FIND PET-FRIENDLY FLOORING THAT WILL HOLD UP AGAINST AN ACTIVE HOUSEHOLD
When youâre choosing flooring for your home, you need to weigh the pros and cons of each type carefully. You want a kind of flooring thatâs safe for pets running around, and also one that can withstand vigorous foot traffic, scratches, spills, and so on. To help you out, hereâs a guide to finding the best floors for pets.
Pets are family members that add life and interest to the homes they are part of. Among Americans, cats and dogs are some of the favorite companion animals â more than 50% of homes in the U.S. have either cats, dogs, or both.
And while itâs always fun and exciting to have fur babies in oneâs household, it could be a tad challenging keeping everything in order. Cats and dogs pee, scratch, shed fur, run around, play, spill stuff, and do so many things that could damage your home interior.
Therefore, when youâre choosing any new flooring material for your house build or renovation, you need to weigh the pros and cons of each type carefully. You want a kind of flooring thatâs safe for pets running around, and also one that can withstand vigorous foot traffic, scratches, spills, and so on.
To help you out, hereâs a guide to finding the best floors for pets.
In searching for the best flooring for dogs, cats, and pets in general, there are certain factors you need to consider for the comfort and safety of your fur babies. The pet-friendly flooring you choose should also be tough enough to last for years â even when subjected to scratches, dirt, and potty accidents daily.
So, while going over pet-friendly flooring options, make sure you look for the following qualities:
Durable: The ideal flooring for your pets should be able to withstand high traffic, plenty of scratching, attempts at digging, and similar destructive behavior.
Urine- and water-resistant: The best flooring for dogs that pee a lot should be tough enough to withstand damage from urine and water. And, although cats are typically neat and trained to use their litter box, they can still have accidents. Therefore, itâs essential to choose urine-proof flooring that wonât warp or retain odor.
Easy to clean: After playing outside, both cats and dogs tend to track in mud. And they shed fur all the time. To reduce the stress stemming from the need to keep your home spic and span, choose low-maintenance flooring thatâs easy to clean.
Comfortable to walk on: Slick flooring can be dangerous for pups if it causes them to slip and slide. Slippery flooring also poses safety hazards to kids and the elderly who already have wobbly knees. So, floors for pets, kids, and the elderly need to have good traction.
Although it might not be a priority in your search for the best floors for pets, you also need to find flooring material thatâs attractive or consistent with the overall look of your home. And with so many features to look out for, finding pet-proof flooring with all these qualities could prove challenging â but not impossible.
Topping most lists on waterproof flooring for pets or simply pet-proof flooring is luxury vinyl.
Aside from being available in popular, elegant, and convincingly real looks, such as hardwood, natural stone, slate, and ceramic, luxury vinyl is a pocket- and pet-friendly flooring material. It comes in either luxury vinyl plank or luxury vinyl tile form, so you can choose the type that suits your flooring project best.
But there are other features that make it the best vinyl flooring for dogs and cats, including the ones listed below:
It is extremely resilient. Luxury vinyl tile or plank flooring is thicker than the average vinyl flooring product. With proper installation, luxury vinyl wears well, being scratch- and tear-resistant. Some of the best quality luxury vinyl flooring products can last for 25 years or so.
It is water-resistant. Luxury vinyl holds up well against urine, spillage, or accidents involving food or water. Luxury vinyl is generally water-resistant, while some varieties are completely waterproof. These waterproof planks wonât swell, buckle, or lose integrity even when exposed to water.
It is low-maintenance, easy to clean, and stain- and fade-resistant. Cleaning luxury vinyl is a breeze. You can easily vacuum pet dander and remove all traces (and odors) of urine, fecal accidents, and vomit from luxury vinyl. It doesnât require special care and keeps its appearance no matter how long you use it as your flooring material.
It is soft underfoot. The comparative softness of luxury vinyl compared with wood or tile is something your pets, kids, and the adult members of your household will surely appreciate. With its cushioning effect, luxury vinyl is more forgiving for pets and doesnât stress their joints, unlike hard flooring like stone and tiles. This feature also makes it a lot quieter than other hard surfaces.
With so many great qualities going for it, itâs not all surprising luxury vinyl is a natural go-to choice for most contractors and homeowners when it comes to furnishing homes, retail stores, commercial spaces, and other applications.
We can attest to this at Southern Luxe as we have over 500 years of combined experience in the flooring industry. Even the contractors we interact with on a daily basis usually recommend this type of flooring to clients with pets and children. But if you prefer real wood flooring, hardwood can also be a viable option if you have cats and dogs.
Natural wood is known for its beauty and is a perennial favorite. Moreover, they are also considered 'hypoallergenic' because they donât retain dust and pet dander the same way other flooring may. However, not all hardwood flooring can withstand the lifestyle of a home with pets, and you should consider these two things before purchasing this material for your home:
If you are looking to put hardwood in your home and are worried that your pets may scratch or dent your floors, consider flooring options fall in the middle or high end of the Janka hardness scale, which measures the wood's resistance to wear and dentability. For example, oak flooring is highly valued for its Janka Rating since it falls right into the âmiddleâ hardness in relation to other hardwoods. This means that it is hard enough to stand up to everyday wear and tear while being just soft enough to allow for sanding and refinishing, should it ever be needed. Even though there are harder woods out there, red and white oak hardwood flooring is certainly tough enough to handle everyday activity from the whole family, pets included.
Also, if you are considering engineered flooring over solid, you will want to make sure that you are buying quality material that can withstand a high-activity household. The engineered flooring at Southern Luxe, for example, is treated with a tough protective anti-scratch coating to ensure optimum durability.
Unlike unfinished wood, high-end prefinished hardwood is typically cured under UV lights which gives the material a harder finish than can be accomplished through site finishing.
While searching for the best flooring for dogs and cats, you also need to be aware of which materials you should steer clear of, no matter if they are advertised as pet-friendly floors.
Laminate, tile, and carpet are budget-friendly materials but are not ideal flooring options for high-traffic households with pets and children.
Since laminate can warp if it gets wet, it has not been traditionally considered one of the pet-friendly floors â not unless you buy waterproof laminate options that are now available.
Some laminate flooring products advertised as pet-friendly usually have a top layer thatâs moisture-resistant. But if you do not clean up after your dog right away, the material will absorb the urine and cause it to swell or bubble.
Also, the usual texture of laminate flooring can be slippery for pets and pose a hazard to dogs prone to hip injuries. And unless you purchase laminate products upgraded with acoustic-type pads for better sound absorption, true laminate flooring is louder than glue-down products.
So, in the battle between luxury vinyl vs. laminate flooring for homes with pets, luxury vinyl wins hands down.
Thereâs no question that tile flooring is water- and stain-resistant, so itâs easy to clean and can hold up to pet poop, urine, drool, and spills. If you like wood but not its price, there are also tiles made to resemble it. And since tile flooring is exceptionally tough and durable, you wonât need to worry about your petâs nails scratching or damaging your floors.
However, since tile floors are hard and cold, it can be tough on both your and your petsâ joints. To keep your pet comfortable, youâll need to install soft area rugs or pet beds for your pets to have someplace comfortable to lie down on.
Tile can be slippery, too, and this can lead to all sorts of accidents involving not only your pets but also children and senior members of your family. If you live in a place where winters tend to be harsh, you may even need to install a radiant underfloor heating system.
Perhaps if your pets could speak, theyâd tell you they love carpets. And whatâs not to love?
Carpets are warm and comfortable. They are soft on the joints and help deaden noise. Theyâre also a less expensive flooring option.
But they can also be your worst nightmare when comparing flooring materials as they can be scratched and chewed on easily. Carpets absorb various substances, including pet vomit, drool, urine, poop, spills, and all sorts of smells. Additionally, theyâre a magnet for pet dander, dust, and various allergens. They also require regular maintenance and cleaning to keep them in tip-top condition.
If you insist on using carpets, buy only stain-proof ones and always use pet pads to add a moisture barrier that can protect your carpet from peeing and pooping accidents or spills.
Of course, you can save yourself from the headache of having to deal with the various downsides presented by these flooring materials by considering better, pet-friendly floors like luxury vinyl flooring, engineered hardwood, or solid wood thatâs treated with protective finishes.
You love your pets â whether itâs cats, dogs, or other fur babies â and you only want the best for them. When it comes to your floor, youâll want pet-proof flooring thatâs not only comfortable for your pet but is also durable, safe, and aesthetically pleasing so that it complements your home design.
Both luxury vinyl and specially finished solid or engineered hardwood fit the bill, as they can easily withstand the beating your pets will subject them to â including scratches, stains, and other accidents. Theyâre also safe and comfortable, so they donât pose any slip-and-fall hazards and are gentle on the joints, making them excellent choices even for families with kids and senior members.
This guide should, hopefully, provide sufficient information about different flooring materials for you to make an informed decision.
If youâre convinced that luxury vinyl or hardwood meets your requirements, itâs very easy to check if your flooring choices match the design of your home. Just request samples of the Southern Luxe flooring products that you like on the product pages and weâll be happy to send those over to you.
Our friendly and professional Southern Luxe team is ready to answer your flooring-related questions and steer you in the right direction. For us to assist you better, you can also visit our Start Your Project page.