| crmsnidol |
As our basement finish was nearing completion last month (after 2+ yrs of off-and-on again work), I decided to check my local "discount carpet outlet" for style, color and of course, cost. I had several goals in mind for the carpet:
(1) I wanted a medium-pile nylon weave with a min. 10 yr warranty that is resistent to showing footprints
(2) I wanted dark green with some sort of design to it that reminds one of a movie theater but not commercial-grade
(3) I wanted 8# rebond padding
(4) My budget was for between $1500 and $2000 for everything
The salesman right away told me that the only company making patterns is Milliken and that at an estimated 75sq yds (I actually needed 78), it would be out of my price range. I looked at the solid colors and didn't find one I liked and didn't want to settle with something less than my ideal for the next 10 yrs at least. He took me to the patterns and I found a Milliken pattern that was perfect - except for PRICE. With 6# padding and install the carpet was $56/sq yd! (75*$56=$4200). I left and decided that since I now knew what I wanted I would check other local outlets to find the best price on the carpet and see if I was closer to my price. I checked local stores and the best I found was $27/sq yd + tax for carpet alone. 8# padding was another $4-6 and install was seperate. That's when I checked the web. I had never ordered carpet over the 'net though I almost bought hardwood flooring a couple years back until another local shop matched price. :-) When researching carpet buying I found that all of the big mills are located in Dalton, GA and there are many wholesalers on the web that will order factory direct for you at FRACTION of the cost. I eventually went with http://www.daltondirectcarpetinc.com who quoted me $21/ sq yd for the carpet I wanted! I found a local installer for $5/ sq yd and was all set.
This is who I purchased the carpet from:
Chris Owens
Dalton Direct Carpet
1-800-290-6504
sales@daltondirectcarpetinc.com
[BOTTOM LINE]
If I went with the first "outlet" store I would have paid approx $4500 incl tax AND with a lower-grade pad.
I ended up paying...
$21/sq yd for the carpet (78 sq yds)
$2/sq yd for 8# rebond (78 sq yds)
$197 for delivery of carpet and padding (GA to NJ)
$5/sq yd install (78 sq yds)
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$2381 TOTAL (savings of approx $2100!)
If you are looking to purchase carpet or flooring, I highly recommend checking the web first. |
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| nightguy |
quote:
Originally posted by crmsnidol
[BOTTOM LINE]
If I went with the first "outlet" store I would have paid approx $4500 incl tax AND with a lower-grade pad.
A lot of those discount outlet places have huge advertising overhead. And you're right, the pad is definitely no place to skimp or you'll be feeling the underlayment or concrete in no time. |
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| crmsnidol |
| Installed shot of Dricore subfloor... |
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| crmsnidol |
Same area with carpet installed (color looks odd in pic and not representative of actual color. There is only one seam and it splits right down between the poles from wall to wall (not to the closets). The room is 25 ft wide and the carpet is 13'6" wide so I was lucky and the installer was happy.
Milliken Stargate pattern, Emerald color in the Classic Harmony level. |
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| crmsnidol |
| Padding over subfloor... |
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| renov8r |
I hope we won't need carpet for a while, but I will definately file this away until then.
Thanks! |
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| greatscot |
Good looking project crmsnidol. No basement here, but I just went the opposite way, tore up all the carpet, took out the entry and kitchen tile, and laid down a hardwood floor throughout the whole house except the back 3 bedrooms.
prep work was a bear: |
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| greatscot |
| Payoff was in the finish: |
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| crmsnidol |
Beautiful greatscot! Did you paint before the floor went in? I hope so!
Now that our dining room is no longer my daughter's playroom, my wife wants to take the foyer/kitchen hardwood into the left half of the 1st floor and do the living room and dining room. I'm not sure I'll tackle that this year. When we did the foyer/kitchen we went with Mirage Natural Oak. Local shop was $10.50/sqft. Online it was $6.25 delivered and local shop pricematched to $6.50 incl tax. it was 300sqft to do those areas and I figure the living room and dining room will be another 500-600 sq ft (haven't measured). The family room is carpeted and on a concrete slab so that'll stay carpeted. |
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| greatscot |
quote:
Originally posted by crmsnidol
Beautiful greatscot! Did you paint before the floor went in? I hope so!
Now that our dining room is no longer my daughter's playroom, my wife wants to take the foyer/kitchen hardwood into the left half of the 1st floor and do the living room and dining room. I'm not sure I'll tackle that this year. When we did the foyer/kitchen we went with Mirage Natural Oak. Local shop was $10.50/sqft. Online it was $6.25 delivered and local shop pricematched to $6.50 incl tax. it was 300sqft to do those areas and I figure the living room and dining room will be another 500-600 sq ft (haven't measured). The family room is carpeted and on a concrete slab so that'll stay carpeted.
Oh yes, painted first. Funny how a "hey let's do the floor" turns into "let's paint," then into a "let's buy some rugs," then there goes the moolah! Good luck on the hardwood project. I couldn't believe the effort this took. We went with Ash. Yeah I know, "watch you don't fall on your ash . . . " :2: |
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| vlam |
Perfect timing with the info!
I'll be closing in May for my new house and carpet and hardwood is two of the few things that I will be needing.
crmsnidol: I'll make sure to check that place out. That looks like it's going to be a great theater room. Is the hole behind the stairs is for the subwoofer? I would love to do a theater room in the new house but unfortunately that's way down in the priority list. Kitchen and hardwood floor comes first.
greatscot: What type of hardwood floor is that? It's a beautiful color. I have an installer that would charge me $2 per sq. ft. I am thinking of doing the whole first floor in hardwood (except the kitchen) |
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| wmquan |
crmsnidol,
Great job, and a great looking room!
I'm very interested in your use of DRIcore subflooring over your concrete foundation. We have a long-term project to finish parts of our basement. If I may ask two sets of questions:
1) Was the primary reason you used the DRIcore out of concern for moisture/mold? Is your basement particularly damp? Our house is relatively newer and the basement always seems to be quite dry. But it seems counterintuitive to me to put a pad and carpet directly on top of the concrete.
2) With the subfloor, do you think it feels "less hard" than having the concrete? The other path we've considered is going with a laminate flooring (e.g. Pergo type). Pads for such applications are relatively thin and we're a bit concerned about how "hard" the floor might be. Especially for a playroom when a toddler can fall on his/her noggin.
When my daughter falls on the vinyl tile in the kitchen, the thunk doesn't seem quite as bad even with no pad. I wouldn't think it'd be that way with a Pergo floor over concrete, even with a pad. So I was wondering if having the subflooring would help.
Of course the subfloor would also keep the Pergo from feeling really cold ...
Thanks! |
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| crmsnidol |
quote:
Originally posted by vlam
Perfect timing with the info!
crmsnidol: I'll make sure to check that place out. That looks like it's going to be a great theater room. Is the hole behind the stairs is for the subwoofer? I would love to do a theater room in the new house but unfortunately that's way down in the priority list. Kitchen and hardwood floor comes first.
greatscot: What type of hardwood floor is that? It's a beautiful color. I have an installer that would charge me $2 per sq. ft. I am thinking of doing the whole first floor in hardwood (except the kitchen)
Congrats! I know you said you were looking for something. Where did you find your new home?
No, the 3 1/2" high door under the stairs is for storage (I didn't want to turn the stairs) that my daughter is currently using as a doll baby nursery. It will be some time before it's used as storage. The A/V closet is in the 1st and 2nd pics in the top of the shots. it's just over 19" wide (component size is 17.2") and the wall is 12'. You can see the LF speaker connection at the top of the wall. The sub would go up there in the front but I don't have any of that purchased yet. Eventually I may go with an infinite baffle pair of 15" subs in the wall. I have room because the wall was built out to accommodate a sewage line that sat approx 8" off it. |
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| crmsnidol |
quote:
Originally posted by wmquan
crmsnidol,
Great job, and a great looking room!
1) Was the primary reason you used the DRIcore out of concern for moisture/mold? Is your basement particularly damp? Our house is relatively newer and the basement always seems to be quite dry. But it seems counterintuitive to me to put a pad and carpet directly on top of the concrete.
2) With the subfloor, do you think it feels "less hard" than having the concrete? The other path we've considered is going with a laminate flooring (e.g. Pergo type). Pads for such applications are relatively thin and we're a bit concerned about how "hard" the floor might be. Especially for a playroom when a toddler can fall on his/her noggin.
When my daughter falls on the vinyl tile in the kitchen, the thunk doesn't seem quite as bad even with no pad. I wouldn't think it'd be that way with a Pergo floor over concrete, even with a pad. So I was wondering if having the subflooring would help.
Of course the subfloor would also keep the Pergo from feeling really cold ...
Thanks!
I went with the Dricore for piece of mind. It's a pured concrete basement but we did have a leak a few years back due to drainage from a President's Day weekend blizzard of 22" of snow. The water came in at the point where the 1" copper for the water main exited the concrete and under the 3 1/2' wide front porch. That meant there was a lot of water sitting against the house. I eventually fixed it and haven't had the problem since but with the Dricore I don't have to worry about it. We don't have a humidity problem down there. In fact, we have a whole house humidifier to add to it.
Yes, The Dricore does soften the feeling when you walk. It also cut down on the coolness of the basement by cutting the radiant temp coming up from the concrete. With the good padding and the Dricore, it feels nice to walk down there. |
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| vlam |
Congrats! I know you said you were looking for something. Where did you find your new home?
I ended up in Mt. Laurel Fox Run Estate. Not too far from where I am now. We tried to find something in Medford or Moorestown but most were overpriced. We are going to end up with the cheapest house in the development just because it need upgrades in kitchen and bathroom.
The hardest part of trying to find a home in Mt. Laurel is one that comes with a basement. When you find one, water is a major concern. I made the owner hire a waterproofing company do an evaluation of the property. As it stands now, it will need some grading but the half-basement is fully furnished with french drain and sump pump.
May I ask who use for installing the carpet? I went to the daltondirectcarpetinc website and it seems simple enough. Just find what I like in the local store and order it there.
BTW: Check this out for home theater seat.
http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/kwduerr/my_photos
The seller had it advertised on HomeTheaterSpot and his price is down to $1150. I wish he was local because that seems like a pretty good deal. |
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| phins2rt |
crmsnidol, greatscot,
Some really good looking projects!! :29: (Nice pics, too) My parents actually purchased carpet that way about 10 years ago. Much cheaper than a B&M puchase. I too will keep this in mind when the time comes. |
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| crmsnidol |
quote:
Originally posted by vlam
Congrats! I know you said you were looking for something. Where did you find your new home?
BTW: Check this out for home theater seat.
http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/kwduerr/my_photos
The seller had it advertised on HomeTheaterSpot and his price is down to $1150. I wish he was local because that seems like a pretty good deal.
HAHAHAHA! I already have 3 leather-plus Berkline 090's in black on order and should arrive by the end of next month! The 099's would have been too wide ina side-bby-side config at 10' back from my screen wall which is exactly where they would be with a 92" projected image. I ordered them online too! No power options or buttkickers however. My wife said that if I wanted them I could get them but I'd rather put that money towards the A/V components and an HTPC. I also don't want any power cables or speaker wires across the floor as the room is also a playroom. In a year or so I'll build a 6" riser behind the first row and get two more in a loveseat config. The support beams and soffit kill the width but I think I'm making best use of the space.
Great minds think alike! |
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| crmsnidol |
quote:
Originally posted by phins2rt
crmsnidol, greatscot,
Some really good looking projects!! :29: (Nice pics, too) My parents actually purchased carpet that way about 10 years ago. Much cheaper than a B&M puchase. I too will keep this in mind when the time comes.
Thanks. This site has helped me so much with my auto purchase and other eclectic info so I thought I'd do my part. The way I see it, even the best deal you can find locally will be beat by several hundred dollars (even with delivery which is offset by no tax) online. The biggest thing to worry about is bait-and-switch where you order one higher-grade line of carpet and they ship you the lower grade for the higher grade price. You won't know the difference. To combat that, I called Milliken Corporate and asked them about the vendor and if I could confirm his order for my carpet with them to make sure he ordered the correct grade. That was no problem. I also told the carpet place I did that. I wasn't suspicious of them for any specific reason - I just wanted to be thorough. |
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| greatscot |
quote:
Originally posted by vlam
Perfect timing with the info!
I'll be closing in May for my new house and carpet and hardwood is two of the few things that I will be needing. . . .
greatscot: What type of hardwood floor is that? It's a beautiful color. I have an installer that would charge me $2 per sq. ft. I am thinking of doing the whole first floor in hardwood (except the kitchen)
Good luck with the new house. The hardwood is Ash, Robbins 6351CST. We also did the kitchen in the hardwood, here's a pic: |
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| phins2rt |
quote:
Originally posted by crmsnidol
I'd rather put that money towards the A/V components and an HTPC. I also don't want any power cables or speaker wires across the floor as the room is also a playroom.
crmsn,
Any ideas what type of receiver you are looking at? I've been looking at Denon (2805, 3805), H/K avr735, onkyo, etc. Just curious if you have looked at any and your impressions. |
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| crmsnidol |
quote:
Originally posted by phins2rt
crmsn,
Any ideas what type of receiver you are looking at? I've been looking at Denon (2805, 3805), H/K avr735, onkyo, etc. Just curious if you have looked at any and your impressions.
I don't have a lot of expendable income or an audiophile's ear. While I'm not in the Optimus aisle at Radio Shack, I'm also discounting the brands you list as being out of my range.
I've looked online at the Yamaha RX-V1500, Onkyo TX-SR702 and the Outlaw Audio 950 based on Tim's recommendation. I've also checked the www.avsforum.com site for reviews and users experiences. I'm leaning toward the Yamaha but finding that the sites online that sell it are not going to be backed by the manufacturer's warranty unless they are selling close to the MSRP of $800. I found it on reputable sites for under $600 but is risky at best for this type of purchase. For the speakers, I'll probably go with Cambridge Soundworks Movieworks 108. I have CSW everywhere else in my house (and outside) and am very happy with the sound, quality and price.
I haven't auditioned any recievers yet. I'll do that when I'm closer to purchasing the speakers at the same time. |
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| phins2rt |
quote:
Originally posted by crmsnidol
I don't have a lot of expendable income or an audiophile's ear. While I'm not in the Optimus aisle at Radio Shack, I'm also discounting the brands you list as being out of my range.
I've looked online at the Yamaha RX-V1500, Onkyo TX-SR702 and the Outlaw Audio 950 based on Tim's recommendation. I've also checked the www.avsforum.com site for reviews and users experiences. I'm leaning toward the Yamaha but finding that the sites online that sell it are not going to be backed by the manufacturer's warranty unless they are selling close to the MSRP of $800. I found it on reputable sites for under $600 but is risky at best for this type of purchase. For the speakers, I'll probably go with Cambridge Soundworks Movieworks 108. I have CSW everywhere else in my house (and outside) and am very happy with the sound, quality and price.
I haven't auditioned any recievers yet. I'll do that when I'm closer to purchasing the speakers at the same time.
You might want to look at the Pioneer 1014. I have heard good things about that one, too. The 702 is on my short list as well. I've seen it refurbed for $400.
CSW are good speakers, IMHO. I picked up two pairs of in-walls that are in my family room and master bedroom. I got a great deal on them through a coupon at fatwallet. Good luck with the home theater!! |
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| crmsnidol |
quote:
Originally posted by phins2rt
You might want to look at the Pioneer 1014. I have jeard good things about that one, too. The 702 is on my short list as well. I've seen it refurbed for $400.
CSW are good speakers, IMHO. I picked up two pairs of in-walls that are in my family room and master bedroom. I got a great deal on them through a coupon at fatwallet. Good luck with the home theater!!
Thanks for the advice on the Pioneer and fatwallet! Two things the Yamaha has going for it is that it upconverts component video and includes a microphone leveler. For my room that is perfect because the rear speakers are not directly across from each other (2' offset). The receiver will auto-compensate for that by determining the optimum signal and setting it for playback. Very cool!
CSW has a 15% off Spring sale right now on spkr packages. I may take advantage of that this week! My PC has the CSW Microworks (1997?), family room theater has CSW movieworks 308 and my outdoor speakers are white CSW "The Outdoor" that I picked up on sale a few years back for $150 (normally $300). My neighbor with Blose outdoor spkrs can't believe how good mine sound comparatively. |
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| laborlitigator |
Crmsnidol,
Nice job. I like how you used pillars to blend in and the color of the carpet is great!
It also looks like you mixed in drop ceiling along with drywall. After finishing my basement 3 or 4 years ago, I'm glad I did the drop ceiling because I've had some leaks, my own doing, which I can easily fix.
Had I gone with drywall, I probably would have had to replace a lot more.
BTW, where's the PS2 going to go?:2: |
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| MDteX |
| greatscot what floor did you go with? We are starting the same project. We are taking up carpet in the study, dining and living room and about 200 square feet of marble in our entry and replacing with wood. We are leaning towards Hartco Cabreuva engineered floor. I like the clean look of the wood. I'm not sure what to think about the micro-bevel ends though. |
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| crmsnidol |
quote:
Originally posted by laborlitigator
Crmsnidol,
Nice job. I like how you used pillars to blend in and the color of the carpet is great!
BTW, where's the PS2 going to go?:2:
Thanks. The pillars are a product called Pole Wrap (www.polewrap.com) stained in Minwax Polyshade Natural Oak. I was going to paint them white but my wife said she thought they might look good stained. Easy to do because the carpet wasn't in yet. I'm looking for inexpensive movie poster oak frames to compliment the poles. I was going to order the theater chairs in a beige color but thought better of that with the room as a playroom. In a few years when my daughter is older I'll probably paint the walls a darker color and add acoustic fabric to deaden the echo that I'm sure will become apparent once I have a soundsystem down there.
No PS2 down there. I have two Dreamcasts, a model 5501 and PSone Playstation that are just sitting in my computer room. I'll probably move the 5501 down there for my daughter. The PS2 being the old model and modded "to-the-hilt" is too irreplaceable to have down there unsupervised. |
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| crmsnidol |
quote:
Originally posted by laborlitigator
It also looks like you mixed in drop ceiling along with drywall. After finishing my basement 3 or 4 years ago, I'm glad I did the drop ceiling because I've had some leaks, my own doing, which I can easily fix. Had I gone with drywall, I probably would have had to replace a lot more.
My plan is to add a ceiling mounted projector so the drop ceiling was a must. It also offers me the opportunity to put additional acoutic-deadening material above the already acoustic drop tiles if my wife complains about the noise. I pre-wired 5 CAT 5, coax and speaker drops and all route to the small 19" wide closet at the top of the pic. I still have to run those to "old work" boxes in that closet using the Leviton QuickPort componenets. I didn't know exactly what I would need there so I decided to add it later. With no components down there yet - there is no hurry. |
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| greatscot |
quote:
Originally posted by MDteX
greatscot what floor did you go with? We are starting the same project. We are taking up carpet in the study, dining and living room and about 200 square feet of marble in our entry and replacing with wood. We are leaning towards Hartco Cabreuva engineered floor. I like the clean look of the wood. I'm not sure what to think about the micro-bevel ends though.
The hardwood is Ash, Robbins 6351CST. I believe it is the "engineered" as it has the micro bevels at the ends. Adds to the character of the floor's appearance IMO. Watch out for the tile lifting work. VERY dusty, so take all the furniture out of the room, and make sure you get all pictures, cuckoo clock, :rolleyes: etc off the walls. This dust goes EVERYWHERE. We covered the counters and cupboards with plastic to protect them. We also used a large fan to blow the bust out the patio door as we chisled the tile off.
We are very pleased with the finished product, but we are now on the hunt for large area rugs, plus I'm getting the OK to get a new desk for my home office, already on order. I went with a "Mission" style table desk for it's simple, clean lines and versatility. |
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| ByeByeChrysler |
Guys.....Nice looking rooms.
:29:
Time for a party.
:2party: |
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