Tackling the Tough Stuff

I can't decide if I'm ambitious or slightly insane.

My present to myself this spring was new flooring for the living room and hall.  Our carpet is gross beyond help-- even a good professional cleaning couldn't save it.  So it was time to get it replaced, hopefully with something that can handle a bit more abuse than light tan carpet!  The scary part is since I have to do this on a tight budget, I have to install this flooring myself.  Now I've tackled painting and unclogging sinks and patching drywall.  But there is something incredibly intimidating about putting in flooring.  Hopefully I don't mess it up!  (That would be over $900 down the drain, eek!!)

Here is what I picked out:

6 in. x 36 in. Apple Blonde Resilient Vinyl Plank Flooring (24 sq. ft./case)-261251 at The Home Depot

It kind of looks like wood but it is actually vinyl.  I read review after review before I finally decided on this stuff.  It is supposed to be somewhat easy to install, compared to other kinds of flooring anyway.  They didn't have the color I wanted in stock so I had to special order it.  It took almost a month to get in (apparently they were completely out and had to manufacture some more).  But it finally arrived and tonight Terence and I picked it up.  We now have 18 boxes of the stuff stacked around our living room and hall.

I'll keep you updated on how this project goes-- first step?  Remove the carpet.  With five kids underfoot I have a feeling this will get interesting quickly!