Engineered Hardwood Installation

Saturday morning we got an an early start at 7am, took measurements for the hardwood, picked up sub-flooring from Lowes with a rental truck, and then stopped by Hardwood Floors of Lancaster. I had previously and talked to the owner, Tom, on the phone and he took me for an experienced contractor and promised me a deal...so when we met in person he was a little surprised at my age. Either way, we talked extensively about our options and we settled on Brazilian Cherry Engineered Hardwood. It's a darker choice with great contrast in the dark and lighter areas.



Installation isn't too bad, as long as you take your time and make sure the boards are tight. It's looking much lighter than in the store, that's because when we put the sealer on it - it will get a darker, richer look. I spend some time showing Erica, Ralph, and Matt how to install it. Matt is Ralph's lounge manager and has been really stepping up to lend a hand.



While doing this, my allergies were getting really bad. At the end of the night I could barely breathe. Then I broke out in hives on my chest, back and neck. I must have been allergic to something in the wood, possibly the glue. I really need to look out more and get proper breathing equipment when dealing with something I'm not familiar with. Matt and Ralph were able to make a lot of progress throughout the week after I had to leave on Sunday.

The next step to finish is put quarter-round around the edges, then we seal it. I'll be looking forward to posting the finished product.

Hardwood, Engineered, or Laminate Floor on a Budget

Chances are you're familiar with this question: Hardwood or Laminate Flooring?

For the front part of the lounge in Lancaster, we have about 750SF of the cafe/coffee shop area. Ideally, we would lay natural, high-quality hardwood down, but everyone knows the price of doing so can be high. In the last property we renovated two years ago, we used the cheap laminate flooring that comes in at around $1 a SF and is about 1/4" thick. Under heavy use, it's opened up in a few areas in the butting areas, and has also chipped where furniture has been dragged across the edges. For these reasons, we should go with a higher quality material for this location, but as always, cost is an issue.

I recently read Green on Montrose's post about their choice of American Black Cherry because of it's a high quality material, locally produced, and comes from a company that is conscious of the environment, . It looks beautiful installed, but they were able to spend a bit more than we have in our budget. So what are we going to do?

There are higher quality laminate floor options, the engineered hardwood which is a blend of the best of both worlds. It has layers of engineered wood to increase flexibility and decrease shrinkage and expansion, it has up to 3/8" thick wood on top that will look and feel like natural hardwoods, and will also have the option to be refinished once.

I'm still looking into these and finding the best options. I'll try and post some photos of the available options and of the space we're covering...

--Friday 5/22/09 Update--

I've been in contact with local flooring store in Lancaster. The manager is very knowledgeable and told me they have a number of FSC Certified hardwood and engineered hardwoods available for under $3SF. I'll be stopping in tomorrow to look with Ralph, and we'll be making our selection. I'll try to take some photos of all of the options.

Responding to My Own Questions

I sent a message to the MSSD Program Co-Directer, Professor Flemming, around three weeks ago. Since there's been no response I figured I'd give it a shot and play prof, answer myself, and see if my conclusions will change over the next two years. What the hell, right?

Hey Rob,

I love the radio show, thanks for putting on a great discussion every week. I met with you about two months ago about the MSSD program and was just offered acceptance a few weeks ago! I'm really thrilled and can't wait to get started. I have two questions for you though:

1. Do you see a pull-back with the term "Sustainable" anytime soon? As Architecture and Engineering Programs acknowledge the need for sustainable design take these principles and incorporate them into their studies, will the MSSD Program continue to be competitive in the years ahead? This specific article got me thinking about the issue http://www.treehugger.com/files/2009/04/mocoloco-dumps-sustainable-design.php

2. I noticed on the PhillyU website that there may be a 12 credit Graduate Certificate in Sustainable Practices offered. Would this be separate than the MSSD Program and does it offer a lot of the same education? As someone looking for a career change, would it benefit me to look into this also as I want to move into this exciting field as soon as possible.

Thanks again,
David Ross

My Answer to Question 1: While the term "Sustainable" is used a little too freely, it's not something that is as easily accomplished. Yes, companies and educational institutions are taking steps to incorporate greener learning and business methods, but sustainability is an ongoing challenge. The term sustainable is not going anywhere, but public perception needs to change to understand that it's a movement. It's about being as efficient as technologically possible, minimizing usage and waste of resources far further than current levels. All the while, maintaining a comfortable standard of living for the masses. So yes, it's going to be a challenge for a long time.

Also, as other institution and career fields embrace the sustainability movement, there will be more doors opened. Philadelphia University will be providing access to architects and engineers on the edge of this movement, so it's your responsibility to get the most you can out of them. Therefore, I wouldn't be afraid of the MSSD Program being less competitive at all, in fact, possibly the opposite. By blending students with different backgrounds, you'll get a better understanding of all the facets of sustainability in a variety of fields.

My Answer to Question 2: Since there has been increased interest in the program, we are taking steps to get people into the growing green economy as quickly as possible while still providing them with a good education. The Graduate Certificate Program is not as in depth or thorough as the MSSD program, but it will prepare workers to take the step from blue collar to green collar jobs. It's really up to you.