Floors

Reply to: Marmoleum is EXPENSIVE. The glue down tiles are not any less expensive. You still need the adhesive and the PREPARATION and the professionalism for the install. The labour costs SHOULD DOUBLE the cost of the job. That's normal. Whether it is tile or sheet, you still have to pay the piper. So many people have become DIY people. They have come to believe the cost of the material is ALL they are willing to pay for. When they are faced with the REAL cost of human sweat (and knowledge...sheet marmoleum is super special...it requires precision and dedication). This is not $2/sf install. But the floor you ACHIEVE is worth MORE than the costs you pay out. Sheet products are UNBELIEVABLY tough! They are the cat's meow of super-floors! They take on anything and live. There is no other floor like sheet marmoleum. Even cork can't touch it (if I'm being honest). It is water proof (seamless floors = no seams to penetrate....glue down tiles = seams every 2ft....literally!). Nothing else can say that (even my beloved cork). Remember: Sheet marmoleum needs to be the BEST of the best. They go EVERYWHERE. They are in HOSPITALS, schools, auditoriums, etc. The highest foot traffic areas in the world use the sheet products. If you don't like the cost of install, look at sheet vinyl. It is cheaper. The product is cheaper. The installers do not have to be paid as much because it is more forgiving to someone who is NOT dedicated to his/her craft.

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Reply to: One of the things you can do to 'clarify' the quote is to ask if it INCLUDES subfloor preparation. Ask what is "wrapped up" in that quote. You might just find they INCLUDED a $2/sf 'estimate' to prepare the subfloor. What is your current floor? How much WORK is supposed to go into the quote? Are they removing the current floor? Are they PREPARING the subfloor? What type of subfloor are you working with (concrete or plywood)? The 'labour' quote might have MANY things 'inside' the number. Can you offer some insight as to how much the labour cost is? How about the square footage? We can let you know how it compares to 'industry standards' for the project. First: ask more questions. Get an idea of WHAT is included in that hefty labour quote. You might just find they do EVERYTHING inside that number. Or, conversely, they do NOTHING extra...

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