When we first moved into our home the flooring was mostly carpet. It was a faded blue that looked gray in some areas. We knew it would have to go eventually, but we figured we would wait a few months and let things settle. However, while walking in for the first time as homeowners we were greeted with a strong odor of dog. The old carpet had to go right away. So, out it came and we started researching flooring ideas. We ended up putting in a tile that looks like wood throughout the home (minus the re-carpeted bedrooms and two baths, which are future projects).
It was such a process! Really, it was such a process. We just finished a couple weeks ago. First, we had rip out the old subfloor under the linoleum. Then we had to lay down backer board with thinset and screws (no joke, each board has about 60 screws). We learned that this may have been overkill, but we sure didn't want anything to go wrong so we followed all the instructions. I had no idea screwing in hundreds of screws with an electric drill would make a person sweat so much. Then, we had to put down another layer of thinset for the tile. Finally, we had to grout the whole place. Technically, it needs to be sealed, but at the moment I refuse to admit that any more work needs to be done and am calling it good. Plus, our hands are just recovering.
So, here is the old carpet, ripped out and sitting in a heap on the side of our house.
Oh, we were still bright and happy at this point. Laying down our first room of backer board.
Yes, Tank is holding a sharp knife. He is cutting holes for our registers.
My parents came out twice within a month's time to help out. My dad definitely earned his keep. He is caring a big bucket of thinset here. FYI everyone, it is worth the $25 drill mixer attachment to not have to hand mix that stuff. We figured that out oh, two thirds the way through this project.
Laying thinset on the backer board to tile.
Bug had a blast for the five minutes she spread thinset.
And now the grout. Imagine your whole house with a layer of mud on it. Then add a frantic mom armed with a sponge in each hand trying clean it up before two kids swarm and track mud everywhere. I may have gone a little crazy that week.
I also had to add this picture because Andrew had his heart set on these flush registers. We didn't put them everywhere, but a few spots have fancy registers.
A shot of the final floor.
We have many more house projects in process, but thank heavens this one is done!
