Patricia and Adam Friedman's uneven kitchen floor has tripped up one dinner guest too many. The old linoleum is faded and peeling, so the couple has decided to replace it with new ceramic tile. And they've decided to do the work themselves! The Friedmans hope to accomplish this in four days... Step one: demolition! The Friedmans begin by pulling up the old linoleum in their kitchen. But this proves harder than they anticipated. After struggling for an hour while making very little progress, Patty and Adam come up with plan B: take up not only the linoleum, but also the plywood to which it is firmly attached. This course of action solves one problem, but introduces another: the subfloor underneath the plywood is not level. Any further work will have to commence tomorrow, however, because the demolition of the floor has taken a full day.
Day two brings new struggles. After getting help from friend Randy Chambers, the Friedmans manage to level out the subflooring and prepare it for laying the tile. But the extra effort has put the couple behind schedule. Plus, now the weather has changed, and the rain pouring down outside the house is affecting work inside. The bulk of the tiles are finally laid, but with all the humidity, the Friedmans wonder if the adhesive will set properly.
At last, the rain has stopped, and the Friedmans are feeling optimistic. Our intrepid couple cuts the final tiles to fit around the edge of the floor. The water saw they've rented to do the job is intimidating, but the Friedmans persevere. Finally the last tile is laid, and once the grout is applied, the floor is complete!
After the project is finished, Adam and Patty review their work. Though the project took much longer than they anticipated, they are delighted with the final result. Their kitchen is not only much more attractive, but more functional as well.
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