Condo Renovation: Part 2

We’ve made a lot of progress on renovating our condominium in Orange Beach, Ala. My wife, Sharon, and I recently bought the condo for our family to vacation at the beach, but we also plan to rent it out when we’re not using it. Since it’s an investment property, we’ve chosen materials that are durable enough to handle the inevitable moisture and sand, but also attractive for our family and potential renters to enjoy.

In the second half of our renovation, we laid vinyl plank flooring, installed the granite countertops, finished the kitchen and bathroom cabinets, framed the bathroom mirrors, and changed the trim on the plumbing fixtures. We painted the walls Benjamin Moore 1017 Dusty Road.

Finally came Sharon’s favorite part – decorating. Our daughter Chelsea and granddaughter, Mary Helen, joined us for the fun.

Check out Condo Renovation: Part 1 to see what we accomplished in the first episode.

Laying Vinyl Plank Flooring

For the flooring we went with vinyl plank from Armstrong’s Luxe Plank line. The FasTak installation system makes laying this floor the ultimate do-it-yourself project. First, we had to make sure the concrete floor was clean of any dirt or dust, so the adhesive backing would adhere to the subfloor instead of the dust. We marked the center of the room with a chalk line and started laying the pieces of flooring on the line, working our way toward the outside of the room.

This particular line of vinyl plank is easy to cut. We used a sharp utility blade for notching and cutting around doorways and cabinetry, and a small circular saw for the long rip cuts.

The repositionable, pressure-sensitive backing on each plank acts as both cushion and adhesive. Flooring should always be acclimated to room temperature, but vinyl is especially sensitive to changes in temperature. We rented a roller to roll over the newly laid floor to make it adhere well to the slab.

Watch How to Lay Vinyl Plank Flooring to learn more.

Framing Bathroom Mirrors

The bathrooms were plain, so to dress up the spaces we added decorative frames from MirrorMate around the mirrors. Frames are available in standard sizes, or they can be custom-cut to fit any mirror. The pieces were easy to put together, and the completed frames were installed with strips of adhesive backing.

Other Tips from This Episode

Simple Solutions with Joe Truini:
Pool Noodle Door Bumper

To prevent damage to your vehicle doors and the walls of the garage, create a bumper out of a foam pool noodle. Simply attach the noodle to the wall using 1-5/8-inch drywall screws. Watch the video.

Best New Products with Jodi Marks:
Leviton Motion Sensor Light Switch

Leviton’s IPS02 Occupancy Sensor Switch automatically turns the lights on when you enter a room and off when you leave. Sensors have 180-degree span to scan the entire room, or you can program it to scan only a certain area. It is available at The Home Depot. Watch the video.

Ask Danny Lipford:
Professional Carpet Steamer

Carpet cleaners are available for rent at retail stores, but the cleaning solution that comes with them often leaves behind a sticky residue that attracts dirt. Hiring a professional with a truck-mounted steam cleaner may provide better results over the long haul, even it’s it’s more expensive initially. Watch the video.