Solid Hardwood, Engineered and Laminate Flooring - Dog Problems and flooring types
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floored
11-22-04, 02:09 PM
Hi everyone.
I have a question regarding new flooring in my fathers home.
He has had a small dog for about 15 years with an incontinence problem (the dog has always been this way.) So his carpeting is stained, smelly, and quite disgusting. After my mom passed away 2 1/2 years ago, he stopped cleaning it up at all. I know the subfloor will be very stained and stinky. If it is otherwise undamaged, will it be neccesary to replace it? I was planning to coat the "preferred peeing areas" with polyurethane to seal in the stink, unless someone has a better suggestion.
I really don't know what kind of flooring to put in. The dog is small and healthy and will likely be around for at least a few more years. Which kind of flooring will stand up to this kind of abuse the best? We've ruled out solid wood due to the high cost, but I am open to other options. We were looking at laminate, engineered hardwood, and parquet. I should also mention that the main room to be covered is a very high traffic area, trampled daily by adults, kids, dogs and cats.
I'm a total newbie at this but right now I have nothing but time on my hands. However, my dad has a very low tolerance for his house being "thrown into utter chaos" (his exact words) for any length of time.
Thanks in Advance.
I have a question regarding new flooring in my fathers home.
He has had a small dog for about 15 years with an incontinence problem (the dog has always been this way.) So his carpeting is stained, smelly, and quite disgusting. After my mom passed away 2 1/2 years ago, he stopped cleaning it up at all. I know the subfloor will be very stained and stinky. If it is otherwise undamaged, will it be neccesary to replace it? I was planning to coat the "preferred peeing areas" with polyurethane to seal in the stink, unless someone has a better suggestion.
I really don't know what kind of flooring to put in. The dog is small and healthy and will likely be around for at least a few more years. Which kind of flooring will stand up to this kind of abuse the best? We've ruled out solid wood due to the high cost, but I am open to other options. We were looking at laminate, engineered hardwood, and parquet. I should also mention that the main room to be covered is a very high traffic area, trampled daily by adults, kids, dogs and cats.
I'm a total newbie at this but right now I have nothing but time on my hands. However, my dad has a very low tolerance for his house being "thrown into utter chaos" (his exact words) for any length of time.
Thanks in Advance.
Snowman53
11-22-04, 05:20 PM
Hello Floored:
One thing you did not mention is the square footage you are dealing with.
Anyway, I would approcah this as follows:
1. Remove old carpet and padding
2. Inspect subfloor, remove if there are signs of rot
3. If no rot is present, wash subfloor with a solution of bleach and water:
One gallon warm water, 2 cups of bleach, 1 cup of powdered detergent (Spic and Span is best and available if you are in the USA)
Safety note: DO NOT mix any ammonia based cleaners with bleach, as the result is chlorine gas and deadly!!!
4. Seal the floor with BIN primer. This is a white pigmented shellac and costs about $18 per gallon but will seal in any urine smells that the dog can scent but you can't.
5. It would be a good idea to install 1/4" Luan plywood over the subfloor, cost about $10 for a 4x8 sheet at most places in the US.
6. Your choices now are either sheet vinyl or engineered laminate flooring.
My recommendation would be the engineered flooring--but with one caveat:
If used where water is present (ie., a mud room, laundry or other wet area) virtually EVERY manufacturer will indicate on glueless or "click-lock" flooring will not honor the warranty if glue is not used when installed in a wet area.
In my locality, a good quality engineered flooring runs about $ 1.29 per square foot. Add 4 cents per sq ft for the glue and 17 cents per square for the foam underlayment. Round it to $1.50 per square and it's a safe bet.
Prices on sheet vinyl are all over the map as there are many variables on gauge, quality and cost per square yard.
All I can say is I do wish I had installed engineered flooring a few years ago instead of Armstrong Solarian sheet vinyl.
Vinyl is a lot more maintenance and not as durable.
Good Luck,
Snowman53
One thing you did not mention is the square footage you are dealing with.
Anyway, I would approcah this as follows:
1. Remove old carpet and padding
2. Inspect subfloor, remove if there are signs of rot
3. If no rot is present, wash subfloor with a solution of bleach and water:
One gallon warm water, 2 cups of bleach, 1 cup of powdered detergent (Spic and Span is best and available if you are in the USA)
Safety note: DO NOT mix any ammonia based cleaners with bleach, as the result is chlorine gas and deadly!!!
4. Seal the floor with BIN primer. This is a white pigmented shellac and costs about $18 per gallon but will seal in any urine smells that the dog can scent but you can't.
5. It would be a good idea to install 1/4" Luan plywood over the subfloor, cost about $10 for a 4x8 sheet at most places in the US.
6. Your choices now are either sheet vinyl or engineered laminate flooring.
My recommendation would be the engineered flooring--but with one caveat:
If used where water is present (ie., a mud room, laundry or other wet area) virtually EVERY manufacturer will indicate on glueless or "click-lock" flooring will not honor the warranty if glue is not used when installed in a wet area.
In my locality, a good quality engineered flooring runs about $ 1.29 per square foot. Add 4 cents per sq ft for the glue and 17 cents per square for the foam underlayment. Round it to $1.50 per square and it's a safe bet.
Prices on sheet vinyl are all over the map as there are many variables on gauge, quality and cost per square yard.
All I can say is I do wish I had installed engineered flooring a few years ago instead of Armstrong Solarian sheet vinyl.
Vinyl is a lot more maintenance and not as durable.
Good Luck,
Snowman53