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I am considering buying DuraCeramic instead of tile for our laundry room/powder room floors. Both floors are on a slab and, from what I've been reading, the DC is warmer since it's really vinyl.
Does anyone have this or installed it and what do you think? I've also been checking prices and it looks like Becklers has the best deals...far lower than other sites. Are they a good company to deal with over the internet? Thanks for any advice...it would really help me to decide!
I've Installed the dura ceramic before It is nice. Personally I would prefer real ceramic over the dc. If your worried about warmth talk to your tile guy about the electrig heating elements you can install underneath the tile. I hear nothing but good about these.
Good Luck DP
OK - I am now looking into this flooring and this is what I found. Early on there were complaints about it scratching and the vinyl top coat protective layer separating. I am told that changes were made by congoleum a couple of years ago that fixed that problem.
Some people think it is harder to clean than ceramic and others don't.
Here are some notes I made while looking into it:
DURA CERAMIC BY CONGOLEUM
Warmer and more comfortable underfoot than ordinary ceramic
Installation options - install with or without grout
Limestone composite construction resists chipping and cracking
Extremely durable and easy to maintain
Upscale 15 5/8" x 15 5/8" ungrouted nominal tile size
Lifelong Limited Warranty against fade, stain and wear out / Five-Year Commercial Limited Warranty
1/4" Rock works fine for floors and (although I've never even heard of) 1/8", it would be OK too. The purpose of the cement board is to "decouple" the tile from the plywood...that's all..nothing more. Contrary to popular belief, it's not meant as a "flex stopper". You should have the floor within flex tolerances before the rock is installed.
if all Congoleum products are used for installation, the warranty is for a lifetime.
80% crushed limestone, mixed with vinyl
Must use a seam sealer
-Paint stripper heater if you need to replace one
-Rotate tiles to vary the design
-Use 100# roller in ensure good bond with adhesive
-adhesive must sit 30 minutes until it is tacky to put down tile
No slide around after putting tile down like with laying ceramic tile
-300 square feet can be laid in one day
-use a chalkline to keep it square
-Record dye lot # and style #
-possibly use ditra or birch plywood
-look up Sandalstone sage
-wear a mask for fumes from glue
--other underlays: Halex or Multiply
-use a heat gun to roll edges down after you cut it
-sealer ds-200
Goes between the gaps like grout would only a tighter joint
59 boxes of Dura Ceramic arrived yesterday. My installer required it be stacked on the subfloor rather than on carpeting so we removed the kitchen carpeting to have an area where it can sit.
He says that it needs to sit 4 days to aclimate to the temperature and humidity of the room it will be installed in.
Our subfloor is that cheap pressed wood. When we put our new windows in we found places under windows where the subfloor had gotten wet and swelled and crumbled. So those parts had to be cut out and new boards put in.
The installer will put a 1/4 inch underlayment over the top of the subfloor for better installation. He said that will also help a little bit with the creaking noise you can hear when you are in the lower level of the house and someone is walking around upstairs.
Sounds like you have an experienced installer, so everything should work for you.
When I redid the kitchen floor in our restaurant, it was a challenge. Above grade, so some flex in the original floor. Removed down to the floor joists, new 3/4 exterior plywood, then 1/4 Hardi-Plank screwed to the ply, and finally CVT. Going on 3rd year now.
I'm feeling pretty comfortable with him. He stopped by again today and seems truly detailed. He was showing me how some of the tiles are the same pattern and said he is careful not to get them next to each other. I had looked at them long and hard (I thought) and hadn't noticed that. I said, "Thank-You" for being so thorough. He said it is worth a little extra time to have it perfect . . . my kinda guy.
