Unfinished step around wood laminate floors

6307 Views 7 Replies 4 Participants Last post by markq, Jul 18, 2009

markq

Discussion Starter · Jul 12, 2009

I have a question. Sorry I'm a little inexperienced with these things, so thanks for all of your help.

The labor cost of this step, and removing and reinstalling a toilet during some recent flooring installation, was $200. There was another step here, but we (the contractor and I) decided to replace it. It is just a single step between the entrance to my condo and the main floor. I thought that when he was going to put this step here, he was going to put the flooring down on the step too. It turns out he is expecting that I would need to buy some stain and stain it myself. There is a curved edge on the far side of the step, instead of a right-angle which one would put the wood on.

So now, I have shiny new awesome floors, but I'm left with this unfinished step. I wasn't expecting this at all. The cost of this step (and the toilet) was $200. I haven't actually paid him yet. (I have nothing against the contractor; he's a nice guy and all, but I worry that I could be too gullible when it comes to what I should expect from his work) Do you think that this unfinished step is an appropriate thing for the contractor to leave, for the $200 I paid? If we presume the cost of the toilet installation was $50, then this single unfinished step cost around $150 in labor.

What do you think about this situation? Would this step look better if it were stained, instead of putting the flooring down on it? Should I just take a sample of the flooring to Home Depot or Lowes and ask them for some matching wood stain to do it myself? Or... would it be better if I put the flooring down on this step too, and I should ask the contractor that, for the price of the step, he should also install the flooring on the step?

Thanks for your advice,
-Young and inexperienced

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gma2rjc

· #2 · Jul 12, 2009

I would think that if you're going to stain it, you'd want the longest board on the unfinished step to be all one piece. It would look nicer that way.

I'm wondering how sturdy that little end piece on the step is. It doesn't look like it will stay in place if an adult puts his/her full weight on the edge of it.

The flooring does look beautiful.

Are you going to use a stairnose (?) to transition the flooring of the landing to the riser above the unfinished step? I'm just wondering because I have laminate flooring that ends at the top of a stairway too. So far I haven't figured out what to do with it.

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markq

Discussion Starter · #3 · Jul 12, 2009 (Edited)

gma2rjc said:
I would think that if you're going to stain it, you'd want the longest board on the unfinished step to be all one piece. It would look nicer that way.

So do you think it would look OK stained?

The flooring does look beautiful.

Thanks!

Are you going to use a stairnose (?) to transition the flooring of the landing to the riser above the unfinished step?

I don't know yet. I'm getting T-molds to go around another area where the floors hit the fireplace base. I figure in the same section there will be something that will work with the stairs.

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gma2rjc

· #4 · Jul 12, 2009

I'm hoping one of the guys who know everything about floors will answer your question, because I'm not sure if you should stain it.

Maybe staining is the only way to do it, because I'm not sure if they sell a laminate piece to cover the bullnose on the step.

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markq

Discussion Starter · #5 · Jul 14, 2009

gma2rjc said:
I'm hoping one of the guys who know everything about floors will answer your question, because I'm not sure if you should stain it.

Maybe staining is the only way to do it, because I'm not sure if they sell a laminate piece to cover the bullnose on the step.

Anyone have an opinion about what I should do with this step?

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bob22

· #6 · Jul 15, 2009

I would stain it to match as closely as possible to your new flooring and then poly it.

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ARI001

· #7 · Jul 16, 2009 (Edited)

Toilet remove/ install $50??? I charge $85.00 (if you think that's high the plumber charges $75.00 for the services call and $35 to pull it, $75 for another service call and $65 to reinstall it) if I am doing the floor. The stair looks like s**t! It should have been done out of the same type of wood as the floor (yes they do sell treads and risers to match the flooring but you will have to order them or make your own). I also am concerned with two piece tread. That said, you get what you pay for. It is unreasonable to expect him to apply finish to the step at that price. I would have him come back and correct that tread.

When you are ready to finish the step call the manufacture of the flooring and they will tell you what stain and top coat to use. That is your best shot at matching the flooring.

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markq

Discussion Starter · #8 · Jul 18, 2009

ARI001 said:
Toilet remove/ install $50??? I charge $85.00 (if you think that's high the plumber charges $75.00 for the services call and $35 to pull it, $75 for another service call and $65 to reinstall it) if I am doing the floor.

OK, that actually makes me feel better about the $200 price.

The stair looks like s**t! It should have been done out of the same type of wood as the floor (yes they do sell treads and risers to match the flooring but you will have to order them or make your own). I also am concerned with two piece tread. That said, you get what you pay for. It is unreasonable to expect him to apply finish to the step at that price. I would have him come back and correct that tread.

Thank you for your honest opinion. I think what I'm going to do is try to stain it, and see how it looks. When I see the end result, I'm probably not going to be pleased. I'll worry about that when the time comes. In the mean time, I will follow your advice and call the flooring company and discuss it with them.

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