18 replies to this topic

[Dunraven]

A "mobility expert" has advised me to replace the carpets in my home with vinyl or commercial grade carpet (hardwood/faux wood floors are not an option). What has been others' experience with flooring. Any advice is welcome.

Yea! I'm no longer a "lurker"

[mellowgator]

i had tile throughout my first house but didn't like how the grout got dirty. in my new house i have travertine and wood.

why can't you have faux wood? isn't that similar to vinyl in price and wear and tear.



mellowgator

[greybeard]

I paid out to have the whole damned house carpeted just before I found I needed to use a wheelchair. I can't afford to change it just yet so have got to learn to live with it. Although the carpet is not too thick, wheeling over it is no where near as easy as on smooth floors. Any type of smooth floor would be better than carpet. The only exception is the type of thin carpet that is stuck to the floor. No doubt that was what your adviser was referring to as commercial grade.

[airart1]

i used pergo, works great, can keep clean, long wear........carpet sucks......a man's opinion though, and there's no walkers in my house anymore.......so cold floor isnt a problem.....

[Aparr]

I have wood flooring and I LOVE it.

[Dunraven]

Unfortunately, my floors aren't level enough to do hard wood or one of the the new faux wood snap in type floorings. The house was built a while back and the ground has shifted. And I don't want to spend a lot of money because we hope to build a house in a year or so because this one has too many attributes that will never be wheelchair friendly. I found a vinyl that I like, but my husband is worried that the tires on the wheelchair will leave marks on vinyl floors. But I've yet to find a commercial carpet that looks good.

[BillS]

Tough it out and go with carpet. No it's not as easy to push on but it's not that hard. Also it's not like you're wheeling miles going from your living room to the bed room.

I have laminate in the kitchen and dining room, tile in the bathroom and carpet in the living room and bedroom. I think I'll replace the carpet in the living room some day with wood/laminate but I'm not in any hurry. The reason I'm replacing the carpet is due to stains not trouble pushing. My wheels leave tracks in the paths I often use in carpeting.

[Zack]

My very first time in a manual chair was in the winter on carpeted floors in my first apt. I struggled to push on that carpet thinking "I'm getting stronger from doing so." then the First time I pushed the manual chair on the hospitals tiled floor, I was Shocked at how easy it was & how fast I could push. I have carpeted floors in the apt ive been in for 22 years now, and the struggle is worth the muscle I retain. That's what little muscle I have left from being in bed too much!

[Apparelyzed]

I have Amtico and Karndean throughout our house, except our bedroom.

As a T11, I don't think he'd have too much trouble pushing on carpet, but, if he's in and out of the house a lot, and you get a lot of bad weather, you may find tyre tracks appearing in the carpet over time.

Simon

[Kimu]

my wife and i chose a woodlike laminate flooring for our house and it looks great and is very hard wearing, make sure you get the vinyl that can be laid in smaller strips, because if you get one large area laid it can bubble and start to curl.

Here is a link to a similar product to what we have
http://www.carpetsan...te_flooring.asp

[jules]

We have got laminate wood flooring throughout downstairs, with the exception of kitchen (tiles)and downstairs toilet (vinyl tiles) to avoid trashing carpets with anything I bring in on my wheels from outside. We have got carpet upstairs with the exception of bathrooms where we have got vinyl tiles.

Hope this helps

[goose]

I was talked into installing residential carpet without an under pad in my bedroom. The carpet was easier to push on but it packed down after a few years. Light colored laminate floors seem to show marks easier than darker floors.

If you ever have tiles installed , try to have the gout lines even with the tiles. When it's grooved out, it's kind of a bumpy ride and hard to clean.

Research laminates online. Some places will post consumer remarks.

[Tetracyclone]

I have been traveling, staying in hotels with a lot of carpet, obviously commercial grade. I hate it. It stresses my shoulders and I cannot do as much. Vinyl will clean up nicely- hubby is wrong on this. if it is only for a year definitely go for the cheapest, smoothest ride.

Second thought- Since you are planning a new home, put vinyl in most of the house and some commercial grade carpet in one room so you will have experience to decide for the next home.

Edited by Tetracyclone, 10 February 2012 - 01:54 PM.

[McTavish]

I have wood and tiled floors throughout the house and I would never ever think of getting carpets again, unless I get out of this damned chair and that is not looking like happening.

[wheelie182]

Carpets are a big no no for me personally, the biggest factor is that you can't do quick sharp turns around doorways as it tends to pull the carpet up over time.

[airart1]

it's just cleaner, hard surface floors are so much easier to clean, move on, it's really that simple.......

[Ches]

Ive got wood floors in majority of house, and dark 16in tiles in the kitchen/bath.. Keeps grout lines to a minimum. In my masterbath I opted for an usual vinyl I found, it resembles a recycled material.. and doesnt have the "faux" look..cleans easy, has good grip for the AB's, n its sparkly!!
My link

[scottamieWI]

Hardwood floors and tile in our new house the we built about 6yrs ago. The only rooms that have carpet are the bedrooms, and our master bedroom is in need of replacement carpet already with all the wheel marks and grease spots. It is just way easier to maintain as well as clean.

[ebeth]

If the options are vinal and carpet, go with vinal. You'll leave tracks on both vinal and carpet so go with vinal because it's easier to clean.