What is the most slip proof flooring material other than carpet?

[JLStorm]

My house is almost entirely wood flooring, but parts of the basement (including what will become the newf grooming/eating/drying off/toy room) are carpeted. We will be replacing the carpet with something more easily cleaned, slip resistant, and resiliant..but we cant figure out what.

My primary concern is that once we get our Newf puppy, he doesnt unnecessarily strain his joints by constantly slipping or sliding on hard flooring. Im already worried enough about the wood floors upstairs causing him to slip and slide...not to mention Im sure the wood floors will get ruined by his nails. Does flooring other than carpet exist that would be less slippery for a dog and also hold up well to their nails? If so, is it an economical choice?

 

[CMDRTED]

Sam's Club has these 2' x 2' rubber-type material squares that lock together. I put them down and they work great. They do get some nail holes, but they don't come apart about $19.00 for a package (I forget ho many sq ft they are). I believe Home Depot, Lowes have them also. Very Cushy and hold up well. No slip if wet I believe. The squares come in different colors in each pack.

 

[TinaM]

Wood floors are VERY slippery and can really mess up your puppies joints and hips. I would get some rubber backed carpet runners for the wood floors. When we got our puppy -- the breeder was very clear about avoiding sand (we live at the beach), slippery floors and stairs. All of these things can really wreak havoc on their developing joints and hips. It can even cause hip dysplasia (environmental factors like stairs, etc). We put in rough edged limestone in the entire downstairs for our older dog a few years back so we were puppy ready. I think any type of rubber matted material over your chosen floor would work fine. I remember when Murphy was a puppy he would run through the entire house at warp speed and if we had had wood floors he would have gone flying. Good luck with your choice.

 

[ardeagold]

A rough type of tile works. Ours isn't slippery. I LOVE my tile, and so do the dogs. It's cool and they splatter themselves all over it. It's their preferred surface to sleep on. And it's SO easy to clean. I could have picked a better color (it's a "veined' ivory) but still, it's easy.

Or you could look into that hard rubber type flooring they put in gyms. I actually looked into that for something at one point, but you'd have to google it.

 

[Charlie'sMom]

My parents have natural slate flooring and it is awesome, non-slip, super durable, and it never seems to look dirty (even when the dogs come in muddy). It is definitely the flooring I will be putting into my house when it comes time.

 

[R Taft]

We have roughish tiles (slate), indoors and rough concrete (brushed), on the porches and outdoor areas. Specially done for newfy puppies and no slipping unless hit by GIGANTIC drools, which can happen :lol:

 

[urneighbour]

No comment on what is the best flooring...however, I thought walking your Newf in sand was good, not bad, for developing strong ligaments and muscles in the hips and elbows?

 

[JLStorm]

Wood floors are VERY slippery and can really mess up your puppies joints and hips. I would get some rubber backed carpet runners for the wood floors. When we got our puppy -- the breeder was very clear about avoiding sand (we live at the beach), slippery floors and stairs. All of these things can really wreak havoc on their developing joints and hips. It can even cause hip dysplasia (environmental factors like stairs, etc). We put in rough edged limestone in the entire downstairs for our older dog a few years back so we were puppy ready. I think any type of rubber matted material over your chosen floor would work fine. I remember when Murphy was a puppy he would run through the entire house at warp speed and if we had had wood floors he would have gone flying. Good luck with your choice.

If I were to put rubber mats down or carpet runners over the wood, do you think that a Newfie puppy would have sense enough to use them? On one hand they seem like a good idea, on the other, Im afraid that he would go sliding accross the wood then trip and fall on the carpet runner. I am defintely putting rubber grip pads on the stairs...as much for me as for the puppy lol.

A rough type of tile works. Ours isn't slippery. I LOVE my tile, and so do the dogs. It's cool and they splatter themselves all over it. It's their preferred surface to sleep on. And it's SO easy to clean. I could have picked a better color (it's a "veined' ivory) but still, it's easy.


Or you could look into that hard rubber type flooring they put in gyms. I actually looked into that for something at one point, but you'd have to google it.

I was thinking about tile, but then I thought that the all the Newfie dirt and fur would get trapped in between the tiles where its harder to sweep and mop...do you just use a vacuum to get everything up?

My parents have natural slate flooring and it is awesome, non-slip, super durable, and it never seems to look dirty (even when the dogs come in muddy). It is definitely the flooring I will be putting into my house when it comes time.

I LOVE slate...but I think its pretty expensive isnt it? I have about 1000sq ft I would need to cover in the basement areas.

 

[KatieB]

We have tile and it's great, we also have wood and some laminate and have runners down. The dogs definitely use the runners. They know that they slide on the wood and so when they race around the floor or run to the front door to greet someone they always hit all 4 feet on the runners since they get such great traction. Just one comment..you mentioned the carpet in the basement as a feeding area. I'd make sure you feed your dog somewhat near you and that you constantly stick your hands in their food, hand feed them and watch feeding time to make sure they're well socialized around their food and don't guard their food or feeding area. Our dogs are 3 and almost 2 now and I still stick my hands in their food, hand feed them and take their food away at random times on a nearly weekly basis to make sure that they are comfortable with that and that it's a normal thing for them in case we ever had small kids here or anyone that might take food from them. So feeding in the basment may not be the best place to do that.

 

[Charlie'sMom]

its pretty expensive isnt it? I have about 1000sq ft I would need to cover in the basement areas.

I can't quite remember, I think my parents got theirs for 2.99 per square foot on sale ...

 

[NinaA]

I have tile in my kitchen and now wish I had seen the concrete floors that are available. Tinted, brushed, etc. The tile is still slick. I have backed runners everywhere. Doesn't take the girls long to figure out what they're for. I really wish I could put in a floor drain and just hose down my whole kitchen. Seriously, here in horse country there is a rubber tile used in stables/stalls that looks like brick. It is used quite a few places. If I could replace the tile, I think I'd seriously look at it. It's like the stuff at Sam's but it's actually "classier" looking. Some horse people here may know.

 

[charityd]

We have the rubber tiles from Sam in the kitchen where we spend most of our time together. In the rest of the house we have non slip rugs on the wood that make paths from room to room. The dogs always walk on the rugs. I don't think they enjoy slipping around. Occasionally they try to play on the hard wood and I have to get on to them and say "kitchen" so they go play on the safe matting.

 

[JLStorm]

We have tile and it's great, we also have wood and some laminate and have runners down. The dogs definitely use the runners. They know that they slide on the wood and so when they race around the floor or run to the front door to greet someone they always hit all 4 feet on the runners since they get such great traction. Just one comment..you mentioned the carpet in the basement as a feeding area. I'd make sure you feed your dog somewhat near you and that you constantly stick your hands in their food, hand feed them and watch feeding time to make sure they're well socialized around their food and don't guard their food or feeding area. Our dogs are 3 and almost 2 now and I still stick my hands in their food, hand feed them and take their food away at random times on a nearly weekly basis to make sure that they are comfortable with that and that it's a normal thing for them in case we ever had small kids here or anyone that might take food from them. So feeding in the basment may not be the best place to do that.

About the basement. Its a bi-level house. The basement isnt really a basement, it has nice views and doors right out to the yard. The mud/newf room will be where his food and water are kept, but he wont be alone in eating. My office is connected by sliding door to the newf room so we will be able to be with him for all the meals whether I am home working or if Im away and my wife is home. We want the majority of splashed water in the newf room..not the kitchen. Drool we can deal with...but I have seen how newfs splash water around and a "flood" in the upstairs kitchen just doesnt seem good.

 

[ardeagold]

do you just use a vacuum to get everything up?

Yep...with my Dyson.

And DO consider the concrete flooring.....stained. They can make it look JUST like marble, granite, brick.......anything. It's amazing. My son is having his whole house done. It's on a slab, so out come the carpets, and the concrete guy will do the floor finishing.

If you're talking about the lower level of a bi-level...it's already on a concrete slab, isn't it? So you don't need to put anything down....just have the floor stained (it's called acid-etch staining).

Here's a link, so you can see for yourself. It's amazing! Click on the room to enter...or at the bottom there's a photo gallery link.

http://www.kemiko.com/

Also found a link for the rubber flooring I was talking about:

http://www.greatmats.com/products/decor.php

 

[JLStorm]

Yep...with my Dyson.

And DO consider the concrete flooring.....stained. They can make it look JUST like marble, granite, brick.......anything. It's amazing. My son is having his whole house done. It's on a slab, so out come the carpets, and the concrete guy will do the floor finishing.

If you're talking about the lower level of a bi-level...it's already on a concrete slab, isn't it? So you don't need to put anything down....just have the floor stained (it's called acid-etch staining).

Here's a link, so you can see for yourself. It's amazing! Click on the room to enter...or at the bottom there's a photo gallery link.

http://www.kemiko.com/

Also found a link for the rubber flooring I was talking about:

http://www.greatmats.com/products/decor.php

Thanks Donna! We are on a concrete slab as well, any idea of how this runs compared to tile, slate, wood, etc? I dont know about the rubber mats...I have used those in gyms, they are nice to walk on...but I wonder how they hold up to dog nails...not just sneakers. Any idea?

I sent the link for the concrete staining to my wife and she is going to contact our local dealer. She likes the idea too as long as its within our price range. Definitely easier to clean that carpet!

 

[sokkia]

Not sure if you have looked into the cork flooring. I do not have it myself but have heard great things about it.

Good luck.

 

[Charlie'sMom]

I heard the cork is pretty soft ... I think a newf would do a number on it.

 

[ardeagold]

I've also heard cork is not a good idea. Jacques' ex-wife (yeah, we're friends) had it put down and it's already scratched. She has one well-groomed, short nailed, Standard Poodle.

Thanks Donna! We are on a concrete slab as well, any idea of how this runs compared to tile, slate, wood, etc?

I know it's cheaper! LOL It depends on how elaborate you want to get. If you look at the photos.....it can have designs with multiple colors, it can be "etched" to simulate grout lines in tile (and that's also two colors...one for floor, one for "grout"), or it can be uniformly stained without any "extras".

It probably also depends on the individual contractor's price. So, shop around, but make sure you get someone who's done this a lot....and go look at the work. There are a lot of commercial applications this has been done with. For example....brick sidewalks, that aren't. If the work is good, you shouldn't be able to tell that it's concrete without really looking hard.

My son's house is only about 1500 sq feet....the whole thing is being done, every room....for $3500. But that includes the contractor removing existing carpet, linoleum (in kitchen), and ceramic tile (in 2 bathrooms), and then prepping the floor BEFORE doing the staining. (He's in Alabama....so I'm sure it varies with the geographical location).

Don't know a thing about the rubber flooring. It just caught my attention one day.

 

[sokkia]

I have the pvc flooring tiles in my kitchen that look like ceramic and are textured reduce to slipping. They were super cheap. Like a dollar a square foot. I thought it would not be able to stand up to a newf but Jackson is 11months now and I have only had replace one tile. Good luck in your search. Concrete sound nice though. Since you would only need to have the existing stained.