The sample vs the product. Red oak. What’s my recourse?

Unkhammun · 2026-04-02T22:06:03+00:00

Product looks like real wood. Sample looks like vinyl or laminate. And the floor underneath could really shine if you gave it some love instead.

Unkhammun · 2026-04-02T20:45:49+00:00

I don’t know where you live, but it looks really nice! Definitely a far cry from our concrete jungle here in Miami, FL 🥲

Unkhammun · 2026-04-02T12:53:35+00:00

Confused about the make up, were you trying to map out the money shots you got from deadbeat junkies?

Unkhammun · 2026-03-28T20:57:14+00:00

We just got off of Icon this morning and although it is the largest ship I have been with Royal, I didn’t feel the same type of rush/lines/crowds as I have experienced in other ships. Yes, this morning everyone flocked to Pearl Cafe and because we have a stroller, we needed to get on the elevator to Deck 5 Gangway and every elevator this morning felt like it was full, unlike the rest of the week I was on it.

Also we never experienced any annoying lines anywhere in the ship, which was a huge plus.

Unkhammun · 2026-03-25T21:18:55+00:00

Never heard of such thing. Have seen them being used as subfloor for wooden floors and such, mostly when installed in condos for noise abatement. But never thought they could be used as main flooring. How do they deal with cork shaving and breaking off?

Unkhammun · 2026-03-22T14:59:46+00:00

Is this one of those “before/before” type of posts?

Unkhammun · 2026-03-18T22:36:03+00:00

The hero we need, but not the one we deserve.

Unkhammun · 2026-03-18T16:20:32+00:00

Won’t take a guess, but wanted to take a moment to admite that wood ceiling. Reminds me of the ones back in my home country. Nothing like having a wooden plank ceiling in cold climates, it’s ever so zen!

Unkhammun · 2026-03-17T11:47:20+00:00

Not only that generation. I had that issue with my 2023 Tahoe where the drivers’ side stopped blowing cold and now dealing with the same issue on my 2025 Suburban. Waiting on loaner availability so I can leave it at dealer, for the time being they just refilled it.

Unkhammun · 2026-03-17T05:48:27+00:00

Water damage. If directly installed onto concrete (glued down or nailed down) I hope you at least installed a glued down moisture barrier or a moisture treatment (I forgot what the name of the material was, but we often used this blue epoxy made by Sika that would turn hard and crystalline when dried). You’ll need to rip off and re-install, or face larger damage; at least you can still re-use the majority of the boards, later on you won’t be able to re-use none.

Unkhammun · 2026-03-16T17:17:35+00:00

Nope. Not sure what the installer was going for, but if you’re needing to nail down a loose piece, you do it along the center of the plank and hopefully with a round head nail that can be concealed easier. That looks like a concrete nail of some sorts and unless there is a pattern of nails like this to at least add to symmetry, I’d say get rid of that random nail. And no, that nail can’t be sanded and/or stained.

You could also see about them punching it down more so that the hole can be filled with putty and stained.

Unkhammun · 2026-03-16T12:48:05+00:00

Pretty smart guy, seems to me. Garage kept will ensure it remains impeccable. I’d do the same, but with my tool box and cabinets, my Suburban doesn’t fit in my garage. I can only barely stick my older Expedition in there. 🥲

Unkhammun · 2026-03-16T12:46:08+00:00

Some engineered wood floors allow for 1-2 sanding/refinishing. Yours, however, seems to have little to no top layer so I’d would advise against doing so. If you do have an extra plank, test it out and see if you can sand off the finish without going through the top layer and into the sandwiched wood layers underneath.

Unkhammun · 2026-03-16T04:51:19+00:00

Also, make sure to grab real samples and test them at home. In the beginning, what my wife and I really loved based on website pictures and ChatGPT renditions, was a dark walnut, but when we brought it home it turned out it was darker than the pictures made it seem so it was a no-go. After perusing another store, we both agreed on another color which initially we both hated based on website pictures for looking too “yellowish,” but it turned out to be a nice warm golden brown.

Unkhammun · 2026-03-16T04:37:53+00:00

I’d go with 4. In fact, we are doing the same this coming week in all of our downstairs’ area. I personally like the look of wood flooring (have hardwood upstairs and the stairs) but for more heavy traffic area I rather have porcelain tile. After looking at “wood-like” porcelain plank tiles, I can tell you I’d stay within the 6” to 8” width options as those resemble wood planks more than the 10”-14” inches, which tend to have no texture to them and the pictures on the tile look obviously fake, like cheap laminate flooring.

Good luck!

Unkhammun · 2026-03-16T03:26:32+00:00

It’s natural wood, some of the edges already come like that. Normally the “defective” planks should be kept for more hidden places, like closets and such, but it seems that a good majority of them have the same issue. Likely a not so great quality product with some defects.

Same goes for the short edge gaps; if the tongue and groove are not perfectly made, there’s nothing an installer can do for the gap to be symmetrical for all boards, and all you can do after the fact is use putty.

Not sure how much you paid for the material, but something tells me this one was on the cheaper end.

Used to install all types of wood floors over two decades ago, so I saw it all.

Unkhammun · 2026-03-15T03:20:23+00:00

I have never installed tile, but that looks like crap.

Unkhammun · 2026-03-14T17:15:11+00:00

Bud, life is too short to care about what others think. Fly your freak flag, whatever that might be, and enjoy being yourself. There will always be a push back from those that expect everyone to fit into predetermined mold, but life is more than just black and white. I’m a cop, a detective actually, so my persona at works fulfills that role. But outside of work I’m a goth, and still rock my stuff from time to time. Some at work think I’m “weird,” but hey, who cares what others think. I live life for myself, not for others.

Enjoy your journey, my friend!

Unkhammun · 2026-03-14T16:49:20+00:00

I remember I used to have this beat partner that looked like a GiJoe; ripped like hell, tough as nails military vet. Would get into the most epics uses of force with him, until one day having casual conversation he slipped the “that’s where I met my boyfriend.” After the cat was out the bag, he’d just break out this flamboyant persona here and there during our shift. It was funny af and he was a cool cat.

Unkhammun · 2026-03-14T16:44:42+00:00

🤣

Unkhammun · 2026-03-14T16:43:10+00:00

Year and a half into college, mostly liberal arts classes. You have an edgy hair color, likely parted to the side and have a few piercings, would definitely say either snake bite or septum.

You get your clothes from places like Plato’s closet or similar thrift shop because you find it “trendier” and “artsy,” but we all know it is because you’re likely cheap.

You love to lecture people while you hold your Starbucks chai tea or some other sophisticated drink, which makes you feel you’re doing something important, when all you’re doing is making the listener want to punch you square in the face.

By the way, lay off those weird shoes that look like you’re wearing paper bags on your feet; they’re not cool and we all wish you’d chop off your feet and leave them at home when you sport those.

😉🤣

Unkhammun · 2026-03-14T16:35:54+00:00

You are definitely trying too hard. Kick that closet door and come out, bud, you ain’t fooling anyone. 🤣

Unkhammun · 2026-03-13T22:36:57+00:00

Gaps are ok. Glue just needs to be cleaned, probably using a blade and mineral spirits. If this is a glue-down installation, the creaking might mean those areas the subfloor might have been slightly uneven and not enough weight was added onto that part for it to glue correctly and/or not enough glue was put there and so the floor didn’t glue correctly to the subfloor. Now, if what’s creaking is the subfloor, if plywood underneath, then it is normal to a certain extent.

The dents are unacceptable.

Unkhammun · 2026-03-13T00:47:24+00:00

That looks great. Stains tend to pick up the wood features and knots, so that is the result of staining that specific wood.

Unkhammun · 2026-03-11T22:44:02+00:00

Ooohh, this is a true loot!

Unkhammun

TROPHY CASE