What flooring for LR that opens to the backyard

We are going to blow out the back of our current LR to make it a dining room and LR. The LR will be opening to the backyard via a sliding door.

We redid our small LR with a laminate last Winter and honestly this is NOT what I expected. I have lots of scratches.

I have 2 small dogs and 1 kid with toys.

So I am not going to use the laminate to extend the room to the back.

I was thinking real wood. I am on a slab but I guess I could raise the floor up.

Now, someone told me that she THOUGHT it was a great idea too but told me she has so many scratches.

She has oak, so it's not a "soft" wood either. She has 1 kid and 1 dog. So about same issues as us.

My dogs also get muddy from going outside. I try to wipe their paws with a towel right now but honestly, this is kind of a mess and with a sliding door I feel I will have even less control of the dogs and the floor situation.

So I am thinking tile for the whole DR/LR area. I feel it would be so much more durable and easier to clean.

I really wanted wood but I don't want to be disappointed either with such an expense.

I would do rug on the tile under the DR table/chairs and for the LR sectional area.

WWYD? What did you do if you have a similar situation/set up?

TIA

Re: What flooring for LR that opens to the backyard

I have heard that ash, a real wood, is very hard to scratch and is very durable. I heard this from someone I know in my family who works at LI Paneling.

What kind of laminate did you have - like what brand? I'm curious...you can FM me it, if you prefer.

Hope this helps!

Re: What flooring for LR that opens to the backyard

I would stick to tile with dogs, you can get durable wood, but after time it will be scratched, the tile will last longer and there are so many options I am sure you can find something you love.

Re: What flooring for LR that opens to the backyard

I have had hardwood in both this house and our last one Sophie. We had 2 cats who were not declawed and both girls. The only scratches we had were minor from furniture moving around not from the cats or the girls and their toys etc. I like it and would go with hardwood anytime I have the choice. You can always get an area rug down the road. I am not a huge fan of laminate.

Re: What flooring for LR that opens to the backyard

They make tile that looks like hardwood, maybe you could go that route?

Re: What flooring for LR that opens to the backyard

I would go with tile because that is what will be most durable for you...

Re: What flooring for LR that opens to the backyard

I have hardwood and love it. It doesn't scratch easily and is easy to clean.

Re: What flooring for LR that opens to the backyard

my parents have a den which leads out to the backyard and they did tile. i think it is porcalin tile. it is great. they have two dogs and no scratches. easy to clean too.