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xlr8...I would think the preparation not creativity would ensure the best end results. You can paint roses & vines or a Picasso on anything but without the proper preparation it is not going to stick or last. The preparation in preparing a vinyl floor to accept paint probably includes more time & cost than buying a new vinyl floor.

I'm sure to get the absolute best results one would have to scrub it clean, let dry for hours, use ammonia to strip the finish, again let dry for hours, paint on a primer, then use a specific paint made to adhere to vinyl, which most likely would need 24 to 48 hours to dry & more than one coat is probably best. Then if you decide to be creative, you need to purchase the stencils & several colors of the special paint, let dry again for 24 hours. Then apply the sealer, again letting dry for another 24 hours. We're talking 4 maybe 5 days of not using a kitchen, only to have it turn out looking like a newly painted kitchen floor if you didn't do it correctly. No amount of creativity is going to replace poor preparation.

I didn't like the kitchen floor in my house either. I put down one of those wood-slat rugs with jute backing and was very happy with it. It was easy to clean, sturdy, comfortable and warm. Mine smaller than the room, but it it looked fine centred with just the old floor as a border. It was also pretty inexpensive - less than $200, though that was 10 or 12 years ago. Just an idea.

Hi Margo

Just a quick note and I will send the link later.

When I do renos for listing houses and flips this is what I use.

It is called "dura-ceramic" don't be confused it is not ceramic but vinyl. It is in 16 " squares or rectangular and different sized.

The colour is embedded deeply so if you frop something it wount show. It lays like ceramic but not ceramic. Each square is laid and grout put in-between. Once down you can not tell it is not ceramic.

The product goes over your old floor. There is and undercoat that levels the old floor so there are no bumps or protrusions. It cuts like vinyl but defy anyone to see the difference at looking, unless you touch it. Warmth and comfort under your feet. It is more costly than cheap vinyl but less than ceramic.

The best thing about it is it is thiner than ceramic and if you leave your old floor under, which you are to do, it will be very close to the same height as your natural wood floor. No step up or down. You do need to use strapping to meet with the different floor if there is any difference in height, but they come in all sorts of colours.

I have used this product many many times and everyone love it. The looks are many, many colours, many sizes now. It takes only a day to do the preprep and after that day of drying you can lay the floor. Nearly any numskull can put this floor down. You get spacers to space the tiles, you cut them with a blade knife and only need to cut the odd time.

You start your patter at the most logical place depending on the floor plan of your room. They abut up to the cabinet kick-board and you just use a small beading of silicone caulking to keep the water from running under your cupboards.

I will fill you in more later and let you know if you are interested where you can get them.

It looks very interesting savona. Found a place on the Danforth that sells it, so I'll pop over there in the next day or so. My sweetie has his balls in a twist over "it's taking longer to pick the floor than it will to lay it". hahaa, such a guy.

ItsMargo wrote:It looks very interesting savona. Found a place on the Danforth that sells it, so I'll pop over there in the next day or so. My sweetie has his balls in a twist over "it's taking longer to pick the floor than it will to lay it". hahaa, such a guy.

You have to have *lived* with a floor that looks awful, clean or dirty, for a while before you *really* get to hate it, lol! The one from my past would look terrific in a showroom, even 50 years old as it is. In REAL life, it doesn't. . . . Plus somehow, when it looks dirty, *you* get judged (even if only in your own mind) as a shabby housekeeper. . . .

The DuraCermanic does look terrific on screen though. You have my most sincerest of best wishes [once burned, twice shy?]. . . .

Who, me? A shabby housekeeper? hahaa, the downside to getting rid of this floor will be losing the built in excuse of "oh dayum, that floor always looks dirty" LMAO.

off to play in the garden before dinner...

ItsMargo wrote:Who, me? A shabby housekeeper? hahaa, the downside to getting rid of this floor will be losing the built in excuse of "oh dayum, that floor always looks dirty" LMAO.

off to play in the garden before dinner...

Lol! There *is* that. . . . But of course, now you'll be *splitting* the floor washing duties, eh?

Well, now, we all know himself is a much better housekeeper than I am; he is especially cute in that french maid's outfit.

HOpe you let us know what you decide upon. Curious minds!

No offense, but the tell-tale sign is about 3-5 years down the road. In my experience.

just a quandering thought

It's on the table for a decision next week Levi and I'll likely post my agony for your amusement *grins*. That decision was temporarily bounced by the dumpster's arrival to get rid of the construction debris. sheesh, where has the summer gone? I'm back to work in a few weeks and we're still not out of the basement.

Still a flooring question, but the basement this time:
There is a very low pile wall to wall commercial carpet in the basement that is glued to the concrete floor. It's in good shape, no loose spots, just ugly as sin. I'd like to leave it in place, using it as an underpad, so to speak, and have wall to wall berber installed over top of it. Is there any reason NOT to do this? (i suppose I really ought to have asked this question before the dumpster came and went, LOL)