- I’ve been pricing out powder-coated hardware too—definitely not cheap, but if it means not dealing with rust stains every year, maybe worth it.
- On vapor barriers, I’m still a bit skeptical for older homes with weird airflow, but I get the logic.
- For budgeting, how much did you end up spending on flooring? I keep seeing wild price swings depending on material and install method... trying to figure out if engineered wood is even realistic for a beach place.
I keep seeing wild price swings depending on material and install method... trying to figure out if engineered wood is even realistic for a beach place.
Honestly, I get the sticker shock with engineered wood, but it’s not as crazy as some of the solid hardwood quotes I got. For my place, I ended up around $7/sq ft installed (mid-range stuff, nothing fancy). It’s held up fine so far—just gotta be realistic about sand and moisture. If you’re set on wood look, I’d say engineered is doable, but don’t rule out some of the newer vinyl planks either. They’re tougher than they look and way less stress if you’ve got wet feet coming in all the time.
Yeah, I hear you on the engineered wood pricing—makes my wallet sweat just thinking about it. I went with vinyl plank in my beach place after seeing what my neighbor’s wood floors looked like after one summer of sandy feet and wet dogs. Honestly, unless you’re super committed to that real wood feel, vinyl’s a lot less stress. Ever tried getting sand out of those little grooves in wood? Not fun.
Totally get where you’re coming from—vinyl plank is a lifesaver for beach houses. I used to be all about real wood, but after one too many battles with sand and muddy paw prints, I switched over. It’s so much easier to clean, and honestly, it still looks pretty good. Plus, if you’re on a budget, you can put the money you save toward other upgrades (like maybe splurging on a nicer kitchen faucet or something). The only thing I miss is that “real wood” sound when you walk on it, but my sanity is worth more than that.
I hear you on missing the real wood sound—there’s just something about it, right? But honestly, you’re making a smart call. Vinyl plank is a game changer for high-traffic spots, especially with salty air and wet feet constantly coming through. We kept real wood in our old place and I spent half my life worrying about scratches and warping... never again. Investing those savings into a statement piece or better appliances really does make the whole place feel more special.
