entry

Reply to: San, My husband and I just finished installing the Napa Grande in our home (about 850 square feet). We literally just finished a few days ago, and we still don't have our baseboards installed yet and have construction materials sitting everywhere, so I only have a few pictures to show right now. . . Please excuse the mess, I will post better pictures in about a week. I had the same exact problem as you when I was looking at this laminate. . . I couldn't find any pictures of it in people's homes because it is so new! Overall, we really like it. However, it didn't come without some challenges. A few things to note: 1. There are only 5 different patterns of planks. This can make it difficult creating variation when you are installing and since each box only comes with 4 planks (because they are so huge), you will probably end up with a lot more of certain planks towards the end. I had about 15 of one pattern and ZERO of another, so I had my husband go back to the store and exchange them (which, surprisingly Floor and Decor was willing to exchange with no problems). 2. when the light shines on these planks, some of them are more "matte" than others. It is really obvious (only when in certain lighting though), and doesn't bother me too much, but I could see it being a big problem for some people. 3. These are not easy to install. At all. The fact that they are so huge and heavy (in my opinion) makes it easier to break them because there is a lot of weight you are shifting around. We broke a lot of them when installing. Also, make sure your floor is perfectly level. Ours is pretty flat, we had laminate before we put this new laminate down and there were no problems, but for whatever reason, this laminate seems to be more sensitive to tiny variations in the slab.

Q

Reply to: This is a "common" concern with Aquaguard installation - the edges are brittle and can be damaged with too much force. And the installer's reaction is common for installers who do not *normally work with Aquaguard. In other words, they damage the edges (because of poor technique) and then tell the homeowner the product is cr@p and to go out and buy something else for them to install. They have to go SLOW and be CAREFUL with this product. If they try to RUSH and treat it like "any other" laminate, this will happen. That's why some guys will add another $0.25 - $0.50/sf onto their regular price because the install takes MORE TIME. And time costs more money. A floating cork floor has a higher price tag because it takes more time because you need to be GENTLE with the floor. The ANGLE that is needed for Aquaguard must be maintained. Some installers can get away with slamming laminate boards together using a rubber mallet as their tool of force. But Aquaguard (and all vinyl click togethers btw) is NOT to be bullied. It requires a soft touch with the proper 45 deg. installation angle preserved while snapping them together. When I see edge damage like this, I always ask which direction they are installing the product. The Uniclic system MUST HAVE the tongue being placed INTO the groove. That means the groove is sitting ON THE FLOOR. The tongue is then placed into the groove. The new plank is angled UPWARDS at a 45 deg angle at the SAME TIME that the tongue is being fit into the groove. Then the new plank is then dropped into place...and then LIGHTLY/gently TAPPED together. If these guys are trying to "slide" two FLAT planks (both sitting flat on the floor) together and then SLAMMING them together with brute force, they will get 20% - 35% edge breakage. And that is "improper installation" which is at the expense of the installer. And he knows that. That's why he doesn't want to continue with the Aquaguard....it will cost him TOO MUCH MONEY to replace what he has damaged. I suggest you want some youtube videos for Uniclic installations then WATCH these guys give it a go. I'm going to guess you are going to see some serious discrepancies between the two techniques.

Q

Reply to: Let me start by saying what a mean spirited individual Sophie Wheeler is. She bullied me throughout my kitchen remodel. Very condescending when I posted design questions or asked for advice. Just be thankful you don’t go through life with the negative attitude she has. That being said, I chose Conestoga shaker inset Cabinets. I had some of the cabinet stiles come to the floor to resemble legs. No shimming. My house was built in 1935. cabinets ran me under $8k.

Q