Luxury vinyl plank flooring/dogs?

Lynn
by Lynn

Let me just say, I hate making decisions, especially expensive ones we'll be stuck with for year! That said, trying to find the Vinyl plank flooring that crosses all the "Ts" is exhausting! I've researched and come up with so much conflicting information, so thought I'd check here to see if there are any flooring experts in the mix. We have hardwood now that has not done well with dogs and kids over the years. So Ive read for vinyl to hold up to this wear and tear, we need a minimum of 12ml wear layer (20 is better) with 8mm thickness. There aren't nearly as many choices with the 20ml as there are with 12ml, so wondered if the 12 will in fact hold up against big dogs? And is it ok to put this directly over hardwood floors (we don't want to refinish, not an option!). I did find some with a cork backing (Coretec) that meets the 20/8 component, but have seen mixed reviews on this brand. So confusing!! I'd like to hear from floor experts, or if anyone has actual experience with dogs and vinyl, I'd appreciate your input! Thanks!


  12 answers
  • William William on Sep 27, 2021

    Armstrong flooring...Luxury vinyl plank is an excellent choice for homes with furry companions. Our Vivero™ luxury flooring collection is one of the most resilient flooring products on the market featuring Diamond 10® Technology for long-lasting durability, easy cleaning and 100% waterproof planks which when exposed to water will not swell, buckle or lose integrity. See warranty for details. It comes in luxurious looks of wood, stone, slate and ceramic with a textured surface that’s not only convincingly real but provides slip resistance to padded paws.



    https://floorcritics.com/best-flooring-for-pets/


    https://flooringmegastore.co.uk/handy-stuff/pet-friendly-flooring-a-comprehensive-guide/

    • See 2 previous
    • 17335038 17335038 on Oct 01, 2021

      Are you planning to do the installation yourself, or are you planning to hire out?


      Sometimes the installation cost is a flat rate.

      However, keep in mind that the cost of installation in many areas is equal to the product cost, pr sq ft. So, if you choose a more expensive product, the installation cost may not be the same price as with a cheaper product; it may be higher.

  • Vimarhonor Vimarhonor on Sep 27, 2021

    Great question. Following replies.

    My traditional red Oak hardwood floor do not stand up to my 70#dog

    • Lynn Lynn on Sep 28, 2021

      We have the red oak as well and the traffic pattern is worn down below where it could be refinished in spots. The dogs created a racetrack basically! But 70 lbs of pup can do a number on a floor as well, I'm sure!


  • William William on Sep 27, 2021

    Building professionals tend to stick with a minimum of 12 mil for residential and 20 mil for commercial. You should look for vinyl planks with a wear layer of at least 12 mil. If you have an active family or an assemblage of pets, consider buying 20 mil or higher. Coretec flooring appears to be high quality flooring. Company was acquired by Shaw Floors. A leading manufacturer of all types of flooring. You can install it over any substrate. Including hardwood floors. No padding needed.

  • Cheryl A Cheryl A on Sep 28, 2021

    I know several folks who have taken up carpet and installed LVP flooring and love it- they have large dogs, kids and folks in and out all the time. They all say it is a breeze to clean and care for. None of them had the commerical type installed and have had no issues...we have it in one room of our house it looks like hand scrapped wood and we love it much easier than the hardwoods in our house to care for I use Once and Done floor cleaner for vinyl and tile flooring on it once a week and it looks brand new

  • Mogie Mogie on Sep 28, 2021

    Ideal Options for Dog-Friendly Wood Floors

    https://www.thespruce.com/best-wood-floors-for-dogs-1821864

  • Simple Nature Decor Simple Nature Decor on Sep 28, 2021

    I have it in my home and its great for my dogs, make sure its a quality one.

  • Kathy Gunter Law Kathy Gunter Law on Sep 29, 2021

    We are in the same process and when we went to Dalton GA (flooring mfg mecca) one of the stores used a wire brush and scrubbed it with no scratches. Not sure if anyone will let you do something like that but I think that's the one we are going with. It is waterproof so now it's a design choice. It is very taxing for sure.

  • Kmdreamer Kmdreamer on Sep 30, 2021

    I bought floating vinyl flooring that stands up to my three large dogs Pitbull, boarder collie , sharpe/ rotti mix all are large the floor is 3 years old now and no scratches from the dogs and it’s water proof, I purchased it from Costco they have a diffrent color now but same floor great stuff.

  • 17335038 17335038 on Oct 01, 2021

    Not all luxury vinyl plank flooring is water-proof.

    Some is rated as being only water-resistant.

    Read the fine print carefully.

  • I hear lots of people love it. I've always had hardwood and dogs and yes, they do get scratched but I've learned to accept it as the price of paws. That's just me personally though. In the end, hardwood has far better resale value, is much more durable, and I know you said refinishing is not in the budget, but maybe down the line it could be. I'd seek out the best quality vinyl I could fit budgetarily as quality varies significantly.

  • Dee Dee on Oct 01, 2021

    I totally agree with William my niece has the Armstrong and it is beautiful. Another brand to check out is Mowhawk,. A flooring friend of mine told me if you can scratch it with a key do not buy it. I am looking for the LVP too and these are the 2 products I choose. My problem is finding a good installer.

  • Lynn Lynn on Oct 01, 2021

    I have samples, so I'll try the key trick!! Thankfully we plan to install ourselves, otherwise we'd be in the same boat.