Earthscape flooring & dogs

[Nick Arrera]

You can patch them .

[Barry Carlton]

Nick Arrera said You can patch them .

Easily!!!!!

And what flooring would hold up to the tests you are describing????

Ceramic would break. Wood would dent terribly (depending on species). Laminate would chip unacceptably. Heck even stained concrete would probable chip!!!!

What kind of dogs do you have?? And what shape is your house in?

b

[FlooringGirl]

stullis said So why did Boxman find it so easy to puncture? Also if you can't punsture it how will you cut it to install it?

Scott,

Good question! Although, a blunt screwdriver is different than a sharp blade. However, after seeing what you said but before seeing Boxman's response, I did some more experimentation ...

Rather than use a Phillip's screwdriver while holding the vinyl up (where it has more "give" and made it very difficult to puncture, let alone dent), I laid it down on the floor and used a brand new, very sharp "regular" screwdriver and stabbed the stuff. Yeah, that made cuts in it. But, that isn't normal use.

I remember back when they first came out with laminate and gave me a "tester kit" with a tube and something that seemed like a soup can with a hard tip on it. I believe the company was Fibo Trespo - anyone remember that? Anyway, after testing and ruining lots of samples from the other companies, I knew which ones held up to that! Not many back at that time.

Tia

[FlooringGirl]

stullis said So why did Boxman find it so easy to puncture? Also if you can't punsture it how will you cut it to install it?

Nick Arrera said You can patch them .

Yes, I have seen several very successful patch jobs on Earthscapes. It seams better than any vinyl I've ever experienced.

Tia

[FlooringGirl]

Boxman said If I lay an Earthscape sample on my concrete and hit it with my iron fence pliers (the sharp end) I can puncture it easily. It's a bit harder to puncture with the screwdriver; you have to stab at it pretty hard. Admittedly these are extreme tests; I certainly hope my dogs' claws aren't that dangerous but still, this gives me pause. A few days ago, I used double-sided tape and firmly secured a bunch of the earthscape samples around my back door, where the dogs have scratched the hell out of my existing hardwood floor as they scramble in & out of the house. They haven't yet scratched the samples at all, I think because the earthscape material has an inherent "give" to it, which actually allows dog claws to push down into the material without scratching (the material just bounces back up). I'm encouraged by that but still a bit leery of getting punctures, because the earthscape flooring looks like it would be really hard to repair (because it comes in huge sheets, you can't do spot repair).

Boxman,

I'm glad you are testing the product (I always encourage my customers to test and abuse samples), and although you have caused me to give some attention to testing the Earthscapes, there is no sway from my experience and opinion.

In my life, there are only certain products I'll swear by, and Earthscapes Platinum or Titanium is one of those. My carpet get abused, my hardwood gets abused, my Earthscapes is the only floor that comes out unscathed from the dog or grandchildren or friends and family.

Tia

[Peter Kodner]

Tia, like your new pic. Your husband is a lucky guy.

[FlooringGirl]

Peter Kodner said Tia, like your new pic. Your husband is a lucky guy.

Aww, thanks. That's the one they use of me in the newspaper in our store ads. I gotta get to bed - we're getting a new roof on the house and those boys start pounding above my head at about 6:45 am.

'Til tomorrow,
Tia

[Boxman]

Tia & everyone -- thanks for your advice. With your comments and my own experiments with the samples I think I will take the plunge and go with this flooring!

I'll be sure and post an update after this flooring gets a few months of use (and abuse) by my dogs...

[Boxman]

BUMP!!

Just revisiting this thread I started; I spent the last several weeks removing all my carpet, hardwood, and linoleum, and doing all the floor prep. What a job - waaay more work than I expected.

Anyway I'm finally ready to have the earthscape installed but have one last question. I'm going with the full spread adhesive for this job, but there's apparently two ways this can be done - lay flooring immediately after glue is rolled onto substrate (permanent install) or wait awhile for glue to "tack up" before laying the floor (which allows the floor to be removed at a later date).

My question is, is there any disadvantage to the non-permanent method? I want this floor to be firmly adhered to the concrete, because I do have some large furniture than may be moved from time to time. On the other hand, I don't want to create a nightmare for the next owners of my home, who will undoubtedly want to put in their own flooring.

So my question is, just how secure is the "non-permanent" installation? Please advise...

[cproader]

.......it is plenty secure fer everyday livin situations. But what ya don't ever want to do is slide furniture on the floor be it secure or not. The more secure the vinyl is to the floor, the more apt yer gonna be to rip it. Meanin if it is not gonna move and yer furniture digs into it, then yer goona have a bad rip. I would let the adhesive dry before rollin the vinyl into it. If ya ever have a flood, then ya can just pull it up dry it out and reinstall it.......

[Boxman]

Understood - mainly I just needed clarification after watching the Flexitec installation video here: Watch Installation Movie: Vinyl Flooring... an Extreme Home Makeover

In the video, he says "be sure to let the adhesive "tack up" before laying Flexitec or it becomes a permanent installation". Which left me wondering if there was any benefit to the "permanent installation" method vs the "tacked up glue \ non-permanent" install.

Anyway I'll follow your advice, and of course will use felt pads under all furniture. Looking forward to my new floor!

[FlooringGirl]

Boxman said Understood - mainly I just needed clarification after watching the Flexitec installation video here: Watch Installation Movie: Vinyl Flooring... an Extreme Home Makeover In the video, he says "be sure to let the adhesive "tack up" before laying Flexitec or it becomes a permanent installation". Which left me wondering if there was any benefit to the "permanent installation" method vs the "tacked up glue \ non-permanent" install. Anyway I'll follow your advice, and of course will use felt pads under all furniture. Looking forward to my new floor!

Although I have lots of experience with this product, it as a salesperson, not an installer. All my installations have been full-spread, and with an approved adhesive which is pressure-sensitive and releasable. The one and only problem I've had in thousands of yards was with what at first sounded like bubbles from caster chairs rolling across it, but which ended up being from regular chairs. I believe it might have not had the proper setting (tacking up) time. No, I did not accuse the installer, but that is my opinion.

The adhesive I use is Parabond M-5080 which is actually for carpet tile, but is also approved for the Earthscapes.

Hope this helps,

Tia