Believe it or not, pets can be just as hard, if not harder, than people on flooring. Depending on the type, breed, number, and size of the pet, one flooring may be a better choice than another. Many people think laminate is their only option, but from durability to scratch resistance, there are pros and cons to different materials.
Here’s how to figure out which one will work best for your home, and pet.
The #1 Pet vs. Flooring Issue
Hands down, most of the flooring questions we get are about scratching. Even pets who don’t deliberately paw at the floor can leave scratches just by walking, running, or jumping around the room. Runners-up in the problems category include shedding, water bowl spills, and forgetting to use the litter box or head outside.
As you’ll see, it’s possible to have the flooring you love, but you’ll have to choose wisely.
Hardwood
Many homeowners love hardwood flooring but fear they must rule it out in favor of their pet. In truth, certain hardwoods with a closed grain, like oak, can withstand anything your pet’s nails can dish out; bamboo is the hardest wood of all. Some disadvantages to wood include food and water bowls that cause discoloration and rotting and pet urine that leaves an odor and dark staining.
Some manufacturers produce high-performance hardwood flooring that resists pet damage. Armstrong’s Performance Plus and Paragon collections are two options. The first is infused with acrylic, making it two times harder than traditional flooring. The second, shown below, is a premium solid Appalachian hardwood that features a patented scratch resistance technology.
Engineered Tiles
If natural stone or ceramic tile is what you’re passionate about, a terrific substitute is the Alterna engineer tile, also put out by Armstrong. The tiles are easy to clean, can be installed with or without grout, and are an excellent choice for any size pet. The beautiful surface repels soil and stains, is slip-resistant and, as a bonus feature, absorbs sound.
Laminate Flooring
Laminate can give you the look of traditional hardwood, stone, or even concrete. It’s a durable surface that excels in scratch resistance, but less so in moisture resistance. If you choose laminate, make sure that its Abrasion Class Rating is an AC 3 and stay away from high gloss finishes. It helps to select a thicker laminate floor with underlayment, as well, which reduces the clicking sound claws make on laminate.
LVT Luxury Vinyl Flooring
USFloors’ COREtec Plus luxury vinyl flooring is a popular choice that features a recycled wood and bamboo dust, limestone, and virgin PVC core. Completely waterproof, it’s an excellent choice for kitchens and bathrooms and is naturally resistant to odors. The planks come in a wide range of realistic-looking wood tones and easily install over existing hard surface floors.
No matter which flooring you choose, here are some additional tips:
- Many people use a hard flooring for the kitchen and baths but put carpeting elsewhere.
- Darker colors show scratches more easily because once the surface is scratched you can see the underlying material.
- Pets love somewhere soft to lay down. If you install hardwood floors in every room, give your cat or dog something made of fabric to relax in or on. This also reduces the amount of shedding throughout the house.
Learn More
Whether you have dogs, cats, or other pets that run free in your home, there’s a flooring that will suit them – and your family – to a T. If you have more questions about pets and flooring, we’re here to supply the answers and help you make the best choice! Why not schedule a consultation with us today about all your home remodeling needs? We look forward to meeting with you!
