What is the best flooring to have for 3 very active dogs. Hardwood, cork, tile, bamboo?

Question

I'm looking for safety, durability and cost.

Answer 1

tile - here's why.

because dogs are 'accident' prone and every other surface that you have just listed can absorb moisture and odors.

another option would be some sort of linoleum or vinyl tiles. They are less expensive.

Stay away from Pergo or anything remotely similar. It does not hold up. It's a nightmare waiting to happen.

I install flooring among other things this is not a guess. Good luck. Great question!

Answer 2

I can only speak from my own experience. I have a bamboo floor in my hallway which scratches easily, as I have dogs also . The installer advised me Oak floors are the best choice for durability and the most scratch resistant and it also depends on how many coats of Polyurethane sealer are applied.
Cork is becoming more popular these days and it would be less noisy than a hardwood floor. Again the amount of sealer coats is important. My Installer recommends no less than 10 coats for duarbility on all floors ,Hardwood and Cork

Tile is very durable and depending on the cost per square foot can be just as expensive as Hardwood floors but colder looking in a living area. plus the grout has to be kept clean

I plan on installing Oak floors for my living area as I have dogs myself and place an area rug in the seating area for coziness. Hope this helps

Answer 3

they are not really going to damage the tile, but it can be expensive. also, if you have kids, tile makes for a hard landing. if you want the hardwood look, pergo or other laminate flooring resists scratching better than real wood. no matter what you go with, make sure to buy several extra boxes of the same lot so that if you have any repairs to do later on the colors will match.

Answer 4

Ceramic tile is a good choice, Bamboo is okay for areas like bathrooms / kitchens / laundry areas: visibly fine for moisture but when it comes to urine with your pets it would be a good choice to stick with the tile because the blood within the urine travels into the flooring material and traps a red stain and this forever lasting smell which gets burried into the underlayment of the floor and rests forever. Contact a Professional Handyman to install your flooring needs... http://geocites.com/mrfix_ithandymanservice/index.html

Answer 5

It really depends on how much attention to your floors you will be able to give. Hardwood floors and pets can live together in harmony, for instance, but it takes a lot more attention than if you decide to install lino tile or laying down rugs.

All flooring will be placed under a certain amount of stress when it comes to your pets. Nail abrasion, accidents, and water dish spills will all affect your flooring, no matter what the type. Your decision can also depend on how much freedom you decide to give to your dogs - some disallow pet traffic in the areas where flooring might be vulnerable in order to lengthen the health and look of the floor. Some train their pets to keep on the rugs and runners which are laid down in high-traffic areas. But, again, this depends on how much time you have to give to see to this type of thing.

One thing to remember - when it comes to pets and flooring, there is no such thing as a no-maintenance scenario. So some general rules to follow might be to keep their nails short at all times, watch out for accidents and don't let them sit for any extended period of time, watch out for water dish spills, and use runners and rugs in high traffic areas. Which ever flooring option you decide to go with, keeping the above in mind is a good idea.

Answer 6

For cost vinyl tile or sheet is the cheapest.

I personally have hardwood in my home. As long as you keep it relatively clean, it'll last you ages. I like it becuase it doesn't tear or peel up like vinyl. I will caution that liquids (i.e. dog urine) left standing on hardwood will damage it.

Answer 7

I have stone floors and very expensive carpeting. Yes, it cost a fortune to have installed. However, it is in perfect condition and never stains. I have a VERY large dog, another dog, and a cat, all of which are quite active and live indoors.

Answer 8

Tiles crack and chip, Concrete Painted with an epoxy coating. (comes in various colors) Won't chip, peel, crack, or stain. It's the perfect flooring for a leaky car.... or leaky dogs. Mop or hose off to clean.

Answer 9

I have a laminate floor tile in my kitchen and it is holding up very well. It is easy to install, it is laid over a cushion type thing, easy to clean, and holds up very well. It is like Pergo only made in America.

Answer 10

ceramic tiles or laminate flooring and lino is good but doesn't look that nice in a sitting room more ideal for kitchen