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. |
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! |
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The first picture is the old floor with the laminate (Wilsonart Northern Birch)... Attachment 234105 The Second picture is the new floor with solid maple (Lauzon Natural maple, micro v) Attachment 234106 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! |
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. |
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.:eek: |
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. |
I love my laminate floors. I think they are very easy to keep clean and no scratches at all!!!! |
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. |
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. :eek: 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. |
I would love it if I had it... |
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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 :rolleyes: 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 :D |
Carpet is Yuck! 1 Attachment(s) 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. :eek: Of course I have swept but no elbow grease is what I mean - yet - no one could ever tell it. :thumbup: 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! |
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. |
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. |
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! |
I have hardwood floors (better for resale than laminate, by the way, but I digress!). Archie has done little or no real damage to the floors. There is one spot we battle over, but for the most part, hardwoods and small dogs go together fine. I clean my floors with vinegar and water. I also just purchased this Bissell steam cleaner for hard floors (works on tile, wood, vinyl, etc.) It uses just clear water and steam and was recommended to me by a friend with three dogs who has both laminate and wood floors. BTW: MY hardwoods also have a coating, which the developer told me was the kind used on boats, so they hold up well to spills also. |
I have both laminate and real wood and so far I like the laminate better. When Scooter was learning about not peeing in the house (his previous owners let him pee anywhere) he peed on the real wood and it discolored the space between the planks. I've tried everything but it won't come out. We've had the laminate for several months and now we have a senior dog who forgets she's not outside and pees on the laminate. Fortunately I've gotten to it fairly soon after it happens but so far I've not noticed anything wrong and not smelled anything either. As far as cleaning the laminate, I started out using Bruce's floor cleaner but now I just mist it with a bottle of water and mop it up with a microfiber mop and no streaks, no spots, it comes out beautifully. We bought a brand new type of laminate by Armstrong that looks just like wood. It's very pretty. |
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I'm going to be making this transition soon... is there the same seam issue with hardwords? |
I put in cherry hardwood and have yet to regret it. The hardwood is just a big more expensive than the laminate but you will get your money's worth out of it. If I were to do it again I would go to the hardwood all over. Bamboo is doing well and is pretty good price wise as well. |
WE used to have all carpet, Ugh. a few years ago we did the house in hardwood, I love it. What makes it easier I found out with Nicholas is if I kept a puppy pad down he would always go to it to pee. Dogs seem to me to seek out a rug or something to pee on and don't pee on the hardwood. I purchased the washable peepads from Little Bit, a YT member and they are great, if I'm gone they use them. |
We have hardwood. Ash floors by Bellawood and I love them. They are 3 years old and are in great shape. Accidents wipe right up with Nature's Miracle. I really recommend them :) |
Can you tell me where you buy Street Shoe? |
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:DWhat a wonderful feeling to rip out old carpet! Last Wednesday 4 of us ripped out my old carpet and prepared for the installation of my new solid oak floor by Bruce. The installation process was long and drawn-out...but well worth the wait. Of course the boys had to christen the new floor before the installer left, but clean up is sooo easy with a paper towel. We may have issues if I don't get to it timely, but I should be able to. Best decision I ever made. It has changed my life completely. I cleaned them with a little Murphy's Oil Soap and they are sooooo beautiful. He just finished last night at 8:00, and I can't wait to get pictures to show you guys! Definitely go with a solid wood not an engineered wood, with a good warranty! |
i had real hardwood growing up and man do I miss it... I have carpet now and i think the hardwood is way better, especially with animals :thumbup: |
we have solid wood parquet floors. It looks beautiful when its clean and I lvoe walking barefoot on it. Through all the tough times I hadtraining sammy, it did not get ruined. THe only thing I don't like is you have to be SO careful to not scratch up the floor when your moving stuff. Other than that, I didn't even have a problem when Sammy would pee all over the place. |
What ever happened to the OP? |
We ripped up our carpet about 5 years ago, and I have to tell you that the floor underneath was much nicer than the carpet!!! We put in hardwood throughout the house (except for kitchen, bathrooms and foyer, which are tile). We love it. It is so easy to clean. Roomba goes through the house, then I just take my mop (by Bruce) and my Bruce hardwood cleaner and they look brand new. When Conner was a puppy, he did pee on them a few times, but did no damage. Wood floors are very forgiving, unlike carpet. Good luck to you with your new floors. |
Thanks everyone, I appreciate the input. I made the decision to go through with the hardwood despite the cost. Today I pulled up part of the old carpet, and , Oh My God! it was so disgusting. Even though I dont think my house or the top of the carpet smelled bad...underneath it was awful. I cant believe that was healthy for any of us to live like that. I will never, ever have carpet again as long as I have pets. I used to steam clean monthly too but obviously that didnt help at all. I cant wait to get the floors in but now have to spend the next few days pulling up about a milllion nails and staples. |
Yeah carpet is nasty. If you have hardwood floors, you know how dusty they get in one day. That same dust is getting on the carpet as well! I think that Hardwoods are just easier to keep clean in the long run. Yes, I love it! :p |
We put in laminate flooring in our kitchen, dining room, living room, hallway and family room (that was a garage that we converted last year). I love love love the floors! They are slippery but the kids love it and the cats love it because our yorkie cant get her grip on it enough sometimes to catch them! LOL!! Sadie has peed on the laminate and it wipes right up. Ive even missed a puddle of her pee before and found it days later and it still comes right up. No muss, no fuss! I am so glad we dont have carpet anymore because she pees on the carpet in the bedrooms sometimes and its a nightmare cleaning it and scrubbing it up. Ugh. |
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