Flooring: What would suggest for flooring in a house full of animals?
by
Sybil
+20
I have been in this house for six years, we are in need of getting rid of the rug that was put in when it was made. I like the paper bag flooring. Syb
16 answers
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I choose laminate flooring. It is available in many colors, tiles and or planks. I find this the most durable with three dogs.
Janet Pizaro
on Oct 05, 2015
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My sister has the faux wood flooring and it holds up like a champ. If you get one that looks really good it can look like the real thing and yet it is much more practical and will withstand the wear and tear.
Susan
on Oct 05, 2015
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I don't like Laminate...it did not wear well with my pomeranians...I now have engineered distressed hardwood...and I love it.
Terry
on Oct 05, 2015
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I got mine...daily deal for .99 per square foot...easy install...I love it.
Terry
on Oct 05, 2015
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There is no reason for laminate flooring not to hold up Terry How old was the floor? I had one in my den for 18 years until I could not stand the color anymore.
Janet Pizaro
on Oct 05, 2015
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Please, please, please, for the love of heaven, DO NOT chose laminate! For what it is worth I HATE my laminate! It was a big, expensive mistake that I have regretted every single day since it was installed 5 1/2 years ago. I do not understand why laminate is so popular. Many people confuse laminate and vinyl. Laminate flooring is essentially pressed layers of fiberboard or pressboard with a pretty fake wood-looking pattern laminated on top. The majority of laminate flooring is super water-sensitive and that's why it is not recommended for bathrooms, kitchens or laundry rooms. Moisture is Enemy #1 of laminate so with a house full of pets, I predict it won't be long before you will be left with swollen, seams that can bubble and peel and you'll be replacing the flooring again. From my experience, laminate is the absolute worst option for households with pets because urine, vomit, wet feet, sloppy water bowl drinkers etc., can leave enough moisture on the floor to make the laminate seams bubble, buckle and peel if not cleaned up immediately. Our cat, who has a very sensitive stomach, threw up in the foyer and I didn't find it right away so I have bubbled seams there. I was not aware there was a leak under the threshold of the back door so before I knew it, the laminate right inside the door started to badly bubble and the top layer has started to peel now too. What a mess! It makes me mad every time I see it. Unfortunately, I also have it in my kitchen (biggest mistake ever!) and there are plenty of bubbled seams from little spills around the sink, drips from wet hands or dishes, rogue ice cubes that have dropped out of the refrigerator door dispenser after we've walked away and weren't picked up right away etc. Once the smallest amount of water gets down past that top laminated layer or between the seams, it's just like a cancer that eats away at the pressboard-like layers underneath. Laminate is also slippery and noisy to walk on. I recount this story often here on HomeTalk when people bring up the subject of laminate. We had 3 big German Shepherds (which have now all passed). Our laminate has the noise-reducing underlayment but still, the sound of 3 German Shepherds' 48 toenails constantly clicking across our laminate floors was enough to nearly drive me and my husband crazy. It was also incredibly slippery and hard for the dogs to walk on as they got older and less agile. I had to put down throw rugs in all the pathways just so they could get the traction to move from room to room. After our laminate was first put down, I also came so very close to falling a couple times, myself, when walking on it with slick-soled shoes. Now I only wear rubber-soled shoes or go barefooted in the house. With pets, I highly recommend solid vinyl, the vinyl planks that look like wood, or tile. Vinyl has come a long, long way in recent years. It is quite durable, some is water resistant and some is waterproof, and it is usually quite budget friendly. Vinyl and tile will both stand up really well to the wear and tear of pets, and the pet accidents that are bound to happen.
Shari
on Oct 05, 2015
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I agree buy a commercial grade vinyle plank. You will regret laminate.
Lisa love
on Oct 05, 2015
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I have had Laminate for 15 years and I love it. Terry,when you say engineered wood,it is a form of Laminate.Engineered is man-made.
Barbara C
on Oct 06, 2015
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I agree that laminate is not the answer. There are several options in vinyl plank and it is reasonably priced, easy to install, looks and feels like real wood AND if one or more planks is damaged, you can remove and replace only the damaged ones. I put it down in my den where my animals spend most of their time and it is a great look, a great product.
Marsha J. Mitchell
on Oct 06, 2015
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Concrete
Ginger
on Oct 06, 2015
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We recently laid down ceramic tile that looks like wood throughout our entire house and it looks great and very easy to clean. WE have 3 dogs in the house and this was a great answer.
Patty
on Oct 06, 2015
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bamboo, so easy to care for
Evelyn McMullen
on Oct 06, 2015
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Search and see what us very durable and easy to clean for you they have all kinds and styles out there that you may like
Kelly Clark
on Oct 06, 2015
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I agree with @Evelyn. Bamboo is actually harder than most wood floors. We recently installed it one of our bedrooms and love it. My hubby and son installed the whole room in a day. Hubby, who installed all the solid oak throughout our main level said he was sold on both the bamboo and the snap in. Before buying hardwood/bamboo, check the Janka rating. That higher the number, the harder the wood/bamboo
Z
on Oct 08, 2015
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If your pets have accidents, tile would be best, but if you are going for the wood floor, you will want real solid wood, not laminate flooring. Laminate is like a thin layer of wood over particle board so if it gets wet and doesn't get wiped up immediately it will swell up and the edges will curl. But if you want to do it yourself, I think the bag floor is an awesome idea too, but very time consuming and intensive.
Debellen
on Oct 09, 2015
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I would like some feed back about the use of cement stain sealant and stencils. I have seen alot of them on the internet, we are supporting and taking care of my 91 year old mother-in-law, she is in the last stages of Alzheimer, and has mistakes. We have been supporting other habits, our six cats. I am ashamed to have anyone over because it looks so bad. HELP!
Sybil
on Oct 14, 2015
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