Flooring suggestions?

[Old Yeller]

The wife and I are sick to death of the flooring on our main floor. The house is almost 10 years old and it still has the original builder grade lino and carpet on the main floor, both are really really REALLY starting to show their age.

Our main floor is around 600 square feet, it has a kitchen, a half bath, and the front entryway (and closet) that all have the lino on it. The main room and hallway to the kitchen/backdoor and hallway to the bathroom have the carpet.

We also have a very large dog, so we need something durable that will stand up to the punishment that his big paws can dish out. At the same time we don't want anything really slippery that our dog would have problems with.

Right now I'm thinking of putting down tile where the lino is and I have no idea what to put down where the carpet is, all we know for sure is that we don't want ANY carpet on the main floor.

Basically I'm looking for opinions/suggestions on what would ideally work for us based on your past experiences. I'm a pretty handy guy, but I know nothing about flooring.

[SportsJunky]

I'm in wholesale flooring. I would run the tile throughout if you are comfortable doing that. Keeping things uniform in look tends to look better than cutting it up with different types of flooring. I'd look at large format such as 18x18 or 12x24 since you have an area large enough for it.

Hardwood is out with a big dog. Probably cork too. Laminate is a good choice with pets but since you don't want carpet in the hallway/main room than I'd stick with tile or stone for the best looking option.

[Old Yeller]

Originally Posted by SportsJunky

I'm in wholesale flooring. I would run the tile throughout if you are comfortable doing that. Keeping things uniform in look tends to look better than cutting it up with different types of flooring. I'd look at large format such as 18x18 or 12x24 since you have an area large enough for it.

I'm not opposed to running tile throughout, just thought because I have a mix of lino and carpet that it might be smart to keep a mix going forward, but honestly if something looks good we have no problems doing it that way.

Is there textured tile so the dog has a bit more grip or do I even need to worry about that?

Can you suggest types of tile to look at? Brand names, or even stores to go to in Calgary?

How about installation? I'm a do it yourself kind of guy but after doing my own drywall taping/mudding/sanding I realize some things are best left to the professionals.



Oh and uhh fotze, thanks for the suggestion, but granite floors might be just a wee bit out of my price range.

[SportsJunky]

Yep, tile comes in all different textures and visuals. Something with a "slate" type finish might stop the dog from skidding around corners. I would start at the lumber yards like Depot, Rona etc... They will be about as competitively priced as anyone out there. If they don't have something you like then head to the flooring dealers. What area of town are you in? I can give you the names of some showrooms that will be close to you. Be prepared to pay more to a flooring dealer but at least you will get what you want.

If you go with large format tiles you should give some thought to a professional installation. A DIY'er can get in over their head a lot of the time.

Check out some of FG's work in this thread:

http://forum.calgarypuck.com/showthread.php?t=44188

[Old Yeller]

SportsJunky, I'm in SE Calgary - McKenzie specifically and I take it I'm too small time for flooring wholesaler prices?

Thanks for the info.

[SportsJunky]

Unfortunately I can't sell to the public. I'd help you there if I could.

I'll pm you in a little bit with some showroom options.

[Old Yeller]

Thanks dude, appreciate the help.

[redforever]

Originally Posted by Old Yeller

I'm not opposed to running tile throughout, just thought because I have a mix of lino and carpet that it might be smart to keep a mix going forward, but honestly if something looks good we have no problems doing it that way.

Is there textured tile so the dog has a bit more grip or do I even need to worry about that?

You can vary the tile up a bit. We have quite a large front foyer and we used 18 x 18 tiles. We left one row of 18 x 18 tiles normal n/s, e/w for the exterior border. Then we found a nice slate and did an inlay border. Inside the border, we put the regular 18 x 18 tiles at a 45 degree angle, so looks like diamond in the inside of the border. And not at every corner, but around every third, staggering quite evenly, we put a small black square of slate.

We went with a porcelain tile that has a glaze, but is very dull, the tile itself looks like the old style of flooring you would find in homes in Tuscany. We have 2 dogs, very easy to walk on, same for people, not slippery at all. And very easy to keep clean, and not a bright glare either as not the high gloss glazed look or feel.

We did hardwood in the great room, the dining room and master bedroom, but our dogs are not allowed in those areas on a regular basis and when they are in there, they are in their doggie baskets. We would never consider hardwood in the traffic areas, especially with dogs.