood in or what. Thus wondering if buying this blue stuff you got here + the panels is a good way to go (assuming those rolls aren't too pricey) or if the stuff attached to the flooring is good enough to avoid any moisture seeping thru the cement into the flooring.
My experience over the years, my main suggestion would be to jump in and start trying some stuff out. Practice some cuts, maybe lay some flooring down around the areas you have concerns with regarding leveling etc. see if it works or not. It’s the only way you are going to become more comfortable and confident. As for concrete floors and moisture, you will always need some sort of moisture barrier. I used the blue foam because it was a barrier and a cushion for flooring. Some flooring already comes with foam on it but still requires a plastic moisture barrier of some kind. To this day I still make all kinds of mistakes but it’s necessary. That’s how you get better! Hope this helps.
@@TheProgressA Right on brother. Great video btw. I appreciate your vocality around making mistakes and figuring it out as you go. I suspect that will be me as I love trying to do various woodworking projects (making some corn hole boards and a desk to go on a new sit/stand set of legs as well for example). But I do like to take advantage of our tech today e.g. watch videos and get a leg up on going in blind. :D.
Perfect timing. I am about to try my first flooring project. Estimate for our house is about 35K for both floors all rooms/etc (incl carpet removal). I figure I can save about 30K or so in upcharges, labor, etc doing it myself. Grabbed 8 boxes of Mohawk at Costco to try one room. Been watching so many videos and one thing that throws me (well two) is this thing where you mark the panel, cut it and reverse it. I think it's for when you get to a wall and you need to cut to fit just right, you mark the panel, cut it and use the other piece and turn it around? I dont know will figure that out when I get there. The other thing is.. well downstairs is cement, and upstairs is wood. So besides removing the carpet and tack bars and any nails and all that, the leveling process scares me a little. I have a 24" level (not a good metal one though so may go pick one of those up). I seen some videos where they put some compound down and then use a long level wood stick to scrape it to fill in the area I guess. Not sure if the same goop is used for cement and wood but I would assume different goop for that? The last one is the need for the barrier. The panels I got apparently have some sort of barrier attached. But I am told cement (bottom floor) can have more moisture come thru. One of my neighbors spent like $5K having his entire bottom floor sealed before doing floors. That is yet another cost I can't afford so unsure if thats only needed if you plan to put real wood in or what. Thus wondering if buying this blue stuff you got here + the panels is a good way to go (assuming those rolls aren't too pricey) or if the stuff attached to the flooring is good enough to avoid any moisture seeping thru the cement into the flooring.
My experience over the years, my main suggestion would be to jump in and start trying some stuff out. Practice some cuts, maybe lay some flooring down around the areas you have concerns with regarding leveling etc. see if it works or not. It’s the only way you are going to become more comfortable and confident. As for concrete floors and moisture, you will always need some sort of moisture barrier. I used the blue foam because it was a barrier and a cushion for flooring. Some flooring already comes with foam on it but still requires a plastic moisture barrier of some kind. To this day I still make all kinds of mistakes but it’s necessary. That’s how you get better! Hope this helps.
@@TheProgressA Right on brother. Great video btw. I appreciate your vocality around making mistakes and figuring it out as you go. I suspect that will be me as I love trying to do various woodworking projects (making some corn hole boards and a desk to go on a new sit/stand set of legs as well for example). But I do like to take advantage of our tech today e.g. watch videos and get a leg up on going in blind. :D.
Not the right tapping block or hammer for the job. You need a rubber mallet and grooved tongue grooved tapping block.
Appreciate the feedback!