Replies

1. 
   desertrat | Sep 13, 2005 05:11pm | #1

   The factory finished wood floors are very tough finishes. I think you would find that they'll hold up to your children quite well.

2. 
   dtgardengirl | Sep 14, 2005 03:26am | #2

   Bobtim,

   I understand the appeal of  hardwood floors and the manufacturers have come a long way in durability, so this may work for you.  It feels like a better long-term investment and has a better "warm-fuzzy" implication as well.  (If you are "green thinking", bamboo is more renewable than hardwood forests.)

   My 2 cents is that I have a dog and his primary area is on laminate flooring, my brand happens to be Wilsonart.  No signs of wear after several years with the dog at all.  (The groomer can't even clip his nails, he has to go to the vet for the "drimmel pro grinding. - not as often as needed, unfortunately.)  It looks great with my woodwork and to see it, you wouldn't know the difference.  The maintenance is easy too, but it may also be good with the newer wood floors.  I love my laminate floor and feel it was a great choice for my circumstances.  It was the best option at the time.  Better stuff comes along and I am not up on the advances in hardwood, but they must have had to compensate in product aspects to compete with the advantages of laminate flooring.  I'm guessing they've come a long way in wear-surface in the past couple of years.  That is good.  I wonder, however, how they have addressed the refinish issue, if needed.  The sanding and refinishing issue was a plus with wood flooring, but it seems you'd remove the protective upper layer if that were needed if refinishing.  Also, I wonder if there are air-quality issues for refinishing.  My question, is buying a hardwood with a "super-surface" - how does it work?  With laminate, there is no refinish issue, but in my personal case it is a non-issue and it can't be done to my knowledge.  I'd be subject to replace, with no option to refinish if needed.

   I need to learn what they are doing to hardwood floors for durability.  I recommend looking at the manufacturer's website and check their warranty.  It may mention the pet issue, or just say normal wear and tear.  That's the rub, who decides what's normal?  That varies from home to home.  Consider the area and it's wear expectancy.  If you select a new hardwood floor, please tell us what it is and how it works for you!  If a hardwood floor compared in durability and maintenance, I'd be up to considering it for the next replacement. 

   Whatever you choose, good luck is wished.  Please share your experience so we can learn too.  Let us know what you choose and how it works for you.  Thanks!

3. 
   WayneL5 | Sep 16, 2005 01:15am | #3

   I don't have dogs, but have found my Wilsonart laminate floor exceptionally durable.

   Yes, factory applied finishes to wood are more durable than field applied finishes.  The main reason is that the factory finished contain finely powdered aluminum oxide.  Aluminum oxide is one of the most abrasion resistant minerals there is.  So when you walk on the floor you eventually wear down to the tops of the particles, but no further.  The only wear thereafter is to wear down around the particles which causes them to fall out.  That's a much slower wear process than wearing down a pure plastic material.

   The plastic material that is applied in the factory is also tougher, but requires curing conditions and ventilation that make these finishes incapable of being applied in the field.

   I don't know if the factory applied finishes are sufficient to hold up to really hard use, but are much better than what you can apply yourself.