"Are there certain types of wood that will hold up to the stiletto problem he showed me?"

Yes, it's called "tile" and it doesn't grow on trees. Stiletto proof.

My laminate is like new 10 yrs later with shoes on probably 60% of our guests stilettos and all.We got this flooring so that our dogs didn’t damage it and so everyone did not have to take off their shoes. Our house is one where guests go in and out a lot and the whole shoe thing just becomes a nigtmare with piles of shoes by the door.

lol@Joseph.

I cannot imagine ever asking guests to take their shoes off. And I would never have a floor that couldn't take normal living. But that's just me.

There was a [very lively discussion[(https://www.houzz.com/discussions/shoes-on-or-off-indoors-dsvw-vd~100739?n=106) several years ago about the shoes on/shoes off question (I'm Canadian, and we generally remove our shoes). It doesn't answer your question, but it's was interesting to revisit.

I'm not working in your home without my steel toes on. Yeah, I'll do the paper booties and change them every time I go to the truck if you please. I'm billing by the hour, so I'll be as clean as you please.

We have 40 year old oak floors that are not babied but were never dented until we hosted a pre-prom party for our high school senior- yes, there are little stilletto dents in the living room now. I don't mind them much since it is part of the patina, but I can imagine that I might have been pretty upset if it was a pristine or new floor. We are a shoes-off family (including house guests) except when having a party or formally entertaining.

Assuming the heel is 1/2" square - the surface area is 1/4 sq/inch. A 120 lb woman, putting her weight on the heel 120 lbs / 1/4" square inch = 480 psi.

That's only when the heel strikes the floor. When standing - it may be 240 psi.

Yes, certain wood species are harder and will not dent as easily but all wood floors have the ability to be dented. Heels are REALLY rough on floors. If you entertain a lot with guests that wear heels (and don't remove them), you should expect your floors to dent.

Geoffrey, that's an underestimate because there's more acceleration than just gravity.

But heels are the only thing that makes me taller than my stockinged 5’1”. What will I do to get eye to eye with most of the adults and some kids I encounter and want to be eye to eye with!? ;)

Would recommend using oak. the wood species is very hard. personally would lay off the stilettos, when guests come around....not much you can do with that.....eventually will have to refinish.

We had a party with about 80-90 people, about 5 weeks after moving back into the house after a major reno that included refinishing all the oak floors. After the party I noticed that some areas in the kitchen and dining room had tons of little pockmarks from heels. I was so disappointed! I think one of the guests had heels with the tips worn out, so the nails poked through (like the picture below.) This was several years ago so I've learned to live with it. But it really bothered me when my floors were newly refinished.

The Janka scale shows the hardness of various kinds of wood (not all of which would be available for flooring, but it might help.) Some people use bamboo floors for their durability and sustainability, and I think they're very attractive too. But I have no first hand experience with bamboo.

That worn out stiletto will ding any hardwood floor - I don't care how hard it is.

A lady one time wanted me to warranty her floor after a Christmas party. It was oak. The same thing happened, someone was wearing stilettos with a worn off heal. That nail put hundred of dings all over her brand new floor.

She said "But your floor has a 50 year finish warranty". I said it sure does, but it doesn't cover negligence. I told her if she beat on the floor with a ball peen hammer, I wouldn't cover that either.

I have had oak hardwood for 17 years, it has endured stilettos, sand & water brought in by my surfer son & 2 dogs. Still looks great. Just my personal experience. Actually, a little “patina” wouldn’t bother me, but there is none.

Has anyone ever tried the high heel covers like these:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01KGEOHXU/ref=sspa_dk_detail_1?psc=1

K Laurence: I've had oak for 16 years (solid oak, factory finish). Not a mark on it. I know for certain that there has never been a stiletto heel in the house, but they have weathered everything else (except dogs and kids).

Yes tatts , I live in O C California, hence the stilettos....LOL

For heavens sake. ...............relax. Your home is not a flooring showroom. The every weekend party, or a trip across the floor to leave and enter daily isn't going to wreck a floor. I remove shoes never. It's a floor. I doubt you are eating off it either. A wipe of feet at the entry and move on. Sneakers with a rough stone caught in the tread are a far bigger issue. So too the refusal to sweep or dust regularly and get the daily grit off the floor......or standing water. Beyond that? Chill : )

@Jenn Codename:Danger Platform shoes make you taller without all the other woes! :)

also, like your screen name! :))

@acm

the mister bestowed it upon me as a way of saying I drive like a movie stuntperson in a spy movie with lots of car chases but manage to not get us in a wreck. I also get us places faster as long as nobody gets all panicky in the passenger seats - panic leading to hesitation was the cause for the sole vehicle collision I have been in and at fault, last minute quick saves have helped me avoid them more than once. :) I’ll tell him you like it :p

Platform shoes typically have ankle straps and while the sole is better designed for safer walking experiences they visually divide the uninterrupted length of the legs so even with a 28” inseam at 5’1” it makes me look even shorter. The bulk of the platform shoe is almost as bad as super long super pointy toed stilettos for making feet look like you have skis or rafts on them. Being a ‘blessed’ in the figure dept individual the key to dressing is to avoid the bad but know what looks good - pencil skirts and knitwear (T-shirt or other type) look great but not if the shoes make your feet appear to be ridiculous xcountry skis or the length of the dark color skirt past the knee when wearing hose. I wish things made of non stretchy materials were easy to find and fit me with no alterations required but alas being ‘blessed’ has its downsides, and then there’s gravity necessitating gym excercises and expensive highly supportive underthings. ;)