Help replacing kitchen tiles?

ap

The crappy linoleum tiles in our kitchen are cracking and coming lose and our landlord refuses to do shit about it. As renters, we don't want to spend a lot (particularly when our landlord is so dismissive and cheap).

What are our options for replacing our kitchen floor relatively cheaply? And, is there anyone out there who can help us lay down tile in a medium-sized kitchen? We're willing to pay, of course, just not a lot.

Thanks!

booklaw

A few years ago, we used Slawek Mlynarski ((917) 609-0385) for a number of small jobs around our house. Although we did not use him for tile work, he told us that that was one of his specialties (carpentry was the one we used him for). He was excellent and surprisingly reasonable.

pragmaticguy

If the floor underneath the tiles isn't in too bad a shape you can buy peel and press tiles after pulling up the ones that are there at present. You can do this yourself. Otherwise, get a mat to put over them if they're just in one area.

MOD

I have to say, no good deed goes unpunished.

First: make sure your landlord approves of any work -regardless if you (the renter) is paying for it. Any work not approved, will probably break your lease terms and you can lose your deposit when you move out (yes, even if you are improving the place -landlords can be greedy diks)

Second: Really, how many years do you plan to stay there? A nice kitchen rug/mat (crate and barrel has some nice utility rugs) would tie you over for the next couple years. Pulling up the old linoleum, leveling it, grout and tile, supplies/labor... it does not come cheap.

In general, if you have that money to invest on paying for a new kitchen floor & you have a negligent landlord, maybe that money should go towards saving up for a nicer rental.

booklaw

Have you asked the landlord whether he'd be willing to allow you to deduct the specified cost of the new tiles from your rent, if you install them yourself or pay someone to install them for you?

He might want approval of the tile you select, so as to avoid patterns that might turn off prospective future tenants.

If you make it clear that you'd provide the labor to improve the apartment so that he can get better rent for it in the future, he might be more willing to bear the cost of the tiles.

ap

We have covered up the damaged tiles with a mat, so that the damage doesn't get worse. But the tiles are cracking in several spots now and we're tired of cleaning it up. Plus, we're concerned that our landlord will deduct the damage to the tiles from our security deposit when we move out (next year, possibly). Hence, we thought it best to replace them.

Thanks for the advice about getting his approval before we do any upgrades or repairs. Cheap bastard that he is, he'd probably find a way to deduct it from our deposit.

His argument on the matter: "Everything was in perfect shape when you moved in." Of course, we've lived here 2 years--things wear out, stop working, etc. He doesn't care. He gave us an apt. with everything in perfect working order and any maintenance or repairs required are our responsibility. Dick.

pragmaticguy

I live in a two family house with absentee landlord. Been there six years and anything that needs repair I either do myself or pay for. Having been a homeowner for 23 years at one point I just figure he didn't break it so he shouldn't pay to repair it. Try asking if the landlord has any extra of the tiles you need. They're easy to put down. Just some vinyl cement after getting the old ones out. It's doubtful you'll find the same kind and you don't want to have to replace the whole floor. Otherwise it'll probably be cheaper to lose your security than have the old floor ripped up and replaced.

You can try calling the building dept and have an inspector come out to see if there's a violation but the landlord would probably make your life hell afterwards.

mantic

Linoleum tiles usually crack for two reasons. They are old or the subfloor is shifting due to age and/or settling of the structure.

File a complaint with HPD, hope an inspector comes in a reasonable time and files a violation. Then stop paying the rent (holding it in escrow) till he either fixes it or takes you to court. Then more inspectors will come out, make sure you point out everything that is wrong to pile on more violations and the judge will tell him to fix it and you to pay . It will take a few months. Or call the land lord and tell him to avoid all of the above come to an agreement of what it should cost to repair, if he has any one to refer to do the work and you will deduct the cost from the rent. The object is to let him know that you have all of the sudden been educated and know how to make his life as a landlord hell with the courts. Get him to understand that it is better to just work something out now than him spending extra money and time fighting you legally. After he agrees buy him a beer and be friends.