Slate Floors...what do you think???

[BriarfoxinWA]

When I was little we lived in a house in California that had the same type of slate tile. It was an old screen porch that had been closed off for a rec room. That stuff is cold to walk on and ours was very uneven too. I'd take it our or cover it up. The rest of the room is nice - just that slate doesn't go with it at all.

 

[allie&mattsmom]

I think the house sounds awesome! Couldn't you just throw a big rug down for now? I love slate floors, the particular one in that room doesn't do a lot for me but i don't think it would keep me from buying the house if I loved the rest of it. I agree with the others about getting an estimate about getting it torn out. Hardwood would look great in there!

Good luck to you. I know it's a huge decision!

 

[bananiem]

I agree that the house sounds cool! Do you have an mls link or any other pictures?
It sounds like it needs some work. If you and your future dh want to do it and can afford to do it then I say go for it. But REALLY think about it. You don't want to get half way through one room and then say "This is too much." Then you'll be the one trying to sell it.

 

[DisneyBlonde]

I love my slate flooring, but the floor in your link...not so much. My slate is less 'irregular' than those pieces, and the pieces aren't as large. Mine look more like slightly irregular squares and rectangles. Your link looks like someone dropped the floor accidentally and tried to glue it all back together. My slate also has an interesting mix of colors: different shades of grey-blue and every once in a while, a deep brick red colored piece.

 

[sajetto]

I agree that the house sounds cool! Do you have an mls link or any other pictures?
It sounds like it needs some work. If you and your future dh want to do it and can afford to do it then I say go for it. But REALLY think about it. You don't want to get half way through one room and then say "This is too much." Then you'll be the one trying to sell it.

Yep, here are some more pics. It DOES need work and I'm sure it would take us 3 to 5 years to get it the way we want it. It doesn't have any issues with the structure and the owners did replace the old plumbing with PVC, but I'm worried that others would hate it whether it was updated or not. This is my home town so I don't plan on moving, but we all know that life never works out exactly as you plan. (The price on the house, no lie is 162K the economy here is so bad after the corperate headquarters moved out last year)

These aren't all the pics, but the rest of the house is in the same shape. Its on a 1.25 acre lot with a back yard and a side yard.

 

[bananiem]

LOVE, LOVE, LOVE the yard!! Lots of space! I think the house has potential. You just have to look past the wallpaper.

 

[azgal81]

I was thinking squares of slate as well which I like. But yeah those cut up chunks are way ugly.

 

[Rafiki Rafiki Rafiki]

If that guy is an executive for Lowe's, you could EASILY ask them to put in a flooring allowance of $5000 or more to be purchased from Lowe's. I think this is a steal for the price, and the house appears to have character.

Honestly, I can't believe an executive from Lowe's would own a house that was out of date. He probably gets a big hunk of cash every year from them, and if he used his discount, that house would be SO COOL.

Don't be afraid to give them a low-ball offer. You'll find out very quickly how desperate they are!

Oh, and the floors. I don't think the slate is hideous. I think it's the grout. It's much too light in color for slate that dark. I've never had to re-grout a floor before, so I can't tell you what a pain it would be...but the cost of grout is low, and grouting is easy.

I'd buy this house.

 

[JunieJay]

Gorgeous!

 

[DVC-Don]

Slippery when wet.

 

[allie&mattsmom]

I love the style of the house! It has tons of character and talk about curb appeal! And the yard is great! I just see that it needs to be updated on the inside a bit and that's something you and your DH could take your time and do. It sounds like it's a great price and actually it sounds as if you could get if for less than asking price.

I also would think about asking for some sort of flooring allowance as posted previously. It couldn't hurt.

I say go for it!

 

[sajetto]

I.

Honestly, I can't believe an executive from Lowe's would own a house that was out of date. He probably gets a big hunk of cash every year from them, and if he used his discount, that house would be SO COOL.

Back when it was in its good old days they thought that was THE STUFF and you were just way cool to have it. This old rickety town was a weird place to have a corp. headquarters anyway and I'm actually surprised that they stayed here as long as they did. It helped out economy to have them here, but now it is truly suffering and I hope to God that something makes us bounce back from the loss.

 

[sajetto]

I

Don't be afraid to give them a low-ball offer. You'll find out very quickly how desperate they are!

.

The price started out at 199,900 but they quickly realized that wasn't going to fly. They reduced it in August to 180,000, and to 165K last month. How low of an offer could we start out with without being ridiculously offensive?

 

[RadioNate]

can you post the MLS - The photo links aren't working in Firefox and I'd like to see!

Sounds like I'd really like the house...and for that price a may want to move to NC!

 

[Am_I_There_Yet]

I see a lot of slate floors on the job and these are not the best I've ever seen. I'll just leave it at that.

I say cover 'em up - who cares what they're worth.

(They remind me of the Polynesian's floors and I don't like those either.)

 

[Anewman]

My fiance and I are looking at a home that used to belong to an exec. for Lowes so the decor is different that an everyday home. We saw these floors and told the realtor that if we were to buy the home we would cover over them as they are almost impossible to remove. When we said this the woman looked like she was going to pass out and said "do you have any idea how much slate is worth!!!" Actually, no we don't, but the response was rude and thank God she's not OUR realtor.

Was "the woman", the current home owner? IF SO...
Hmmm you were standing in her home and pretty much said her floors were ugly...

 

[sajetto]

Was "the woman", the current home owner? IF SO...
Hmmm you were standing in her home and pretty much said her floors were ugly...

Look at where you quoted me...it says REALTOR

My fiance and I are looking at a home that used to belong to an exec. for Lowes so the decor is different that an everyday home. We saw these floors and told the realtor that if we were to buy the home we would cover over them as they are almost impossible to remove. When we said this the woman looked like she was going to pass out and said "do you have any idea how much slate is worth!!!" Actually, no we don't, but the response was rude and thank God she's not OUR realtor.

Honestly, what do you guys think of these floors and would you cover over them?

 

[rie'smom]

We had slate floors in a hoouse that we bought. The slate is cold and slippery. We had only been in the house a few months when we had the slate removed. It was a job because the floor had to be chisled out in order to remove it. We were very happy that we did it though.

 

[helenabear]

Could you give me more of your opinion? This room is a den and all of that wood work is solid Mahogony. The home is 5,000 square feet not including the basement and has a study, library, florida room, den, living room, dining room, and 5 bedrooms. The whole house has the dark wood on the lower half of the wall. Does all of the dark wood turn you off, regardless of whether or not we removed the wallpaper on the upper half of the wall and painted it with a light color? (My view of this house is screwy because I grew up in one with wall to wall dark woods, it was a really large home like this one, and since I'm used to it, it doesn't bother me like it might some other people)

I'm asking because I really want to know if this house could be made into something others would like or if its beyond help. I don't want us to make a huge mistake. Thanks!

Actually I really *love* the wood! We have a great room (15x22 or so) that is all hard wood flooring and wood paneling. It was done in the early '50s and I think it is such a classic and cosy look. I can't tell you what wood was used, but it is just beautiful!

I think it is the wallpaper that I hate. I went back to look at the picture and I think that is what I am seeing around the fireplace that is such a turn off! The window treatments are a bit too much for me as well. Together everything reminds me of a cheesy themed hotel room or something.

I do think if you stripped the wallpaper and painted there instead it would make a world of difference. The flooring, wallpaper and treatments are just tacky IMO.

I looked at the rest of the pictures and the house looks like it could be turned into such a beauty! The color in the kitchen seems all wrong as well, and they seemed to be such wallpaper lovers (and not good IMO). I think if you are willing to strip the paper, paint a bit and change out the floor in at least that room (I can't tell what the room with the yellow & white wallpaper had, but that one seemed odd as well) you could wind up with such a beautiful and charming house!

I would start low balling as well. Heck start out at $135K and then go from there. I would imagine you could probably get it for around $150K if they have dropped it that much in price over time. I do think the foundation of the house looks awesome (as in its potential), I just think this person made horrid choices in flooring, wallpaper and colors.

 

[nuke]

That is really a beautiful lot and the house has so much potential. If you can get it for a steal go for it and work on the rooms a bit at a time. You can have a showplace home in no time.

I do love slate but the black with white grout, not so much. That would have to go first.