Best way to protect hardwood near doors

[danielhudson]

Ok so every house I have lived in with hardwood floors - the floor by the front door takes a lot of abuse and you want to be careful about what to put on the wood to protect it. Short of pulling out wood and having a tile section................what kind of mat do folks use that does not scratch up or react with today's finishes?

[cabinetman]

I've had clients that asked that same question to the flooring guys, and the common response is any mat that doesn't skid around. If a mat can move around it will take with it any dirt or sand on the floor and scratch the surface. The mats that are supposed to be non skid should have a soft backing that doesn't collect dirt or sand.
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[Stytooner]

You will have issues with just about anything you use here other than tile or vinyl. Vinyl for short term remedy and tile for long term.

Best to use something outside the front door that will both collect the sand and help remove it from your shoes to begin with. Then choose your weapon for the inside.

[Tom Miller]

We've had pretty good luck with a non-skid rug pad with a rug over it. It's not the sticky carpet tape, but rather a full sheet of foam rubber-like mat. We use a piece that's just a few inches shorter and narrower than the rug.

To be clear, I'm giving it thumbs up for not moving around -- it'll take a few more years to know if it has delayed the wear. You need to make sure the floor underneath is clean -- dust will keep if from staying put.

Regards,
Tom

[dlminehart]

There's always the "no shoes inside" option. Could 127,000,000 Japanese be wrong?

[steve-norrell]

There's always the "no shoes inside" option. Could 127,000,000 Japanese be wrong?

And 600,000 Alaskans.

It is considered appropriate to remove shoes when entering a house because of the snow and grit from sanded streets and sidewalks. Folks just do it all year out of habit.

And a related issue. The LOML likes to put small rugs or mats inside doors to catch any grit that might make it in before the guest removes his/her shoes. Sometimes the mat or rug is thick enough to snag the bottom of the door -- either moving the mat or damaging the weather seal at the bottom. Trimming the bottom of the door and increasing the thickness of the threshold is not always an option.

Regards, Steve

[leehljp]

dlminehart -
There's always the "no shoes inside" option. Could 127,000,000 Japanese be wrong?

And 600,000 Alaskans.

While I don't know about Alaskan basic house design, Japan houses, large and small, have entrance halls/spaces (genkan) whose purpose is for shoes and slippers to be changed. Most average American homes' doors open directly into living space - creating clutter and dangerous "tripping over" situations with piled up shoes around the door - for old folks like me.

Personally, I like taking my shoes off and wearing slippers inside the house (in the US) but haven't figured out a way to change the living room, kitchen or back bedroom to have "shoe/boot" space without making things look gawky by the door at our US home. Most houses that I go into (US) also are like this. Many hallway entrances in US homes are also too narrow to provide storage cabinets for boots/shoes without putting a squeeze on the "changing out" place. It can be done but it will certainly look funny in most cases. Then there is the most difficult aspect - American culture where most people will refuse to do that.

A few years ago, I talked to a Japanese lady that had lived in Houston, TX for a while. She needed a plumber and called one. When a plumber and his helper came, she asked them to please take their shoes off. They replied that they keep their shoes ON or they leave. She reluctantly let them in.

[steve-norrell]

While I don't know about Alaskan basic house design, Japan houses, large and small, have entrance halls/spaces (genkan) whose purpose is for shoes and slippers to be changed. Most average American homes' doors open directly into living space - creating clutter and dangerous "tripping over" situations with piled up shoes around the door - for old folks like me.

You got that right. Alaskan homes vary all over the landscape. It is often a "challenge" to navigate the shoe and boot obstacle course. When we remodeled our house we included an entrance way that was large enough to have bench for removing shoes and boots and plenty of space for them. Not everyone is so lucky.

I also bring a pair of house slippers - - I have to wear a brace on one ankle that would be dangerously slippery on tile or polished wood floors. And, they also help to keep the tootsies warm.

Service folks almost always have those booties that fit over shoes and boots (like the ones used by medical folks in operating rooms or other 'clean' rooms). If they don't have them, they are expected to remove shoes -- and almost all do.

Regards, Steve