Hi

Had a radiator leak in the lounge so having to have new flooring.  We are considering an oak floor.  What is champdoggers opinion of wooden flooring with dogs?

CarolW

I have Oak flooring throughout except my kitchen which is tiled.  big breeds will still mark the oak but it is not slippy like laminate.

I've got laminate in the living room (not our choice it was down when we moved in) but would love real oak flooring - I bet that is going to cost a fortune, oak is such a good quality wood & IMO never ages!  I personally think wooden flooring takes a bit longer to clean than carpet mainly beacuse you have to sweep it then to keep it looking good mop it with a wood soap & leave it to naturally dry, very time consuming!  Sometimes I'd love to whip the hoover round & be done!!!

Oak flooring so different to laminates to clean. Mines is hoovered daily and a quick mop over with a damp mop once a week.  Unless the dogs been running all over.   you don't have to use wood soap etc as it is sealed wood.  I use the   Liquid pledge or whatever it is called but only cause it smells nice.  It never looks dirty unlike laminate which to me looks marked most of the time. 

I think carpets 10 times as hard to keep that wooden flooring.. constant hoovering and cleaning it :-)

we have oak flooring same as other posts different to laminate non slippy easy to clean any marks scratches just give it character.

Well what do you want to know Carol.  I moved from a beautifully tiled house to an completely wooden house! 

The TTs don't scratch the oak floors at all, sadly dh does every time he scrapes his chair back at the table, but then he weighs quite a bit more than they do ;-)  Actually only mil's dog has managed to scratch it & one lab that had to be crated in the house & was being nutty getting out of the crate.

They don't seem to slide on it.  Hair does seem to collect under the sofas etc but that's the same with all hard fooring.

Our major problem is we have underfloor heating so can not afford any little accidents :-O

Thanks Caroline.  Would you have wooden through choice now or would you have carpet?  I'm a bit concerned about the dogs running around and sliding but you say thats not a problem.  Do you think that if they piddle it would stain if not cleaned immediately?

Thanks Blue - easy to keep clean then.  Would I be able to use a steam cleaner on it?

I asked about wooden floors before and the effect it has on dogs if your intrested :)
Heres the link :)

http://www.champdogsforum.co.uk/cgi-bin/board/topic_show.pl?pid=946919;hl=#pid946919

Steam cleaners are fine as long as the floor is not overly wet.

To be honest I have had wooden floors ( not laminate) since 1990.   At that time you had to pay £80 a SM.  Junkers etc now you can get a good oak for £25-£30

I think they are perfect and clean. Would never ever go back to carpets except in bedrooms.

We have Oak flooring, love it :)

I have hard wood through out my house and a area rug in the living room- Oya I have carpet in the hallway which will be coming out as well- I love it- so much easier to keep clean :-)

Carpets?  No never!!!!!

Erm, have to admit (hope dh doesn't read cd ;-)) that my old girl sometimes has an overnight accident.  It looks like it's stained but once washed the floor doesn't show any signs at all.

I would have tiles out of choice (heinous crime I know but then I've got two small kids & big splashy bath - yes even the bathroom has a wooden floor :-o) When I win the lottery I will change the floor in the bathroom & kitchen to tiles but then I'd build a large doggy extension to go with it :-D

we have parquet in this house- not sure what the wood is to be honest but had laminate in last house
both easy to clean but parquet a LOT less slippy for the dogs