Best flooring for living room when two dogs live here?

Katiehound

Must say since the hall carpet has gone the very very slight doggy whiff no longer greets me at the door. (unless there is a leaping dog!!) I have only just realised that fact- another tick in the box for the vinyl.
Mine is virtually a matt surface as it has quite distinct grain texture so that it isn't slippery. People in the shop told me to avoid a surface that was reflective - it would mean smooth and possibly skiddy.

paddypaws101

Out of interest...those of you with Amtico/Karndeean type flooring....can it be fitted over floorboards? I have it in my kitchen area but the floor is concrete.

elsien

Yes, pretty sure mums is over both concrete and floorboards.

ali-t

There has had to be a screed put down over plywood I think upstairs but more concrete poured on concrete downstairs

paddypaws101

ali-t wrote: »

There has had to be a screed put down over plywood I think upstairs but more concrete poured on concrete downstairs

I have Amtico downstairs....and the fitting was as expensive a the product. Part of that was laying a smooth screed over the existing concrete for the tiles to adhere to.
I need new flooring in one of my bedrooms but just cannot see how the Karndean/Amtico etc could be securely laid over floor boards...will look into this, thanks.

Spirit_2

We have had large hairy dogs for the last twent five years and have always had real wood flooring.

Currently light oak parquet which has been down 15 years. It has rugs on it and has been sanded and refurbished once in that time. Our sitting room is also the dogs bedroom.

Dogs do not slip, it is easy to clean (hoover usually) and it stays looking good.

ali-t

paddypaws101 wrote: »

I have Amtico downstairs....and the fitting was as expensive a the product. Part of that was laying a smooth screed over the existing concrete for the tiles to adhere to.
I need new flooring in one of my bedrooms but just cannot see how the Karndean/Amtico etc could be securely laid over floor boards...will look into this, thanks.

I think what the fitter did was laid plywood over the floorboards first but I can't be sure.

meritaten

paddypaws101 wrote: »

I have varnished old floorboards and although they have been well and truly battered by my gang of cats galloping around on them, I do think that it adds to the charm rather than looking too scruffy.
The strongest argument against carpets is IMHO, the smell! I just don't think you can ever totally expunge that doggy (or catty! ) smell from a carpeted house.

oh yes you can! as said before - buy Bicarbonate of Soda by the bucketload and use as 'shakeandvac' every day!

calicocat

I used to have carpet and also used the bicarb every week, it seemed to work and always asked friends if it had a doggy smell and no-one said it did. I had a small dog at the time though so no huge wet smelly lurkers padding around, when I had big dogs they were in the kitchen until dry.


I recently have laminate as have moved, and I have to say it does worry me. It's great for flinging balls around etc but I watch my elderly cat on it and cringe sometimes waiting for her to break a leg or put a hip out. I would have the same concerns for a dog. My plan is to eventually get two big rugs to put down so most of it is covered. Then in the future when I have a dog again I can roll it up if they are dirty until dry/clean etc ,but have the main covered for everyday.

Proper wooden floors are much better than laminate...but expensive.

krlyr

Calicocat, the Splendid Pets online shop sells cotton rugs and runners at reasonable prices - cheaper than the Turtle rugs. I have a large rug by the back door to catch wet feet, and I did have a runner running through the living room when we first moved here but ended up cutting it into a wide door mat by the front door instead (less rug to hoover!). They're rubber-backed, so don't slip or scrunch up either.