Wall Base / Rubber Treads

Tom M

I am looking for some feedback on wall base and rubber track. I looked at a flooded church basement today. There is about 12 rooms and hallways that make up a day care center. The maintence people removed all the vinyl base and all the asebestos floor tile. Now they dont want to put back any flooring they are going to seal and paint as is. Walls are drywall and CMU's.

Here is the deal they want all new perimeter wall base and rubber stair treads. I went to the Armstrong website and I found out you cannot install the base in a basement below grade. I assume because its not permeable at the lowest point. As for the stair treads, the site does not specify dimensions. Has anyone dealt with similar installations or have any alternative suggestion? Wood baseboard is far more expensive and will not conform to all the irregularities in the concrete slab.

PrecisionFloors

http://www.endura-flooring.com/

http://www.johnsonite.com/en

There are more companies out there than Armstrong that deal in rubber flooring products and accessories.

__________________
Precision Flooring
(772) 237-9900
Tile, Hardwood, Laminate, and Resilient
Installation, Sales & Repair - "We do it right the FIRST time"

Demonseed

They are going to use a sealed and painted concrete floor in a day care center? I just had to say that. I do not know why they would say you can't install base below grade, I will honestly look into that tomorrow. My basic instinct would be, if they had vinyl wall base on the walls before and the sheetrock is not damaged, I do not see why you couldn't install it again(maybe look up Johnsonite products). The rubber stair treads usually come in specific widths like 4 feet wide ( I only do these on occassion if I had to guess they are usually 4 feet X 1 foot) and you cut them to size on the job site. Usually 6 inch base on the riser then cut the stair tread to fit the stair.

Mike Costello

Oh boy, I better go rip off the 10 million feet I have put in over the years,lol.

Ive never heard that of cove base before.

As far as tread go, do some research , I see you already have some links to check out

Tom M

Thanks for the links. Yes it acutally says that about below grade I think its similar philosophy to vinyl wallpaper. It doesnt breath in moist enviorment. On that note--most of the base perimeter is shoddy and moldy thus the reason they asked for a 6 inch base to cover more. I am contemplating what I want to advise the customer here......I think they should pull all the drywall and clean up any mold before putting kids back. However I was not called up for that and I dont know if they can forced into it. I will suggest after I know a little more.

Demonseed

If there is damage and mold on the sheetrock, you have to tell them to cut it out, treat the walls and replace it with new. I am all for helping out churches, but this is not sounding like a good situation for a day care center. If there is mold or mildew in the walls it could potentially lead to alot of health issues, especially in children.

I would explain to them that they need to remove the affected sheet rock, treat any exposed areas, and ensure they walls are completely dry, before they install new sheetrock and hang any base.

Tom M

I couldn't agree more. Its a tough call cause some of bottom is clearly mold and some glue from the old moldiing. I would want to replace the lower boards everywhere since the few spot that were removed exposed some poor lumber. Which obviously not the first time its seen water. To add to that there were a few veteren contractors(60's-70's) painting the walls. Helping out. They dont really want to hear that the're doing the wrong thing from a young guy. One good thing that was done is that they hired a proffessional asbestos team to remove the flooring. Its a major-major expense pulling lower boards in 12 rooms and replacing damage as we go.

Demonseed

I do mold and mildew remediation, and I can pretty much guarantee if they don't fix the problem now, they will have to fix it later. If this was an office building, maybe you could roll the dice and hope things work out, but it is a day care center in a Church. The kids have to come first.

Unless the wood is rotted, you should not have to replace it, as long as it is thoroughly dried and structurally sound, the sheet rock has to be cut out and replaced. (at least a foot from the floor)

The way this sounds, you are talking about 500-600 feet of base, and maybe 12-24 stair treads, I am almost guessing you are doing this at cost or for free, because the job can't be worth that much from a labor perspective, to voice these concerns.

Tom M

Well Im in no position to be working for cost or free thats for sure. Its actually over a thousand feet of base. I was called and I want to see the job done right thats it. I would feel ignorant turning my head knowing no one knows the difference.

Demonseed

No offense was meant when I thought you might be doing it for cost or free, I have done a few churches for free, some out of the kindness of my heart, others for a write-off.

I guess your dilemna is this, you tell them to replace the sheetrock they say they won't, if you don't hang the base they'll call someone who will. Personally, I would really stress to them the importance of addressing the mold/mildew issue and if they still won't do it, I would walk away.

Tom M

No offense and no stress man. Just feeling out the right approach with out coming off as a scamming contractor. People ask for one thing , you come back and tell them something else and that cost is 10x more you can come off little shakey. I dont like the whole approach as it is, they may need a little counsuling on the right approach. I will be talking to the man in charge later.

Demonseed

I actually just noticed you are in New Jersey, I am in Garfield NJ, If you are in the general area let me know.