How to Choose a Material for a New Kitchen Floor

About the author: Build Writewell enjoys spending time with his lovely wife and young son. He loves the outdoor activities such as fishing, softball, playing catch, and shooting hoops as well as boating. He is the proud author of http://www.brandsconstruction.com and www.HomePlansforFree.com www.GaragePlansforFree.com

Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/home-and-family-articles/how-to-choose-a-material-for-a-new-kitchen-floor-911530.html

Frequently Asked Questions

1. QUESTION:
   Is it hard/expensive to install a gas cooker?
   Hello

   I am interested in buying a house which currently only has the capability of having electric hobs in the kitchen. The property currently has gas central heating so there is an existing gas line. Is it therefore possible to get a gas point in the kitchen such that a gas hob/cooker could be fitted to? How would you go about this and would it be expensive?

   Many thanks

   • ANSWER:
     Perfectly possible.
     It depends on how far it is from the kitchen to the gas line.
     If you are lucky and your boiler is in the kitchen then should be ok. But kitchen units can be in the way.
     If you have solid floors again a problem. Laminate floors (the devils invention) forget it.
     A cheap option may be to use bottled gas just drill a hole through the wall and have a propane bottle
     outside. Bottled gas for a cooker lasts ages and ages.

2. QUESTION:
   wooden kitchen worktop?
   i'm moving house soon, i want to re-fit the kitchen pretty much as soon as i move in.

   i like the look of real wood worktops, i want fit the units & appliances myself but i dont have have the know-how or confidence to fit the tops myself.

   i would install an undermount sink, and a inset hob.

   is there companies that sell and install worktops?

   would it be better to have worktops delivered then get a local joner/carpenter to fit the tops for me, including cutting a hole for undermount sink and hole for hob?

   • ANSWER:
     Go for the joiner option. It won't cost you that much and the fit will be perfect. You may not have all the tools and you could end up spoiling the finished look.

3. QUESTION:
   camper conversion?
   We've just bought a Renault T35 (old ambulance) for converting into a cheap and cheerful camper. The shower is going to be one of those solar showers that don't need a pump or electricity. The toilet a portaloo. I'm considering adapting another solar shower to run the tap in the kitchen sink. But I still need electricity to power a small fridge and cooker/hob.

   Is a leisure battery what I need?
   How do I install it (Or other device)?
   Will it charge from the alternator when the van is running?
   If not what's the best way to charge it?

   Thanks x

   • ANSWER:
     You need a deep cycle battery and probably a higher output alternator. Get a kit that will have the parts and instructions on how to charge from van when hooked up and engine is running. Check with camper/van stores or auto supply stores for the kit you need.

4. QUESTION:
   How long do you have to sue a landlord for negligence.?
   In March of this year, the home which we were renting was burned down in a house fire. We'd been in the property for about 16-17 months and were on our second contract (due to end in April).

   Over the course of this time, we'd noted that there were no fire alarms in the house. We'd stated this many times to our landlord, and also told him that the electrics were a bit dodgy. We'd frequently heard a click in the kitchen and when going in, switches we were sure we'd turned off would be on. Light bulbs in the kitchen and bathroom, and stairs landing also blew with amazing regularity. We'd replace at least one of these bulbs once every 3-4 weeks.

   This had been stated to our landlord who said "i'll send a friend to fix it". He never did.

   In March this year, as stated, we had a house fire. Me and my wife were out at the time, but my sister in law was asleep in bed upstairs at the time. Thankfully, my dog woke up and barked a lot to wake her up. She phoned me to ask where we were and why he was making a noise, before heading downstairs screaming that the house was on fire, hanging up, and then calling the fire brigade immediately.

   Thankfully none of our animals were hurt, and due to my sister in laws quick thinking and the barking of the dog. She wasn't hurt either, and the fire wasn't as destructive as it could have been (it was a kitchen fire, and came close to getting the gas boiler)

   Now the fire was deemed accidental, something fell off the microwave (poorly placed by me before heading out no doubt) and landed on the over hob, supposed hitting the knob and turning the hobs on before catching fire minutes later.

   Now we're 100% sure we turned off the switch for the oven, cause we've always turned off all electric outlets, cause we've always been worried about leaving stuff on. However, i'm not even concerned with that for the moment.

   My main issue is that with a fire alarm, this would have been a moot point as my sister in law would have been woken and serviced could have been called sooner, or even dealt with by her depending on how soon she caught it. Instead we lost pretty much everything except what was in the front bedroom upstairs, and the house was condemned.

   For the 8 months since then both me and my fiance have had stress and anxiety, with both of our SSP's now exhausted we're trying to get benefit help, and it looks like my job will be unsuitable for me to return to (developed a fear of enclosed spaces, and i worked in a small on rails crane) we're pretty much screwed, and prior to the fire we'd put a deposit on our own home (which we now live in) which we're now worried about losing due to us being unable to work. Due to all this stress, we've not thought once about seeking a claim against the landlord. We just wanted to get away from it, and try and restart in the new house... however friends have mentioned it, and said that you have a certain time limit within which to pursue a claim.

   Does anyone know how long we have to pursue such a claim?

   and does anyone think a claim is viable, given that I think law dictates he installs fire detectors and despite us telling him for 18 months he never once got them sorted?

   • ANSWER:
     You have six years if it is a breach of contract/negligence claim but three years if you are pursuing a personal injury claim.

     Obviously, any advice on here is based upon limited information and you'd be madder than a hatter to launch into civil proceedings without detailed legal advice of the sort you get from sitting in front of someone who's read the papers involved.

     You don't make it clear what you're considering claiming for.
     If it's 'stress' you're wasting your time - the reasons are too complex to go into in a forum like this but take it from me, it's just hopeless and any solictor who tells you otherwise should be viewed with utmost skeptcism.

     You MAY well have a decent claim for loss of your possessions if there's no insurance in place but if the fire brigade have deemed it accidental you've got a hell of a struggle to prove any negligence caused the fire.

     had there been a smoke alarm (not sure what a fire detector is in residential property) its possible - but no more than that -that you may have been able to put the fire put the fire out.
     But given it happened in the middle of the night I suspect you'd have escaped the house as soon as possible.

     So I suspect your chances of sustaining a viable claim on the information you have given are poor. But someone who had the full facts may take a more optimistic view, assuming they knew what they were doing.

5. QUESTION:
   camper conversion?
   We've just bought a Renault T35 (old ambulance) for converting into a cheap and cheerful camper. The shower is going to be one of those solar showers that don't need a pump or electricity. The toilet a portaloo. I'm considering adapting another solar shower to run the tap in the kitchen sink. But I still need electricity to power a small fridge and cooker/hob.

   Is a leisure battery what I need?
   How do I install it (Or other device)?
   Will it charge from the alternator when the van is running?
   If not what's the best way to charge it?

   Thanks x

   • ANSWER:
     Campervan or caravan fridge is what you need. they run from 3 different fuel types 240v / 12v or gas. to install any of these power scources you will need specialist knowledge, so you will need a calour gas fitter, and an electrician, who will also advise on a leisure battery installation. the battery has to be vented and securly fixed ideall in an locker with exterior access. You will not be able to run a cooker from a leisure battery, it will need to be calour gas, again a specialist job.
     There are a number of caravan reclamation shops in the UK where you will be able to purchase all the kit you require to fit out your van including gas water heater, and vented gas fire.
     I stress again you need to get professional installers to fit this kit as badly fitted equipment could cost you or your family their life. Try buying some cravan mags for some ideas for layout etc. good luck