Floor recommendations for a dog owner - Contractor Talk - Professional Construction and Remodeling Forum

speedster1 · 11-03-2008, 08:00 AM

I'm gonna have to replace the flooring in a new house I've purchased. I'm figuring tile in the kitchen, baths, and mudroom. But the rest of the house I've not decided. I have a 35 pound dog that likes to run and has pretty long nails (We trim them weekly but they really can't be trimmed shorter due to large quick).

I have a couple of concerns. I've always disliked carpet due to it's propensity to harbor filth, dust, hair, alergens, etc. But it is easy on the dog and he gets good traction.

I love hardwood but I'm concerned about having a dog run around all the time on it. I would think it would get trashed by his claws.

I think some laminate looks pretty good but I'm not in love with it like hardwood. I'm sure it would be more durable than hardwood but I'm a little concerned about repairing it if it ever gets boogered.

My last concern is that I've heard it's pretty rough on dogs and their joints to run around on hard surface floors like tile and HW. They are constantly sliding and slipping all over and run the risk of injuring themselves.

My current house is mostly carpet and some vinyl flooring. The dog is rough on the carpet but hasn't harmed the vinyl flooring at all.

I'm against putting vinyl flooring in becuase it's ugly, institutional, and doesn't do a thing for investment value.

Thoughts? Suggestions?

MALCO.New.York · 11-03-2008, 08:06 AM

Non smooth stone tile.

Hardwood is Horrible for an energetic/active dog due to the "wipe-out" factor!!!

Slip slidin' away!!!!

A "Raw" non-Polyed or Varnished Hardwood is doable and fairly safe for the pup!

silvertree · 11-03-2008, 08:14 AM

I did a good quality cork floor for a dog owner 5 years ago. Saw it after 4 years and it looked great. The maple engineered plank I did at the same time was all scratched up. Other than that Dura ceramic in a kitchen 2 years ago for a great dane customer, that is holding up well.

wizendwizard · 11-03-2008, 09:58 AM

I have to agree with Malco. The rough, nonslip stone tile is great. I have installed the product in the homes of quite a few dog owners and it works great for them.

Easily cleaned and will not absorb or hold moisture in case of accidental loss of bladder control. (My pet peave about using carpet,vct, hardwood or laminate.)

Jason W · 11-03-2008, 05:58 PM

Porcelain works well too. It won't scratch as easily as natural stone either. For carpeted areas, use low shag commercial grade. Much easier to clean up hair.

cleveman · 11-03-2008, 10:27 PM

You know that it is possible to put carpets on the tile floor?

Chris Johnson · 11-03-2008, 10:39 PM

Epoxy

rbsremodeling · 11-03-2008, 10:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chris Johnson

Epoxy

The sell an epoxy carpet?? does it roll out of a tube?

Mike Costello · 11-04-2008, 10:11 AM

MM Epoxy is so warm and inviting

Santos · 11-04-2008, 10:21 AM

Use the tile for the kitchen and the bathroom, use bamboo as a wood flooring for the rest of the house... Or if you don't like bamboo, then there is a great hard wood made in vermont that are large planks that u can refinish, they come in different sizes...

speedster1 · 11-04-2008, 10:39 AM

Thanks for the tips and suggestions.

I like tile in kitchens and baths, but thoughtout the whole house is a little too "institutional" for me. I will look into the rough textured tile for my kitchen and bath.

Whats the deal with cork flooring? Does it's natural softness help keep dog claws from scratching and denting it?

MALCO.New.York · 11-04-2008, 11:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by speedster1

Thanks for the tips and suggestions.

I like tile in kitchens and baths, but thoughtout the whole house is a little too "institutional" for me. I will look into the rough textured tile for my kitchen and bath.

Whats the deal with cork flooring? Does it's natural softness help keep dog claws from scratching and denting it?

Wrong "Cork" you are thinking of. Not like the "Bulletin Board", yet the same product.

" Cork floor tiles are comparable to parquet but with the added benefits of insulating against both temperature and noise. Imagine the perfect floor...beautiful to look at, yet easy to care for...quiet, soft and warm to the touch, yet durable enough to handle all kinds of traffic - pets, children, high heels... fashionable and fits any decor, yet insulates against sound, noise and temperature change. "

http://corkandfloor.com/images/dog.jpg

http://corkandfloor.com/

http://homerepair.about.com/od/inter...k_flooring.htm

speedster1 · 11-06-2008, 06:20 AM

Anyone familiar with 8mm single strip laminate flooring? Not necessarily this brand, but "single strip" laminate in general? One of the things I've always disliked about laminate was that the larger sheets made it look fake. But if this stuff goes down similar to standard tung and grove hardwood, it stands to reason it might have a more natural look to it while still retaining the toughness of laminate. I don't hear many good things about lumber liquidators but the reviews on it look positive. Unfortunately I can't post a link due to not having 15 posts but if you remove the space in the link below you'll see what I'm referring to.

lumberliquidators .com/catalog/product.jsp?productId=1826&categoryId=17&sectionId =4&subCategoryId=0

dokuhaku · 11-06-2008, 08:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Santos

...use bamboo as a wood flooring for the rest of the house...

I have not seen a bamboo floor yet that doesn't scratch simply by looking at it. I'm not sayin', I'm just sayin'.

s. donato · 11-06-2008, 08:44 AM

i have installed some of that single strip stuff from LL its not bad and i agree about the fake look of the multi strip type.

I know i had solid oak floors in my house and i have strategically placed rugs with rubber mats to help the "wipe out factor". i had a 95 pound dog and he wasn't the most energetic unless the doorbell rang. but even there was only a bunch of scratches in the floor after 4 years.

btw you can get the quick to reseed if you keep cutting shorter. i trimmed my dogs nails every other week and it was a pest, but i brought him to the vet to have it done so they would get right up the quick with out hurting him. with in a 6 month period his nails were able to be so much shorter and hardly did any damage. honestly i wish i had that pet nail infomercial thing now but don't have the dog or the house anymore so we will order one for the next dog.

speedster1 · 11-06-2008, 09:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by s. donato

i have installed some of that single strip stuff from LL its not bad and i agree about the fake look of the multi strip type.

I know i had solid oak floors in my house and i have strategically placed rugs with rubber mats to help the "wipe out factor". i had a 95 pound dog and he wasn't the most energetic unless the doorbell rang. but even there was only a bunch of scratches in the floor after 4 years.

btw you can get the quick to reseed if you keep cutting shorter. i trimmed my dogs nails every other week and it was a pest, but i brought him to the vet to have it done so they would get right up the quick with out hurting him. with in a 6 month period his nails were able to be so much shorter and hardly did any damage. honestly i wish i had that pet nail infomercial thing now but don't have the dog or the house anymore so we will order one for the next dog.

So all-in-all as far as laminate is conerned you'd recommend the single strip? Did ti go down easy and have the same durability as standard lam?

I had my dog at the vet a few weeks ago and asked her about his nails. She said that it's pretty easy to cut his nails short while he's under sedation as it doesn't hurt him. But he's pretty healthy and I have no reason to put him under. I should've had it done when we got him fixed.

**Floorwizard** · 11-06-2008, 01:23 PM

Quote:

I have not seen a bamboo floor yet that doesn't scratch simply by looking at it. I'm not sayin', I'm just sayin'.

Teregren is the best.
All wood, Cork Lam, and Bamboo WILL scratch anyway.

jamestrd · 11-08-2008, 10:37 PM

dont design your house around a 30 lb dog...

put waht gioves you the most ROI and more importantly, what your little heart desires...

wood floors are maintainbale and can be recoated in3- 5 years when needede.. when time to sell home, you can get flo0rs re sanded or recoated, depending upon damage or wear.

i really dont see a 30lb dog being a problem.. some area carpet stratyegically, runner placement etc

stay away from ANY Lumber lIquidator prodcut..

Bruce now has some gorgeuos laminates..been putting afew of them in lately.. Their reserve and Park avenue collections are very nice and reasonable..

speedster1 · 11-09-2008, 09:05 AM

Yeah you are probably right in terms of ROI. I've got a month or so to think about it.

I know big box stores aren't very popular on these boards but I am on a pretty tight budget. I stopped in Home Depot last night and they were selling 12" natural slate tile for $1.59 sq/ft. Could be a pretty good return on investment for some of the areas I plan on retiling. They also had some 18" travertine tiles on sale for $2.49 sq/ft. Might be a good option in the kitchen.

How good are Slate and Travertine vs porceline in kitchens bath and laundry?

I'm also going to head to one of these home improvement auctions in a couple of weeks. Maybe I'll luck into something there.

**genecarp** · 11-09-2008, 09:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by speedster1

Yeah you are probably right in terms of ROI. I've got a month or so to think about it.

I know big box stores aren't very popular on these boards but I am on a pretty tight budget. I stopped in Home Depot last night and they were selling 12" natural slate tile for $1.59 sq/ft. Could be a pretty good return on investment for some of the areas I plan on retiling. They also had some 18" travertine tiles on sale for $2.49 sq/ft. Might be a good option in the kitchen.

How good are Slate and Travertine vs porceline in kitchens bath and laundry?

I'm also going to head to one of these home improvement auctions in a couple of weeks. Maybe I'll luck into something there.

A bit more maintenance with trav and slate compared to porc. (sealers)