LESLIE: We’re going to talk to Dick in Virginia. What’s happening with the flooring at your house?
DICK: Well, it’s stretching away from the wall.
LESLIE: OK, what type of flooring do you have in there?
DICK: It’s a sheet vinyl flooring and in two places it is pulling away from the wall. In one place it’s about an inch-and-a-half and another about, oh, three-quarters-of-an-inch.
TOM: Oh wow, that’s a lot. Now you’re sure it’s not the wall moving away from the floor. (all chuckle)
DICK: Right.
LESLIE: Wow, my house is growing. This is amazing.
TOM: I don’t think you’re going to get it to stretch back, Dick, so you’re going to probably have to replace that flooring.
LESLIE: How old is that floor?
DICK: Well, the house is 10 years old and the entire first floor is sheet vinyl.
TOM: Yeah, I think you’ve got a lot of shrinkage there. I don’t think you’re going to be able to be able to get it to stretch back. So we don’t have any miracle cure for you. I thought that you were going to tell me it was simply loose and peeling up. But if it’s actually shortened away from the wall that much and so much so that you can’t cover it with moulding – which, if it’s an inch away you certainly cannot – then you’re going to have to replace it.
DICK: Yeah. In a couple of places I can – I’ve got half-inch shoe moulding down; I can put one inch and cover it in a couple of places but it’s …
TOM: Yeah, I think it’s time to talk about new flooring for you, Dick. Yeah, you might want to think about looking at some laminate options. You can go right on top of that vinyl; looks great; much more maintenance free; super durable and it doesn’t shrink – most importantly for you.
DICK: Well, that’s bad news.
TOM: Yeah. Sorry, Dick.
LESLIE: Sorry, Dick.
DICK: OK.
TOM: But the good news is you’re going to get a new floor, Dick.
DICK: Right.
TOM: Think of it positively, man.
DICK: OK.
TOM: Alright. Go forth and improve that home. Thanks so much for calling us at 888-MONEY-PIT.
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