Green Shoots Blog
Stephany Erlbeck owner of BodyRok Encinitas talks about the studio’s new Cali Vinyl floors.
Designed with a minimalist, industrial vibe, BodyRok’s original painted concrete floors began to chip from weights and the reformer handles being dropped repeatedly. Stephany was referred to Cali Bamboo by a client and after talking to a Green Building Specialist decided on Gray Ash Cali Vinyl Flooring. With a commercial-grade wear layer, waterproof construction and a beautiful rustic look and feel, the studio now has a warmth and feels more like a relaxing place to just hang out.
The flooring has been installed for a little over a month and Stephany couldn’t be happier with the durability, look and ease of installation of the new Cali Vinyl Flooring.
BodyRok Encinitas
BodyRok Encinitas
121 N El Camino Real Suite B, Encinitas, CA 92024
(760) 436-4765
http://www.bodyrok.com/encinitas
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I am thinking of a vinyl floor in my basement. I was told you are phasing out the cork backing . But that was after I was told the cork was the best for basement That application . Now I am confused on what to order .
Hi Casper,
Yes, I believe we have begun phasing out our Vinyl Plus line of floors. Either option will work great in a basement, but you’ll still need to use an approved moisture barrier such as Titebond 531+ or Cali Complete with metallic seal tape.
What other colors of laminate do you have at less than 1.00 sq.ft
Hi Larry,
We don’t offer laminate flooring or any flooring under $1.00/sqft for that matter, and I would caution you that most any product at that price is either unhealthy or will need to be replaced shortly. Unless you enjoy replacing your floors every few years, I would spend a bit more and get decades of added life and peace of mind.
Hello, I was wondering I have a sun porch that I would like to maybe put this down on. The floor is concrete. I live in Ohio where the weather is very cold for half the year and pretty warm the other half of the year. My question is how well would this work for my sun porch under those weather conditions?
Hi Donna,
Our Cali Vinyl Pro is waterproof and rated for below freezing environments, but our warranty only covers indoor applications. You certainly could do it and it will likely be fine, but it won’t be warranted.
My husband and I are having a disagreement about whether I can cut this with a razor knife when installing. I say no. He found a video using a razor knife.
Hi Diane,
While straight cuts can be done pretty easily (score and snap) curved or lengthwise cuts should be done with an appropriate saw. You’re both right!
How does the Builders Choice 2.0 with foam underlayment (muted) compare to the Pro and Plus versions?
I just got the Gray Ash Builders Choice 2.0 installed in my condo and was told they are comparable even though the Pro and Plus cost more. Want to make sure I got a good deal and there is durability for resale later down the road. Thanks.
I will need to confirm this, but I believe the only difference is it’s a few mm thinner.
I am planning to convert a single car garage connected to a bed/bath on the ground floor of our home for added living space. Would it be possible to install vinyl flooring over the concrete garage floor as a temporary measure without the use of glue? I will want to remove the vinyl flooring sometime in the future to return the space back to a garage.
Absolutely fine. Since you’re floating over concrete you’ll want to use our Cali Complete underlayment with the metallic seal tape too.
Best,
Where can I find the slip resistance ratings for your vinyl and bamboo flooring? Thank you.
Hi Suzanne,
Here’s the test document for Cali Vinyl.
Look for the test call Coefficient of Friction (apparently the technical way to say slip).
We are considering cali vinyl in our basement,it has radiant heat in concrete,which one would be better, plus or pro
Either line, they are both rated up to 85°.
I want to put this in a motorhome will it bend to go on the dog house
Hi John,
It is flexible and would be a great choice for a motorhome or dog house!
I have a beauty salon ,day spa and need new flooring, how do the vinyl tiles hold up to stains, ie if hair color is dropped on them ?
Do you also recommend somebody to install, I am overseas in Bermuda.
Hello A Williams,
I can’t with certainty say what would happen as I haven’t heard of this scenario. Best advice I can give you is to gather up samples of all the flooring options you are considering and put them through a little real-world tests. Put some color on them, get them wet, drop a pair of scissors on them, just do all the things you can think of that may happen and see which one withstands the most abuse.
Best,
Is the vinyl plank flooring recommended to install on concrete floors?
Is moisture and cold concrete a problem with the vinyl flooring?
Hi William,
You can glue-down or float over concrete, but you’re going to want to make sure you use an approved moisture barrier prior to installation.
Do your vinyl floors get permanent dents in them from furniture legs?
Hi Lisbeth,
Very heavy furniture our furniture with very small feet can leave indentations on the vinyl but they should go away after a few days.
how would this work over a concrete floor in my woodshop?
I think it would perform splendidly and give your shop some added visual appeal, especially if you’re shooting video or photos of your creations on or near the floor.
How does it work in a garage?
While it wouldn’t be warranted in a garage, it should be fine as long as you glue it down.
We need to install new flooring in our mountain cabin and are considering all options. The weather fluctuates from 100 degrees in the summer down to below freezing in the winter….perhaps down to 3 degrees.
The cabin will not be heated in the winter since we’ll be in warmer climes. Should the fluctuations in temperature be a concern with vinyl planks?
Hi Kathy,
I would recommend Cali Vinyl. If that doesn’t suit your taste, you could also upgrade to GeoWood, I hesitate to recommend a solid hardwood.
Hello,
My home is 18 yrs old. The bathrooms still have the original Armstrong vinyls. I want to to replace it, but don’t know what I should put down. I need it to be waterproof and I definitely do not want tiles. What do you recommend for bathroom floors ? I want something basic with a neutral blend.
Sounds like a perfect place to put Cali Vinyl Pro and it doesn’t get any more neutral than Gray Ash. You can lay it right over the existing vinyl if you want.
Can you drill holes into the vinyl flooring? I need to mount some equipment to the floor.
Hi Kalin!
Since the floor is floating, and it expands and contracts with temperature and humidity fluctuations it’s not a good idea to drill through it and secure something. But what you can do is make the hole 1/2″ wide around the thing you are mounting to allow the floor space to continue to move freely. If you don’t like the look of the gap you can cover it with some InstaTrim. Make sense?
Can you put this over tile?
Yes, as long as the grout dips aren’t too large like with Mexican tile.
What happens to the flooring & backing in a flood situation? Should it be replaced?
It’s waterproof so the flooring should be fine. You’ll definitely want to pull it up and dry it off as soon as possible. You’ll also want to let the subfloor thoroughly dry, probably run some dehumidifiers too.
Is all your Calivinyl ok with radiant heat in concrete
The Plus line is approved for radiant heat, but we’re still waiting for approval of the Pro line.
Looking for flooring for home gym. Would this be a good option?
Hi Dawn,
The vinyl flooring is excellent for home gyms. It’s very tough and waterproof, not to mention gorgeous. My poor neighbor put that black rubber flooring in his home gym now the whole place stinks like rubber. Go with vinyl plank flooring, you won’t be disappointed.
Becomming Handicapped ( Veteran) and now Having to use a Office Chair with Soft Wheels to get around the Room ( to/from Fridge, sink, countertop, etc) ., spending most of my Day and Early evening in that chair in the Kitchen with mmy PC and 28″ Monitor.. Doing Financial Advising to Fellow Vets for Free..
The Former Vynil tile did not hold up ( with-in 1 yr its in pretty bad shape).. a Handyman and Floor Installer, installed another Vynil Flooring with Peel and stick HD tile and after another 1.5 yrs its starting to fall apart..
While the tile is Warranteed, the labor( $250 ave is not)
I am assuming with 2 layers down already, is it best to install a Sub Flooring before trying your Vyil Tile…? and will it lasts at least 5 yrs?
Or how long do you think it will hold up with my Office Chair( I have even put Clear Vynil Chair Mats down but that only covers 4×5 =20 sqft area on a 12×12 floor..
Last resort? Have Commercial Grade (thicker) tile installed( thin set) on a Sub Flooring..( Simple white tile like in Car Dealers Floor and We have it in our Garage Floor for 10 yrs now holding up fine..
What do you think?
Thank you
Hi Dennis,
Sorry to hear you have yet to find a floor that is up to snuff. Our vinyl planks are approved for ‘Heavy Commercial’ applications so your office chair shouldn’t be a problem. Those clear vinyl chair mats actually do more harm than good, unless you can fix the mat to the floor so it doesn’t move, dirt gets under the mat and when the mat shifts it’s like taking sandpaper to the floor, eventually it will wear through the floor’s finish. In our office we switched from clear vinyl mats to carpet tiles by FLOR™ and it’s made a big difference. As for pulling up the old stuff, as long as the floor is level and there is still clearance for doorways, floating it right over the old vinyl is perfectly fine. If you have any other questions give us a call, our building experts love to talk shop! 1(888) 788-2254
We want it for home use. Heavy traffic and two cats and a dog. 2babies. Should we get commercial grade?
Hi Cynthia,
Sounds like you’ve got a pretty active family! All of our vinyl flooring is considered commercial grade and will hold up well to lots of abuse.
Best,
I am very concerned about the high temperature extreme reaction of the vinyl flooring. We live in Tucson AZ and spend the summers in our home in the mountains. We leave the AC on at 88 degrees but have had AC or power failures in past years and the home can get up well over 100 degrees for as much as 3 weeks before we know it. Could that be an issue with buckling?
Hi Robert,
For solid hardwood these concerns are very real, but with vinyl you’re safe, especially our Vinyl Pro line, it’s as stable as a rock (it’s actually made with stone).
Have purchased the vinyl floor no where did I find instructions so went to your web site only found installation for other flooring but not vinyl is installation the same.?? and what are the arrows on back of planks for?
Hi Al,
Floating the click-lock vinyl is almost exactly like any other click-lock but easier, requiring less acclimation and no power tools. The installation instructions can be found here. If you have any questions, we’re here to help.
Best,
I am considering your antique Java luxury vinyl plank flooring for my residential home . I have read on some sites that one of the cons of this flooring is that the temperature can affect the flooring . If no electricity in the home due to a storm and no electricity for a week during hot weather can cause the floor to buckle and, . Also extreme cold weather too. Does this Vinyl expand a contract with weather conditions? Also, is the vinyl approved by someone/agency for toxic emissions one could breathe? Thank you!
Vinyl flooring is extremely tolerant of moisture, humidity, and temperature extremes. Yes, we test it for emissions and phthalates and it is well below even the strictest air quality standards.
Would you recommend for a home garage floor?
Hi Mark,
We’ve had people do it, but keep in mind this isn’t a warranted application. You’ll want to use the Pro style and you’ll want to glue it down with Titebond 670.