Pets, claws and flooring choices

Djelibeybi · Jan 21, 2008 3:56 pm

Hey gang,

Need a little advice on good flooring choices for our situation. We have two dogs (Jack Russell terrier and golden retriever) and we're looking for a hard floor for our house that isn't going to be damaged by their claws. We do our best to keep them well-groomed, but the darn things grow too quickly!

My partner wants to tile the entire living area, because they're really hard to damage, but I don't like the look. I'd prefer a timber-look floor, but we're not sure how strong they are up against pet claws.

Any advice? Suggestions on products? We're not going to use carpet (except for the home theatre) because neither my partner nor I enjoy vacuuming and the carpets just become a major fur trap.

Thanks!

Tam · Jan 21, 2008 4:19 pm

I was of the same opinion when I built my home six months ago. I put timber floorboards throughout most areas thinking how much easier it would be.

Now I wished I could go back and carpet more areas. I find my dog hair flies around the floorboards much easier than carpets which on carpet can easily be vacuumed. I have tried many mops and brooms etc and still a couple of hours after there is hair and dust around :evil:

I was worried about scratches from the dog but my flooboards must be strong enough to withstand this as she is inside everynight and runs up and down the hallway.

Helyn · Jan 21, 2008 4:49 pm

I had a floating floor installed on my kitchen and hallway about 3 years ago, for most of that time I had an indoor dog, we probably didn't get around to clipping her claws as often as we should have and had no problems whatsoever caused by this. Actually had no problems with the floor at all from any cause.

Michelle · Jan 21, 2008 4:55 pm

This is a question that gets asked a lot.

To me the only sturdy floor to take the claws would be tiles, or a good commercial vinyl.

However, although carpet does seem to have less obvious signs of pet hair, if not clean PROPERY often, it can build up, as well as dust.

At least when you suck it all off a hard surface you know you have it all!

Carpets are great, but they must be maintained properly if you have pets in the house.
Timber? I’m yet to see one that doesn’t eventually scratch, but you have to love them, they look great!

Michelle · Jan 21, 2008 4:59 pm

Helyn

I had a floating floor installed on my kitchen and hallway about 3 years ago, for most of that time I had an indoor dog, we probably didn't get around to clipping her claws as often as we should have and had no problems whatsoever caused by this. Actually had no problems with the floor at all from any cause.

That’s great!

Floating floors can be repaired.

Glade you had no problems, they are one of the most popular timber flooring.

Helyn · Jan 21, 2008 9:20 pm

Yes, we did get spare "tiles"( not sure what you call floating floor pieces) which could easily replace any damaged ones, simple DIY job, but in 3 years have not had any damage to any to need to do this.

Djelibeybi · Jan 21, 2008 9:23 pm

Helyn

Yes, we did get spare "tiles"( not sure what you call floating floor pieces) which could easily replace any damaged ones, simple DIY job, but in 3 years have not had any damage to any to need to do this.

Do you have links to the actual product? I'm not sure what the difference between a floating floor and normal timber flooring is. I'm a bit of a noob about these things.

Michelle · Jan 21, 2008 9:23 pm

Helyn

Yes, we did get spare "tiles"( not sure what you call floating floor pieces) which could easily replace any damaged ones, simple DIY job, but in 3 years have not had any damage to any to need to do this.

Their called PLANKS, thats good to know!!!!!

Michelle · Jan 21, 2008 9:28 pm

Djelibeybi

Helyn

Yes, we did get spare "tiles"( not sure what you call floating floor pieces) which could easily replace any damaged ones, simple DIY job, but in 3 years have not had any damage to any to need to do this.

Do you have links to the actual product? I'm not sure what the difference between a floating floor and normal timber flooring is. I'm a bit of a noob about these things.

floating floors
http://www.floatingfloors.com.au/

http://www.infolink.com.au/dir/Floating-Floors

reall timber
http://www.harmonytimberfloors.com/faq1.html

royalblue · Jan 21, 2008 11:45 pm

Cork with a good polyurethane is another option. It is softer & more resilient than timber, but with many of timber's qualities.

Sometimes, when you think of HARD WEARING, a surface with some softness is what's called for. It gives when impacted (claws or whatever) rather than being hard and unforgiving. Sort of like branches of a tree that flex in hard wind, rather than being rigid and snapping under pressure.

Ash.

Yak_Chat · Jan 22, 2008 1:36 am

Quote:

Cork with a good polyurethane is another option. It is softer & more resilient than timber, but with many of timber's qualities.

And cork is going to be very much in surplus as the real cork wine bottle market changes to stelvins (screw tops) and synthetic corks.
Steve