From what I understand the room renovation plans were around restructuring the organizing. Redoing the floor would be cool but I think we need more discussion first - forums and discord won’t be enough discussion so we should discuss this on the working bee on the weekend.
Flooring was discussed at the Cause meeting and the universal dislike of the carpet was expressed. Lino and a click together option were discussed. (Still not sure about forum discussions - here goes.)
I’d like to hear any other suggestions for flooring. I don’t know if it’s the pattern or the style that needs discussion? Let me outline my reasoning.
Laminate flooring: options within our budget would be domestic. Laminate floors are popular because you can move the room items onto the half finished section and it will correct minor imperfections in the floor. It is not waterproof except for spills that are immediately cleaned up or a damp mop (not commecial mops like we have at the space that flood the floor). The cracks between boards are textured and deep. The first paint spill will make the floor look crap as you will not be able to remove the stains from the cracks. The patterned surface is a thin layer on top of an MDF type material. If you walk on it with gritty shoes, it scratches a gouge right through the decorative surface. If you pull a heavy item over it rips it up. If a piece of equipment catches in a groove, there is a real chance it will rip it up or just chip pieces off. I have done my kitchen and dining room in a mid range laminate floor and I have encountered some of these problems already. I have felt dots on the bottom of everything and have to protect it constantly. Hackerspace is not the place for this.
Vinyl laminate boards: like the laminate flooring but with a lino/vinyl top. This is what is used in commercial places if they want to have a wood look. I am not against it, but I went in to get quotes. We can have this if we don’t want any new furniture. We are looking at $800-$1000.
Commercial vinyl: Can be harder to lay than laminate if you don’t have the space to empty the room and if you don’t have a flat floor.
It is resistant to spills, water, scratches and is easy to clean. It is also the more likely option of what we could do in the rest of the building if we wanted to spruce it all up, so would be more consistent.
Polished and sealed concrete: If someone else is volunteering to do it. It will be a whole days work and drying time. Make sure you have a P3 mask and get proper extraction equipment.
Tiles: slow to install and will break when people drop stuff.
Carpet: obviously a bad idea around arts and crafts.
As far as I can see, there are not really any other realistic options other than vinyl.
Rearrange your furniture and change the layout of your room if you want the room to feel like a new space. If that isn’t possible, you might be able to re-paint it. Try painting one wall in your favorite color or something uplifting, soothing, or bright (blue, green, lavender, etc.). Yellow is a great color for making a room appear larger and brighter. A large mirror will give it the appearance of being larger. Making a creative lampshade or bookshelf during the holidays can be fun. Tubes make your room look bad. Trust me, if you have them in your room. With an orange-hued tube light you will instantly see a difference in your room. This light does not harm your eyes in any way. You could also make or buy fancy lampshades if you have another source of light. You might be able to rent material and upgrade your curtains (although you might not be able to buy them). Instead of floral prints, choose geometric prints or simple colors and textures. You can also enhance the look of your bedroom by using a bedspread and pillowcase. Choosing muted plain colors instead of white is a good idea since hostels are hard to keep clean. Select colors that contrast the room decor or complement it. The colour scheme could be in the same shade. Photo collages will make your room appear smaller.
