Thoughts on Flooring

You would think, by the warm pleasant weather and my deeper-than-usual cleaning efforts for the day, that Spring has already arrived.  California weather will often be coy at this time of year.  After a streak of very cold mornings and then bursts of rain, it's sweet outside.  Like a girl trying on a pretty dress with no intention of buying, just seeing how it feels for a moment, the weather is dressed in warm, soft colors and then, bye-bye!, the weather will change to cold winter again, flinging warmth aside.

For now and the next few days to come, we are expecting to see more of today's gray-blue sky with its white-gold edges.  I'm taking advantage of the winter lull to get my home back into shape after the holidays.  The carpet guy said today, "If a carpet isn't getting cleaned, it's getting dirty."  Yes, sir, don't I know it.

Next step is trying to pick out flooring for the kitchen, which consists of about 100 square feet of heavily used space.  The linoleum that's already there is dated, hard to clean and damaged in several places.

Some friends have said they like cork a lot.  Others like stone.  I've looked at linoleum for its retro appearance and durability.  What I want is a floor that cleans itself, cooks my dinner and gives foot massages.  Well, I can dream, can't I?

In the decision-making process, I have paused to salute my foremothers, housekeepers who had to make do with floor materials such as varied as stone, old wood planks, dirt, or tiles.  As interesting as some of those might be to look at, I'm not sure yet what to pick from modern materials.  Some traditional flooring  certainly has its own appeal.  Dirt? Not so much.  Tile may or may not be difficult to put down, but I've heard the challenge lies in surface preparation.  The old stuff that's there now is potentially the biggest problem to consider and may take an act of God to remove.  Acts of God are expensive, you know.

I'd like to learn to lay tile and do it myself.  Considering I tried sewing a down jacket together from a kit I once bought, and ended up with the sleeves put on backwards, it would probably be a good idea to learn on a less crucial project.  Like a closet floor or something.  Dog house perhaps.

At least the carpet is clean and the sky is not threatening rain.  As for actual spring cleaning, I guess I'll have to do this all again when winter leaves for good.  Like the man said, "Carpet is either getting cleaned..."