Totally agree on decking—learned that one the hard way myself. Had a deck built about five years ago, and we went mid-grade thinking it'd hold up fine with regular maintenance. Fast forward to now, and I'm dealing with warping boards and splintering edges...lesson learned.
On insulation, I've tried the eco-friendly cellulose stuff in our attic reno last year. Installation was pretty straightforward (though dusty!), and I did notice slightly better temperature consistency between rooms. But honestly, the difference wasn't huge compared to standard fiberglass batts we've used before. Good for peace of mind environmentally, but not sure it's worth the extra cash if budget's tight.
For flooring, we actually went with bamboo in our kitchen/dining area two years ago. At first, loved the look and how easy it was to clean—but durability-wise it's been mixed. Dropped a heavy pan once and ended up with a noticeable dent that's still bugging me every time I walk past it. Still looks great overall, but I'd probably lean toward engineered hardwood next time around for a bit more toughness.
Yeah, decking can definitely bite you if you try to cut corners. I've seen a lot of clients regret going cheaper there—it's one of those areas where quality really pays off long-term. Bamboo flooring's tricky too; looks fantastic but dents pretty easily under heavy use. Engineered hardwood usually holds up better, especially in kitchens. Good call on cellulose insulation though—it's decent stuff, but fiberglass is usually more budget-friendly if you're watching costs closely. Live and learn, right?
"Bamboo flooring's tricky too; looks fantastic but dents pretty easily under heavy use."
Yep, learned that the hard way on a recent build—looked amazing at first, but tenants trashed it in months. Honestly, vinyl plank surprised me: cheaper upfront, durable as heck, and clients seem happy enough...
Yep, learned that the hard way on a recent build—looked amazing at first, but tenants trashed it in months.
Vinyl plank really has come a long way lately. I used to be skeptical—thought it might look cheap or plasticky—but honestly, some of the higher-end stuff is pretty convincing. Had friends redo their lake house with it, and even their picky relatives couldn't tell at first glance. Plus, it's nice not having to stress every time someone drags a chair across the floor...
"Plus, it's nice not having to stress every time someone drags a chair across the floor..."
Exactly—peace of mind is priceless. Recently did a small reno with vinyl plank, and honestly, the savings let me splurge a bit on lighting and fixtures. Win-win all around.
