Pet Friendly Flooring

When you’re upgrading your flooring, your pets need to be a major consideration.  Not only do you want flooring that is comfortable for them to walk on, you want something that won’t easily be scratched or frayed by nails, or stained by dirty paws and accidents.

Things to consider

For flooring to be pet friendly, it needs to be scratch resistant to stand up to those paws walking on it all day, and cats that like to claw a lot.  Stain and moisture resistance is so important for those inevitable accidents, especially when you have a puppy in the house.

Pets also tend to bring in a lot of water from rainy days and muddy walks, so waterproof flooring options are ideal to avoid damage.  There’s also the spills from bowls and don’t forget the drooling!  The flooring should be easy to clean, to make your life easier when mopping up spills and getting rid of pet hair.  It should also be durable as pets can be heavy walking on floors.

It has to be safe and comfortable for the pets themselves.  Traction is important so they don’t slip or have problems getting up.  The older your pet, the more important this becomes as their mobility issues increase and they become more fragile.  Anti-slip flooring will help prevent injury to them and softer floors will be much easier for them to walk on.

The good news is that there are plenty of affordable options in pet friendly flooring and you don’t have to sacrifice your comfort or style.  It can also reduce the sound from paws, so you don’t get those echoing tip taps.

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Best types of flooring

Luxury vinyl tile (LVT) is a great all round option for you and your pets as it is durable, versatile and resilient.  The top wear layer is scratch resistant plus it is slip and spill resistant.  Many types of LVT are completely waterproof, it is well worth paying the extra for this especially if your pets are alone during the day.  Another advantage is that is has great acoustics, so it reduces the sound from paws and it has a softness underfoot for them.  See picture on the right for Poppy the Cavapoo enjoying her Amtico Spacia LVT flooring.

Similarly, vinyl tile and sheet have good stain and moisture resistance and are budget friendly, though they are more susceptible to scratches over time.  This does mean a less expensive way to replace your flooring over time if you have a full of household of pets.  Vinyl sheet has the advantage of no grout (so no need to replace stained grout) and few, if any, seams.  It also softens the sound of your pets walking.  There are also varieties of vinyl flooring available with special superior stain, scratch and scuff resistance which also repels spills and dirt.

If you want that real wood look on your floor, engineered hardwood is the best option as it has a much higher moisture resistance than real wood.  It doesn’t hold dust and allergens, is easy to maintain and has better traction for pets to walk on.  Solid wood can be easily damaged by claws, so engineered hardwood with a tough, scratch-resistant finish is a better choice.

Laminate flooring has not worked well with pets traditionally, due to its tendancy to warp and become slippery when it gets wet.  However, there are now options that are both scratch and water resistant with better sound absorption, thanks to advances in technology.  Make sure you choose a textured finish to give better traction.

Ceramic and stone floors are good choices as they are durable, easy to maintain and moisture resistant.  A glazed, matt surface tile works well so there is still some grip.  Avoid any polished finish as it will likely get scratched and be difficult for pets to walk on without slipping.

Carpeting can be challenging if you have furry friends but you don’t have to go without.  Always choose an uncut pile if you want to have carpet in rooms where pets will be (preferably with added stain resistance). Ensure you vacuum regularly to get rid of pet hair.  Carpets with a looped pile are likely to get snagged as claws get stuck in the loops and can shred the carpet.  Choose a colour or design that hides pet hair well.

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How to make the flooring last longer

There are a few things you can do in combination with choosing a pet friendly option to make your flooring last longer.  Make sure you clip your dog’s nails regularly so they are less likely to leave scratches.

Use a wipeable mat under food and water bowls to catch the regular spills and have a regular cleaning schedule to keep the floors as clean and dry as possible.

If any accidents do occur, they need to be cleaned up immediately to prevent any stains.  Entrance matting is a great way to catch the dirt and detritus before it gets further into the house.  Rugs also work well to take some of the wear and tear from your flooring.

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Whatever you want to achieve in your home, we can help with all your flooring and carpet needs.  Contact us here to book a free estimate with our friendly and professional Herts Carpets team today!

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