Choosing the right flooring for your home can be a challenging task as there are many options to consider. The importance of selecting the best flooring for your home is even greater if you are a pet owner. Pets can cause scratches, stains and odours as well as potentially being loud on certain types of flooring. Selecting the most appropriate flooring for you and your pet can prevent you all living by pesky rules which may keep pets exiled from certain rooms.
Thankfully, you can keep everyone in the house content as many flooring options are pet-friendly. This guide can help you find the best flooring option for your household by exploring the pros and cons of the pet-friendly flooring options that are available.
What to Consider When Choosing Flooring
When searching for the optimal pet-friendly flooring for your home there are a few things to take into account.
- Pet comfort
- Pet traction
- Resistance to scratches
- Resistance to Damage
Fortunately, you won’t have to sacrifice aesthetics or personal style when selecting flooring that is pet friendly as the available options are extensive and varied. In addition, all of these flooring options make keeping your home clean easier with pets.
1. Cork Flooring
First on the list is cork. Cork is a scratch-resistant and sturdy flooring option in part due to its malleability. We recommend regularly clipping your pets’ nails to further prevent scratches as although it is more resistant to scratches than other flooring options it is not scratch-proof. Scratch-resistant finishers can help boost your cork floorings resilience and selecting a lighter shade of flooring can help to make any scratches that do occur less noticeable.
Cork resembles hardwood flooring but is more pet friendly making it a fantastic option for pet owners. Any pet owner who is a fan of hardwood flooring will be familiar with the tapping sound of their pets’ claws as they move around the room. Cork is a natural acoustic insulator which makes it ideal to minimise this particular phenomenon. Cork flooring can be considered a comfortable flooring option for pets as it is both warm and pliant.
Among the list of beneficial properties that make cork flooring an excellent option for you and your pets is their antimicrobial and antibacterial properties. These properties reduce the growth of microorganisms such as mould and bacteria while also limiting the spread of other allergens. As such, even if your pet has an accident that alludes your notice for a while you will still be able to clean it up as if it never happened.
2. Bamboo Flooring
If you are looking for pet-friendly flooring that is environmentally friendly and sustainable then bamboo flooring might be the right fit for your home. Contrary to popular belief, sustainability does not have to be at odds with cost and bamboo is a perfect example as it is an affordable flooring option. High-quality bamboo flooring does have a higher price tag however if you select a hard-wearing bamboo it can be an excellent flooring option for you and your pets.
The most durable type of bamboo flooring is strand woven bamboo floors. Similar to cork, bamboo is scratch-resistant and durable. Bamboo flooring is given ratings for hardness. It is always beneficial to select one which has a high rating for hardness as this way you can let your pets frolic worry-free.
Pets can be a much loved but messy addition to your household. Luckily, bamboo flooring won’t be damaged by spilt food or water or accidents if properly cleaned. In addition to being resistant to scratches bamboo flooring is relatively easy to maintain. A feature that is aided by its antimicrobial nature which will help to limit the growth of microorganisms that may arise from spills or accidents.
3. Tile & Stone Flooring
Third, on our list of pet-friendly flooring options is tile and stone flooring. There are many benefits to opting for tile or stone flooring as they are scratch-resistant and very easy to clean. This makes it a suitable option for dogs of varying ages from a puppy who is still getting the hang of potty training to an older dog who may be facing incontinence. As dogs get older it can get harder to support their health, however, choosing the right flooring can be a great way to make your older dog more comfortable.
While tile and stone flooring boasts similar scratch-resistant properties as cork or bamboo flooring it is a much harder surface. This has negative implications for the comfort of both you and your pet. To offset this, provide your pet with a comfortable bed or soft rug for them to relax on. Another way to improve the comfort of stone or tile flooring is to consider underfloor heating. If you live somewhere that gets particularly cold during the winter months, both you and your pet may be glad of it.
While you can get affordable tile and stone flooring, higher quality tiles may be accompanied by a heftier price tag. Tile and stone floors can be considered one of the most scratch and stain-resistant flooring options. If you make sure you provide a comfortable resting place for your pet tile and stone flooring may be a good fit for your home.
4. Vinyl Flooring
Vinyl provides another flooring option which is easily cleaned and maintained, a must for pet owners. Spills and accidents should be no problem for vinyl flooring as many vinyl flooring options are water-resistant. Pet owners on a budget may have found their match when it comes to vinyl flooring. Vinyl flooring comes in a huge range of styles which can mimic the appearance of natural stone, hardwood or tile flooring allowing you to achieve your target aesthetic at a much more affordable price.
Withstanding tears and scratches is a necessary feature for pet-friendly flooring and vinyl does not disappoint. Purchasing high-quality vinyl can ensure that your flooring is durable and largely scratch-resistant.
While vinyl flooring is easy to clean it also provides a flooring option which is softer underfoot providing a more comfortable experience for you and your pet. As your pet ages, the types of floors that they can comfortably traverse may change. Vinyl flooring has traction which can make moving around the house easier for older pets.
5. Engineered Hardwood Flooring
Hardwood flooring can be a beautiful and stylish addition to any home however their penchant to get scratched, stained and suffer water damage means it is not recommended for households with pets. Opting for engineered hardwood flooring is the recommended route for pet owners who have envisioned this look as the finishing touch for their home. Selecting engineered hardwood flooring allows you to choose an option that has been designed to be highly durable along with being water and scratch-resistant. The use of a strong, scratch-resistant finish on your engineered hardwood flooring can add another level of protection.
Another option to make hardwood flooring a more pet-friendly option is to use reclaimed wood flooring. In many cases, this flooring has a more rustic, shabby chic aesthetic which can be ideal for hiding any scratches that may occur. While this option may fit the aesthetic of your home perfectly it is often a more expensive flooring option. Cleaning up accidents or spills as soon as they occur is important to help protect your hardwood floors from stains.
In summary
Choosing the right flooring option for you and your home is a decision influenced by your style, your budget and what you need from your flooring. No flooring is pet-proof but there are many options that are proven to be appropriate additions to a pet-friendly household. Whatever flooring you select it will be with you for the long run so it is important to do your research and look at the pros and cons of different flooring options.
No matter what decision you make regarding the type of flooring to bring home with you, some accidents are unavoidable. To keep your flooring looking new be sure to keep your pets’ nails trimmed and use a scratch-resistant finishing product on your flooring. This way you will have peace of mind as you and your pets enjoy life in your house with beautiful new floors.
About The Author:
Dan Baker is a Content Writer that works SPD UK, a family run cork supplier based in the UK.