I would definitely wait until you can do everything. The asbestos mitigation complicates the issue - I'd prefer to go through it just once if I were you!

Professional asbestos removal and abatement costs a mint. There's extensive plastic sheeting and airlocks that go up, air testing, permit and inspection fees, etc. that will have to get done now and whenever you do the rest. You may have to move out for a few days. If you can put it off a couple years to do it all in one fell swoop, that'd be better.

Site finished hardwood will go well with older site finished hardwood. You will probably have to move out for some length of time depending on what kind of finish you choose.

Another option is budgeting for professional tile cleaning once or twice a year and for new wall to wall carpet (and pad) over the tile in the dining room. It could make more financial sense that doing the asbestos abatement process twice. Pro scrubbing equipment can clean out the nooks and crannies of those textured tiles quickly.

We're familiar with the asbestos abatement and not at all questioning doing this project in phases. It only "saves" a few hundred dollars to do it all at once, and the amount of money, planning, stress and labor to do it at once would be extreme. Nope.

For reference, our quote is just under $2k for tile and asbestos floor removal for a space about 36 x 54 and the powder room.

Professional cleaning seemed like a good idea to me too but I found it would cost hundreds of dollars, which I can't justify spending. If we like the tile, maybe. We will put the money toward replacement. Plus, I actually like how it looks better when it's dirty! It subdues the peachy glitteriness. That's pathetic, I know.

Moving on from that, it looks like hiring for site-finishing is the popular advice. That's where I thought it would go.

Anything else regarding this hardwood project?

I'm going out on a limb here by suggesting you find out what type of homeowner DIY asbestos removal is ALLOWED by your state/local community.

In the USA, there are some states (sorry - I don't live there so I don't know which ones allow this) allow a small square footage of homeowner DIY Asbestos mitigation. I know there is at least one state that allows (roughly) 135sf of DIY mitigation.

What materials does that 135 entail? I don't know. Does that include the asbestos filled cut-back adhesive? I don't know. How does it work? I don't know.

Because you are in 'investigation mode' and are looking at removing the hated tile in the hallway and mudroom, you *might be allowed to do it yourself....so long as your state/location allows it. You will have to investigate if your state allows it. You will have to follow the rules which includes landfill requirements for the 'bagged and tagged' asbestos tiles (and pay any fees required).

As for me, I would do everything ELSE...but not the asbestos tile. You can DIY hardwood install. In theory you can DIY sand/finish on your own. I would pick a match to your current hardwood (that means width, cut, species and grade) and then use a high-end water based poly to get you the toughest possible finish. You can leave the current hardwood alone until you can move your stuff to the other side of the house. You then sand/refinish the existing hardwood in the IDENTICAL finish. No stain. Stains are picky and it is near impossible to match a stain a year or so later (it takes a special refinisher to get it done).

Once you are ready for the kitchen RENOVATION you then demolish ALL the asbestos based tiles...with professional mitigation (assuming your state doesn't allow for DIY).

I know your DRIVE is to get the tile OUT....but it isn't in your budget to do so properly. And your kitchen renovation is NOT in your budget for a full kitchen flooring install. It doesn't make any sense to remove the hated-tile today (spending a few thousand on kitchen flooring) only to have to REDO the kitchen flooring when you do a complete gut in a few years. It is money wasted.

Those of us who have posted on Houzz long enough know this is going to happen. And I mean 98% chance you cannot save the replacement kitchen floor.

Ask youself: Will I have the finances in 7 years to redo the kitchen floors when I do a full gut of my kitchen? Will it bother me that I have different floors in the hallway/mudroom than in the kitchen when I do the kitchen reno?

Maybe you are misunderstanding my level of knowledge, experience or thoughtfulness on this home project. And I don't understand everything you are saying.

This is not true: "I know your DRIVE is to get the tile OUT....but it isn't in your budget to do so properly. And your kitchen renovation is NOT in your budget for a full kitchen flooring install. It doesn't make any sense to remove the hated-tile today (spending a few thousand on kitchen flooring) only to have to REDO the kitchen flooring when you do a complete gut in a few years. It is money wasted."

We can do this properly and will do this properly. We will not be removing asbestos ourselves. You do not know what is in our budget. We're not wasting our money. I take offense to all of your assumptions.

Your postings entitle you to be more knowledgable and disrespectful? "Save the replacement floor" is not clear to me- there is no replacement kitchen floor. You said "Those of us who have posted on Houzz long enough know this is going to happen. And I mean 98% chance you cannot save the replacement kitchen floor."

Really, do you think we have not considered our budget? Who said anything about a "full gut in 7 years?" Not me. Of course we've considered our floor choices. "Ask youself: Will I have the finances in 7 years to redo the kitchen floors when I do a full gut of my kitchen? Will it bother me that I have different floors in the hallway/mudroom than in the kitchen when I do the kitchen reno?"

Stop the assumptions and condescension.

Perhaps my assumptions came from the grammar in your post. I 'read' it to mean you wanted to do things in 'parcels'. You stated time lines for doing things in pieces. That often reveals budgetary concerns. If you were unclear, then I apologize for being unable to make out what it is you are trying to say/do.

What is your question? Is it, What is the order of business? Or are you more interested in, "-How shall we best match this classic oak flooring in the LR? The LR is near needing refinishing but definitely not necessary and we're using the space heavily with 5 of us working and educating at home."

And to be perfectly clear, I posted just before your post came up. I did not have a chance to read your response.

Again, my misunderstanding is directly due to the grammatical concerns in the post. If you took offence, then I wager the more aggressive houzzers are going to be a bit of a fright for you.

I wish you well. Remember: if you can't say what you mean, how can you mean what you say?

Either take the RRP classes to become certified to tackle this yourself, or move out, and get this all done at once. It’s not the cost of the specific removal task that makes it a nightmare to piecemeal. It’s all the logistics that go with it. You cannot occupy the house while this happens, and neither should your belongings. Do it once and do it right. Or do 20 square feet on a weekend, DIY, with a moon suit and positive air pressure double wall tent around the small section. Then wet cleaning it all.

Wow. This hardwood install question has taken a turn for the worst. Our questions have been clear all along, bulleted at the end of the post and I truly appreciate the individuals who take the time to read and answer those questions regarding the install of oak flooring. We often turn to Houzz for questions, concerns and ideas because of the experience of users and breadth of knowledge. Thank you to those who share that with respect, generosity and/or clarity. It's a wonderful resource.

Now, let's stop talking about asbestos, it's all taken care of safely by professionals. Thank you.

You can’t ignore the elephant in the room. And no, you’re not qualified to tackle this. You need multiple professionals.