If you switched to hardwood or laminate tell me you love it - YorkieTalk.com Forums

cinnamonmon · 07-31-2008, 07:55 PM

I have been wanting to get rid of my nasty carpet for so long and now that Im a day away from putting the money down on my hardwood floors, I am freaking out. In a way I dont have a choice...I cant live with this carpet anymore and even though I could recarpet it would end up looking the same in a year or so. I considered laminate also but the price difference was little enough that I decided on the better investment.
Tell me that you love your hardwood. If your dog still has accidents has it hurt the hardwood? What is the best way to clean it? I have 3 dogs so someone always seems to have a problem. Im hoping though with the carpet up they wont be tempted to go again in the same places.

my2boyz · 07-31-2008, 08:02 PM

When we first got our laminate about 2 years ago I loved it. However, now I would tell you this...it looks great when it's clean and if you never walk on it again! When the dogs come in with wet feet it's like being on ice and you can't mop it without drying and polishing it or it streaks and leaves water marks. Laminate is a ton of work...we regret ever putting it in our house...it will most likely be replaced with hardwood at some point. I can say it's holding up well though...all these doggie feet and claws but no scratches!

mistyinca · 07-31-2008, 08:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cinnamonmon

I have been wanting to get rid of my nasty carpet for so long and now that Im a day away from putting the money down on my hardwood floors, I am freaking out. In a way I dont have a choice...I cant live with this carpet anymore and even though I could recarpet it would end up looking the same in a year or so. I considered laminate also but the price difference was little enough that I decided on the better investment.
Tell me that you love your hardwood. If your dog still has accidents has it hurt the hardwood? What is the best way to clean it? I have 3 dogs so someone always seems to have a problem. Im hoping though with the carpet up they wont be tempted to go again in the same places.

I've had both. I have had the laminate, and I loved it. But when my refrigerator's water line broke while we were out of town, it was ruined. We put in real wood to replace it, and I love that even more. I have pictures of both...

The first picture is the old floor with the laminate (Wilsonart Northern Birch)...

if-you-switched-hardwood-laminate-tell-me-you-love-entry.jpg

The Second picture is the new floor with solid maple (Lauzon Natural maple, micro v)

if-you-switched-hardwood-laminate-tell-me-you-love-new-entry.jpg

What I really like about the new wood was that we got new baseboards and did away with the quarter-round--notice on the old floor the wood strip next to the baseboards. I think the new look is much cleaner.

Chloe has peed on both floors--more times on the laminate than the wood because she was trained by the time we got the wood. If you still have lots of accidents, I would not get micro v (bevel) on real wood, (if you get real wood) because it creates a little dip that the pee could sink into. Both will hold up fine if any pee is cleaned up right away. On laminate, your biggest worry is any liquid setting on the seams.

Let me add, that I never had a problem with streaks on my laminate. I used the same thing I use now on the hardwood floor--that is a star mop with the hardwood and laminate spray from home depot...both have been the easiest floors to clean!

Nancy1999 · 07-31-2008, 08:06 PM

We have hardwood and I love it. It has a special finish called Waterlox, and the finish has tung oil in it which sinks down deep into the pores of the wood so scratching isn't a problem, and the polyurethane in it, keeps any moisture from getting into the wood. It's very easy to keep up.

C C Kent · 07-31-2008, 08:25 PM

We have hardwood and tile. We love it, it does show dirt faster than carpet but at least you can get it clean. We had carpet to start with but after a few years it was really bad and I installed the hardwood myself. When someone does go on the hardwood it doesn't stain and it cleans up easily. I just use the PH Neutral that I use to clean their play area and crates. One thing I wish I would have known going in is that sun will fade the finish. Window tint would be a good investment, otherwise it really shows up when you change the size of a rug.

Mom to Hot Rod · 07-31-2008, 10:35 PM

Have had all three. Had a cat with litter box issues. Ruined carpet and laminate--even though laminate was supposed to be impervious. Laminate was definitely easy to keep clean but got very slippery sometimes. Love the hardwood...not hard to clean at all with Bruces wood floor cleaner.

LuvMySissy · 08-01-2008, 04:57 AM

I love my laminate floors. I think they are very easy to keep clean and no scratches at all!!!!

MyPeanutAbbyGra · 08-01-2008, 05:18 AM

We JUST put laminate in our hallway and kitchen and have hardwood in our living room, dining room and master bedroom. Our hardwoods are old and in need of refinishing, so right now, if there's anything spilled on it, it shows. We are getting ready to refinish them and I hope to put the thickest coat of polyurethene down on it ever! I've only had the laminate since the weekend, but so far I find it's easy to clean. I used the bruce's cleaner and a microfiber mop. My parents and brother both have laminate and they love it and it's held up well.

fufufashions · 08-01-2008, 05:34 AM

I have had the Pergo Laminate in the kitchen for about 10 years. It is still holding up well to scratches but pp that got in a few of the cracks bubbled it up and never went down. I am ripping all the carpet and Pergo out in a few weeks and replacing the entire downstairs with the vinyl planks that look just like real wood. With 60 little toenails running all over the place, i was afraid of the real wood plus mine still have accidents occasionally. I can't wait to get it and get this carpet OUT!! I will keep the stairs carpeted since the girls need the traction but i want to replace all the carpet upstairs with the vinyl too. I'll keep carpet in the bedrooms.
This was a good option for us. This floor guy said laminate can grow all kinds of yucky stuff underneath it.

If you want the wood look without the worries, be sure and check out the vinyl planks...they are installed just like the hardwoods with the same look.

BamaFan121s · 08-01-2008, 05:36 AM

I would love it if I had it...

Erinmay · 08-01-2008, 05:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cinnamonmon

I have been wanting to get rid of my nasty carpet for so long and now that Im a day away from putting the money down on my hardwood floors, I am freaking out. In a way I dont have a choice...I cant live with this carpet anymore and even though I could recarpet it would end up looking the same in a year or so. I considered laminate also but the price difference was little enough that I decided on the better investment.
Tell me that you love your hardwood. If your dog still has accidents has it hurt the hardwood? What is the best way to clean it? I have 3 dogs so someone always seems to have a problem. Im hoping though with the carpet up they wont be tempted to go again in the same places.

We bought our first house October '06 and haven't had the time or money to put in new floors yet - every room (except the bathroom) has the real hardwood AND the last owners had two boxers that destroyed the hallway with their nasty potty habits

Incidently, that's where Maggie goes too... Regardless of what may seep between the floor boards, it's still waaaaay easier to clean up than the messes on the area rugs I have

Sky Fox · 08-01-2008, 05:48 AM

We have four boys and live ON the beach and I can honestly say laminate floors are the BEST. Carpet is nasty - in my opinion too. Much like wearing the same clothes year after year - never really able to wash them.

Here is an image of my lil girl and the type of floors I had installed when we built. The entire house is hardwood except for the forier and bathrooms - which are 24x24 inch marble. If your baby goes pee pee and you somehow miss it - unlike real wood - the laminate floors hold up! Honestly!

And even when the floor is nasty - it still looks clean and nice hehe - thats priceless! Feel good about your decision - your life is about to change forever! Im so happy for you!

I dont generally post but had to testify for my hardwood floors - Amen! With four boys and mine being the house where all of the kids in the neighborhood hang out - and my lil girl - my floors look clean even when I know they arent.

You have made one great decision! Im so happy for you!

Here is an image I took just the other day. Im embarrassed to say - I know the floors havent been done since we lost our housekeeper (she didnt pass - went to help raise grandson - good thing!). So - I would say they havent been done since June.

Of course I have swept but no elbow grease is what I mean - yet - no one could ever tell it.

Anyway - heres my lil girl on my floor - the color and type I choose. Being a beach home I wanted it to have wider planks than normal and feel it turned out great! You be the judge! Congratulations!

teffiemoore · 08-01-2008, 05:57 AM

We replaced carpet all over a 3000sq ft home 2 years ago with real hardwood. We sold our home in November of 2007, and moved into an apt. over our business and put 1200sq ft of laminate. I can say I loved the real hardwood the best. It could have been the color difference. The real hardwood was a natural color and the laminate is a pecan color....BUT, anything is better than carpet!!! Any wet substance will buckle up the seams in laminate though... Good luck. Carpet and Yorkies is a nasty combination.

meli · 08-01-2008, 06:11 AM

I just put down 1300 sq ft of laminate flooring and ripped out my vinyl and carpet. I can already tell you that I wish I did hardwood but money was a factor and the fact that I also have a rottwieler which I am certain would ruin hardwood. The thing that is bothering me about laminate is the moisture issue. My husband locked the cat in a room overnight w/o a litterbox and I have already replaced 4 boards due to urine getting inbetween the boards and curling the boards not to mention that cat urine stinks to heck and back. Granted that it is a weird error he made but still it demonstrates how fragile those seams can be. That urine sat overnight. That being said, it is FAR FAR better than carpeting any day of the week! Since we installed it all ourselves and bought it at Lumber Liquidators for a super great price on the best laminate the sell, it was much cheaper than carpeting and new vinyl.

This is how I am dealing with the potty pad situation though. I put down a potty pad (I use washable pads from PersonallyPaws that are waterproof backed) to absorb and misses of the upper pad, then I lat down a plastic crate bottom the size of my potty pads, then I lay a potty pad in the crate bottom. My male puppy has a red fire hydrant that he pees against that is stood in the center of the potty pad. So far it is working well. They do try to pee on the edges of the pads so I need the bottom pad to catch the occassional misses. I am very anal about cleanliness so this may look like overkill but it works for me. I also lay a pad under the litterbox to catch litter.

Lovin' Gracie · 08-01-2008, 02:17 PM

I'm with Nancy 1999---hardwood with the heavy-duty polyeurathene coating is the best. Our hardwood has been down for 11 years---with a coating called "Street Shoe"---doesn't matter what spills or what drops on it or who walks on it---it still looks brand new. That stuff is impenetrable! And all I need to do is dustmop it!

07-31-2008, 07:55 PM	#1
cinnamonmon Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: cincinnati Posts: 163	If you switched to hardwood or laminate tell me you love it I have been wanting to get rid of my nasty carpet for so long and now that Im a day away from putting the money down on my hardwood floors, I am freaking out. In a way I dont have a choice...I cant live with this carpet anymore and even though I could recarpet it would end up looking the same in a year or so. I considered laminate also but the price difference was little enough that I decided on the better investment. Tell me that you love your hardwood. If your dog still has accidents has it hurt the hardwood? What is the best way to clean it? I have 3 dogs so someone always seems to have a problem. Im hoping though with the carpet up they wont be tempted to go again in the same places.

07-31-2008, 08:06 PM	#4
Nancy1999 Joey's Mom Donating Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Chandler, Arizona Posts: 4,935 Blog Entries: 1	We have hardwood and I love it. It has a special finish called Waterlox, and the finish has tung oil in it which sinks down deep into the pores of the wood so scratching isn't a problem, and the polyurethane in it, keeps any moisture from getting into the wood. It's very easy to keep up. __________________ NancyJoey . Proud members of the CrAzYcLuB .and YAP - Join YAP Here! Please Sign this Petition – Help Stop Puppymill Abuse! . YorkieTalk Thread On Petition Last edited by Nancy1999; 07-31-2008 at 08:10 PM.

07-31-2008, 08:25 PM	#5
C C Kent YT Addict Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Missouri Ozarks Posts: 335	We have hardwood and tile. We love it, it does show dirt faster than carpet but at least you can get it clean. We had carpet to start with but after a few years it was really bad and I installed the hardwood myself. When someone does go on the hardwood it doesn't stain and it cleans up easily. I just use the PH Neutral that I use to clean their play area and crates. One thing I wish I would have known going in is that sun will fade the finish. Window tint would be a good investment, otherwise it really shows up when you change the size of a rug. Last edited by C C Kent; 07-31-2008 at 08:26 PM. Reason: spelling

07-31-2008, 10:35 PM	#6
Mom to Hot Rod Donating YT 3000 Club Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: MD Posts: 3,363	Have had all three. Had a cat with litter box issues. Ruined carpet and laminate--even though laminate was supposed to be impervious. Laminate was definitely easy to keep clean but got very slippery sometimes. Love the hardwood...not hard to clean at all with Bruces wood floor cleaner. __________________ Hot Rod Maggie May Always in my Zoe Proud member of the CrAzYcLuB ......"The Little Gentlemen's Club"

08-01-2008, 04:57 AM	#7
LuvMySissy Luv my Angel, too! Donating Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Michigan Posts: 8,178	I love my laminate floors. I think they are very easy to keep clean and no scratches at all!!!! __________________ Jodie, Sissy & Angel Proudly dressin' your furkids at: www.sissyangelwear.com Members of the CRAZY Club!

07-31-2008, 08:02 PM	#2
my2boyz Donating YT 1000 Club Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: USA Posts: 2,947	When we first got our laminate about 2 years ago I loved it. However, now I would tell you this...it looks great when it's clean and if you never walk on it again! When the dogs come in with wet feet it's like being on ice and you can't mop it without drying and polishing it or it streaks and leaves water marks. Laminate is a ton of work...we regret ever putting it in our house...it will most likely be replaced with hardwood at some point. I can say it's holding up well though...all these doggie feet and claws but no scratches!

08-01-2008, 05:18 AM	#8
MyPeanutAbbyGra I love my baby girls! Donating Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Indiana Posts: 2,541	We JUST put laminate in our hallway and kitchen and have hardwood in our living room, dining room and master bedroom. Our hardwoods are old and in need of refinishing, so right now, if there's anything spilled on it, it shows. We are getting ready to refinish them and I hope to put the thickest coat of polyurethene down on it ever! I've only had the laminate since the weekend, but so far I find it's easy to clean. I used the bruce's cleaner and a microfiber mop. My parents and brother both have laminate and they love it and it's held up well. __________________ Tammy, Mama to Abby Grace Daisy Mae RIP Peanut & Chloe, ABBY 's WINSTON Within the heart of every stray Lies the singular desire to be loved

08-01-2008, 05:34 AM	#9
fufufashions LEADER OF MyPACK Donating Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Sugar Land Texas - Where there is no Equal! Posts: 2,727	we are getting Vinyl planks I have had the Pergo Laminate in the kitchen for about 10 years. It is still holding up well to scratches but pp that got in a few of the cracks bubbled it up and never went down. I am ripping all the carpet and Pergo out in a few weeks and replacing the entire downstairs with the vinyl planks that look just like real wood. With 60 little toenails running all over the place, i was afraid of the real wood plus mine still have accidents occasionally. I can't wait to get it and get this carpet OUT!! I will keep the stairs carpeted since the girls need the traction but i want to replace all the carpet upstairs with the vinyl too. I'll keep carpet in the bedrooms. This was a good option for us. This floor guy said laminate can grow all kinds of yucky stuff underneath it. If you want the wood look without the worries, be sure and check out the vinyl planks...they are installed just like the hardwoods with the same look. __________________ Linda and my MPACK - MEIAH PRINCESS ANGEL CANDY & KISSY FuFuFashions & Healthy Dog & Cat Food and Treats - FREE SAMPLES AVAILABLE

08-01-2008, 05:36 AM	#10
BamaFan121s YT 3000 Club Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Alabama Posts: 7,970	I would love it if I had it... __________________ ...........Misty........... Trixie * Lexi * Chipsie

08-01-2008, 05:48 AM	#12
Sky Fox BANNED! Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Marathon Key, FL USA Posts: 143	Carpet is Yuck! We have four boys and live ON the beach and I can honestly say laminate floors are the BEST. Carpet is nasty - in my opinion too. Much like wearing the same clothes year after year - never really able to wash them. Here is an image of my lil girl and the type of floors I had installed when we built. The entire house is hardwood except for the forier and bathrooms - which are 24x24 inch marble. If your baby goes pee pee and you somehow miss it - unlike real wood - the laminate floors hold up! Honestly! And even when the floor is nasty - it still looks clean and nice hehe - thats priceless! Feel good about your decision - your life is about to change forever! Im so happy for you! I dont generally post but had to testify for my hardwood floors - Amen! With four boys and mine being the house where all of the kids in the neighborhood hang out - and my lil girl - my floors look clean even when I know they arent. You have made one great decision! Im so happy for you! Here is an image I took just the other day. Im embarrassed to say - I know the floors havent been done since we lost our housekeeper (she didnt pass - went to help raise grandson - good thing!). So - I would say they havent been done since June. Of course I have swept but no elbow grease is what I mean - yet - no one could ever tell it. Anyway - heres my lil girl on my floor - the color and type I choose. Being a beach home I wanted it to have wider planks than normal and feel it turned out great! You be the judge! Congratulations! Attached Thumbnails

08-01-2008, 05:57 AM	#13
teffiemoore Donating YT 500 Club Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Texas Posts: 736	We replaced carpet all over a 3000sq ft home 2 years ago with real hardwood. We sold our home in November of 2007, and moved into an apt. over our business and put 1200sq ft of laminate. I can say I loved the real hardwood the best. It could have been the color difference. The real hardwood was a natural color and the laminate is a pecan color....BUT, anything is better than carpet!!! Any wet substance will buckle up the seams in laminate though... Good luck. Carpet and Yorkies is a nasty combination. __________________ Steph & Furkids,Yogi, Bogus, and Suki www.dogster.com/?320202 www.dogster.com/dogs/778799 Join YAP Here! "Animals are the most agreeable freinds"..

08-01-2008, 06:11 AM	#14
meli Yorkie Talker Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: canonsburg, pa usa Posts: 22	I just put down 1300 sq ft of laminate flooring and ripped out my vinyl and carpet. I can already tell you that I wish I did hardwood but money was a factor and the fact that I also have a rottwieler which I am certain would ruin hardwood. The thing that is bothering me about laminate is the moisture issue. My husband locked the cat in a room overnight w/o a litterbox and I have already replaced 4 boards due to urine getting inbetween the boards and curling the boards not to mention that cat urine stinks to heck and back. Granted that it is a weird error he made but still it demonstrates how fragile those seams can be. That urine sat overnight. That being said, it is FAR FAR better than carpeting any day of the week! Since we installed it all ourselves and bought it at Lumber Liquidators for a super great price on the best laminate the sell, it was much cheaper than carpeting and new vinyl. This is how I am dealing with the potty pad situation though. I put down a potty pad (I use washable pads from PersonallyPaws that are waterproof backed) to absorb and misses of the upper pad, then I lat down a plastic crate bottom the size of my potty pads, then I lay a potty pad in the crate bottom. My male puppy has a red fire hydrant that he pees against that is stood in the center of the potty pad. So far it is working well. They do try to pee on the edges of the pads so I need the bottom pad to catch the occassional misses. I am very anal about cleanliness so this may look like overkill but it works for me. I also lay a pad under the litterbox to catch litter.

08-01-2008, 02:17 PM	#15
Lovin' Gracie Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Northern Virginia Posts: 123	I'm with Nancy 1999---hardwood with the heavy-duty polyeurathene coating is the best. Our hardwood has been down for 11 years---with a coating called "Street Shoe"---doesn't matter what spills or what drops on it or who walks on it---it still looks brand new. That stuff is impenetrable! And all I need to do is dustmop it!