Tips for Dog Owners Who Are Purchasing New Flooring

A home improvement project would not be complete without a careful flooring decision process. In addition, you also have to think about your pet-friendly flooring choices when picking the right pet-friendly area rug for your home. The floor is one of the most essential attention-grabbing features of any room, and it speaks tremendous volumes about your home’s comfort, cleanliness and aesthetic appeal.

To experience all of these great benefits and still enjoy the company of man's best furry friend, it is crucial to adapt the floor to your pet rather than the pet to your floor.

For example, with dogs, scratches are usually a definite concern – depending on the dog’s size and nail length. On the other hand, with cats’ soft paw, traction and safety are the primary issue. However, you cannot expect your pet to be confined to a rug, or to not shed. Every one in a while, even your calm 10-year-old dog might drag in mud, or have an accident in the middle of your living room.

What is The Best Type of Flooring for Pets?

Vinyl Flooring – Durable, waterproof, extremely easy to clean up messes, and soft on your feet.

Linoleum Flooring – Almost as great as vinyl and is eco-friendly, but this type of flooring will cost you a bit more.

Cork Flooring – Hypoallergenic, less harsh and rigid than wood but can be quite easily damaged by dogs and other pets.

Bamboo Flooring – Quality bamboo is tough, and looks great, but is not so comfortable for your pets.

Tile & Stone Flooring – Incredibly easy to clean up messes on, but difficult for your pets as they tend to slide and fall (especially if they are older or have a bad back).

Laminate Flooring – Durable but can be slippery, and can cause the loud clinking of your pet claws when they walk across the floor.

Hardwood Flooring – Softer woods are more prone to scratches.

Carpeting – Pets enjoy carpet but you won’t enjoy the floor damage that your pet can cause on it.

Pros and Cons of Your Pet-Friendly Flooring Options

If you're searching for the top pet-friendly flooring guide, you are in the ideal place! The following is a list of pet-friendly floors in terms of damage resistance, pet traction and comfort, as well as maintenance requirements:

Hardwood

• Pros: Hardwood is a gorgeous and timeless flooring which is safe and healthy to walk on for both pets and humans, as well as pretty easy to clean. Additionally, It is also available in a variety of colors and finishes, giving pet owners the ability to avoid compromising on aesthetics.
• Cons: The main downside of hardwood flooring is its price, both in terms of installation and sealing. Unfortunately, without any protective sealant, the surface is susceptible to scratches, pet stains, and water damage (which can also be caused by pet urine).

Carpet

• Pros: Carpet is a popular flooring decision for low-traffic areas due to its warmth and softness, and the fact that it offers great traction for pets. It is available in a variety of colors and styles, and individual carpet tiles are easy to replace.
• Cons: Unfortunately, carpeted flooring is very difficult to clean, especially from pets with long hair, and it is highly prone to scratches and stains. Pet nails may snag on the loops of some wall-to-wall carpet. 

Laminate

• Pros: Laminate is a gorgeous flooring option that resembles hardwood without the added costs. It is also highly resistant to staining and helps reduce the appearance of scratches.
• Cons: The smooth and calm surface of laminate makes this type of flooring very slippery for pets, particularly some of the high-gloss varieties. Furthermore, it has a very short lifespan and requires complete replacement after major damage.

Cork

• Pros: Cork is one of the more eco-friendly flooring materials for pet owners, as it resistant to the growth of mold and other allergens, and requires minimal maintenance. It is also warm to walk on and highly resistant to foot traffic, whether human or otherwise.
• Cons: Unfortunately, cork is prone to discoloration from long exposure to sunlight, and it is not resistant to particularly sharp claws.

Bamboo

• Pros: Bamboo is one of the most popular flooring options due to its exceptional stain and scratch-resistance, that rivals even that of hardwood. It is also fabricated from a sustainable, natural material that can withstand high foot traffic.
• Cons: Depending on the color and variety chosen, bamboo flooring can be quite costly yet not very resistant to water damage.

Tile

• Pros: Tile is one of the most resistant surfaces for stains and scratches, and it is also one of the easiest to clean.
• Cons: Unfortunately, tile flooring can be cold and slippery for cats and dogs alike, often creating additional costs of area rugs or radiant heating underfoot. Furthermore, some types of tile are very porous and hence require additional finishing and maintenance for optimal results.

Vinyl

• Pros: Vinyl flooring is extremely resistant to scratches and pet stains, offers incredible traction for soft paws, and is super easy to clean. Its availability in a range of styles, as well as its low price, makes it one of the best options for pet owners.
• Cons: Unfortunately, vinyl is also prone to rapid dulling, and frequent spills may result in lifting or mold growth.

 

 

There are several options to consider when shopping for a pet-friendly rug, so that's why we've eliminated the guess work and created a website full of area rugs that are designed to withstand use, and accidents, from your pets! Click here to shop!