In a quandry....

[judy]

I'm getting my new dishwasher on Thursday, and want to have it installed on Friday. I also have been wanting to change my downstairs flooring since I can't keep the laminate I have looking nice and clean. It shows every streak, footprint, etc. and has to be polished dry after it is washed.

Jessie told me about vinyl planks, which I posted about here. I went to look at them today at Home Depot. They are quite nice, and look like they would be easy to care for. They are distressed, not glossy, and lighter than what I have now.

I was told that they can be installed right on top of my floating laminate flooring.
I did some online research and am not sure about this. Some sites say a concrete floor is best to lay the planks on. I have subflooring under the laminate. I think I will call the company tomorrow. I also want to see how the vinyl looks in the sun on my floor. I took home a few sampleas. I can get another laminate if I decide against the vinyl.

I have someone to put on my washing machine. He is very good, charges $50/hour, and is reliable.

Home Depot will put the new floor in in one day. It is costly, but they guarantee their work for one year. They won't disconnect my monitor (kerosene heater) to
lay the planks under it. I can get Richie to do it. He is the head honcho of maintenance here. They will charge me about $950 for installation. Figure $1200 by the time all is said and done. The dishwasher guy, John charges $50/hour. Figure $150 tops. Then, there is the cost of the monitor being hooked up, etc. I also need edging in some places with the flooring, and I don't know if Home Depot does that.

Now, here is the quandary....Steve (my SIL) will do both jobs, including everything (monitor, moldings, etc., etc.) for $1500. He refuses to put the vinyl planks over my laminate and would be removing it. He says that with contraction and shrinking of the 2 floors, it is a really bad idea. It might be. He also will take it home with him, which he insists is not such a great deal because blah, blah, blah.

He will take about 2 weeks to do everything, if he comes on a regular basis. He, of course, does not guarantee the flooring installation for a year, and if I do need him to come back, it could take 2 years.

Truthfully, I dcon't want him to do any of this work. I don't need him here for 2 weeks, mnaking a mess, possibly unnecessarily removing the flooring that is already there. He isn't reliable as far as coming every day or finishing on time. He also owes me $200, which he added into his fee, meaning that I will be out $1700.

His work is absolutely perfect though, and I do not want to hurt his feelings. I also do not want to start any family trouble. He is very sensitive, and Jessie is very protective of him. So...what seems to be very obviously the right thing (use my dishwasher guy and Home Depot to do the work) could really damage my relationship with them.

By the way, for anyone who mighrt be thinkoing that I can afford $2000 for new flooring - I wish! I am getting a nice check from my pension fund. Something the union fought for in the way they figured our pensions. I also found out yesterday that Social Security is sending me a nice check because they figured doubt my monthly payments incorrect. Nice, huh?