I’m bidding a porch remodel. There’s an existing roof that won’t be touched, and the existing PT framing and T&G DF flooring is sound. We’ll be removing screen panels and building a cedar-shingled knee wall, topped by new screen panels.
Here’s the rub. The owners view this as a dog space, a place where the pups can hang out and where their feet can be de-mudded before entering the house. The existing floor is painted white. Very, very bad idea. No soup for you, two weeks. I don’t think a wood floor is likely to satisfy the owners over time. They’re suggesting vinyl, but I have many doubts. The dogs will be hard on it. Can vinyl weather the weather? Would the vinyl trap moisture rising from below and rot the floor? And so on.
Any ideas?
Thanks,
Andy
Arguing with a Breaktimer is like mud-wrestling a pig — Sooner or later you find out the pig loves it.
Replies
My experience with muddy bird dogs that belive they are human & superior is ceramic tile is the way to go. Try setting a shower pan with a drain (at least 36 x 48) for cleaning up the dogs.
>> ... ceramic tile is the way to go.
I agree. And the proper color is whatever matches the dirt in the yard.
Thanks for the replies. Did I mention that the porch is 180 sq. ft.? And that they want the entire floor to be dog resistant? I'm thinking a tile floor that size is in the neighborhood of $3000, which I suspect is more than the budget holds for the floor. Also, it's only a screened porch, so it'll get blowing snow on it. I can only imagine how slippery ceramic tile is with a light dusting of snow.
I'm wondering if there are any paints that would hold up? Epoxy paint?
AndyArguing with a Breaktimer is like mud-wrestling a pig -- Sooner or later you find out the pig loves it.
Most vet's offices have vinyl floors. Armstrong makes some solid vinyl tiles. They're also in every school cafeteria and supermarket in the US. I put it in our mudroom, and the 120lb beast hasn't dented it<G> Don't worry, we can fix that later!
andy- in snow country you'll need porcelain tile (not ceramic) to avoid freeze-thaw blowout porcelain has all the air baked out, won't accept water infiltration use a good sealer on grout joints to stop water there get tile w some surface to it, footing will be ok can find pocelain in $3. sq ft and up range
How about using outdoor carpet -- unglued?
Thanks for the ideas, gentlemen.
AndyArguing with a Breaktimer is like mud-wrestling a pig -- Sooner or later you find out the pig loves it.
I'm with Rob on this. We breed Great Danes and have a washed out looking black porcelein tile. Shouldn't cost $3000 to install for 180 sq. ft. unless there's something else going on there. Our friend is a vet and she's used ceramic in her clinic for years, but is now looking at the new epoxy coated products because their seamless, might also want to think about that. I believe the finished price is similar to tile.
The dog shower is also an excellent idea. We went with a solid surface pan 5' wide so their nails wouldn't chip it up, but you could probably get by with something a while lot cheaper for smaller dogs.
Might also want to give some thought to the trim design. Our pups love the cedar railings on my deck. Avoid anything protruding that they can get their mouth around.
Good Luck - Jack
Tile installation in Fairfield County runs in the neighborhood of $10/sq. ft., plus the tile, plus the prep. It would be darn close to 3K when all was said and done.
That said, I agree that tile's the best way to go.
AndyArguing with a Breaktimer is like mud-wrestling a pig -- Sooner or later you find out the pig loves it.
I think tile is the way to go, as well, Andy, however in my own case, I had access to a big supply of used fir T&G flooring, mostly long lengths. I used that in our porch. It's occupied by our dog, a Border Collie, who can get pretty muddy keeping an eye on the other animals on our small farm. I have a pet door so she walks in and out at will. The fir worked out well - it looks good in our old farmhouse, and when it gets looking shabby in ten years or so, I'll resand it. I gave it three coats of urethane for protection. Enjoy the day! h.