The Best Pet-Friendly Flooring Options Available
Choosing the perfect flooring option for your home is an important decision, with many different things to consider. If you are a pet owner, then your choice of flooring affects not only you but also your pets. Dogs, cats, and other pets can be weighty on floors, leading to scratches and stains on your new flooring. Unless you are planning on banishing your pet from the room, you will need to consider which type of flooring is best suited to both yourself and your pets.
Thankfully, there are several pet-friendly flooring options for you to choose to buy. This handy guide will go through some of the best options available and help you find the perfect pet-friendly flooring option for both you and your pet.
What to Consider When Choosing Pet-Friendly Flooring
When looking for pet-friendly flooring options for your house, there are four things you need to consider:
- Resistance to Damage
- Resistance to Scratches
- Pet Comfort
- Pet Traction
Fortunately, there are several options available, meaning you won’t need to compromise on your preferred style or aesthetic when choosing pet-friendly flooring.
1. Bamboo Flooring
Bamboo is an excellent flooring option for pet owners that is natural-looking and pet friendly. Bamboo is both scratch-resistant and very durable, meaning your pets can walk across it without you needing to worry. However, you must select a bamboo flooring that rates high for hardness, as not all bamboo flooring is the same. Strand woven bamboo floors are the most durable type of bamboo flooring.
In addition to being extremely durable, bamboo flooring is also easy to maintain. Bamboo flooring is stain-resistant and will handle any mess your pets might make, such as food or water spills or any accidents. Bamboo is also naturally antimicrobial, which will help keep your floors clean and free from bacteria.
Bamboo flooring is also an excellent flooring option for those who are environmentally conscious as it is sustainable. Finally, bamboo is also very affordable. However, higher-quality bamboo naturally carries a higher cost. Bamboo is an excellent pet-friendly flooring option as long as you pick one that is hard and durable.
2. Cork Flooring
Similar to bamboo, cork is another excellent flooring option for those looking for a natural, pet-friendly wooden floor that resembles hardwood flooring. Cork flooring boasts a range of benefits to you and your pets. For starters, cork is naturally antimicrobial and antibacterial. This material prevents the growth of bacteria, mold, and other allergens, keeping your floor cleaner and healthier for longer. This flooring is also great for your pet, due to the dangers of mold exposure to dogs.
Cork is also a tremendous acoustic insulator, which means it will absorb sound. Perfect if you aren’t keen on listening to the clicking of your pet’s feet tap across the house all day. Moreover, cork flooring is also warm and pliant, making it comfortable for your pets to walk on.
Cork is also durable and scratch-resistant, which is perfect for pets nails or claws. Of course, this doesn’t mean it is entirely scratch-proof, and we still recommend clipping your pet's nails often to keep from scratching the surface. However, cork is a sturdy flooring option. Be sure to finish your flooring with a scratch-resistant finisher to help boost its resilience.
Additional Resource: SPD UK, a family run cork supplier based in the UK.
3. Vinyl Flooring
Vinyl flooring is another right choice for pet owners as it is effortless to maintain and keep clean. Vinyl flooring holds up well against accidents and spills, and the majority of vinyl flooring options are water-resistant. Vinyl flooring is also very durable and is scratch-resistant.
Also, vinyl flooring is soft underfoot and will be much more comfortable for your pets compared to stone or tile flooring. Vinyl floors also provide traction, which is essential for allowing your pets to get around quickly, especially if they are older.
Vinyl flooring can mimic the look of natural stone or hardwood flooring and is available at a more affordable price. If you use suitable quality vinyl, you will find it can withstand many of the challenges that come with pets, such as scratches or tears. This flooring option for your home and your pet is ideal if you’re on a budget.
4. Tile & Stone Flooring
Tile and stone flooring is very durable, so you won't have to be worried about your pet scratching it with their nails or claws. Tile and stone are also well suited to pets of all ages as they are straightforward to keep clean and are stain-resistant.
However, there is a downside to tile and stone flooring. While it is easier to keep clean, it isn’t very comfortable for your pets. Tile and stone flooring can be a cold and hard surface that provides little to no comfort for your pets. Make sure you give them a soft rug or a comfy dog bed for nap time. Although some dogs still prefer to sleep on the floor. Also, underfloor heating might be something to consider if your home gets cold in the winter as a benefit to both you and your pets.
While tile and stone flooring can be very affordable, higher-quality tiles can be more expensive. Tile and stone flooring is easily one of the most stain and scratch-resistant flooring options. However, the comfort of your pets should also be a consideration.
5. Engineered Hardwood Flooring
Usually, hardwood flooring isn’t well suited to pets as they are more prone to scratches, stains, and water damage. However, if you are looking to choose hardwood floors, we recommend picking engineered hardwood.
Selecting an engineered hardwood floor that is scratch and water-resistant gives you the best hardwood floor for pets. Further, we suggest choosing one that ranks high for durability and hardness and finishing it with a robust, scratch-resistant finish.
If you are worried about scratches, maybe choose a style that looks worn or rustic. Reclaimed wood flooring is an excellent choice for this; however, it is more expensive. It is also important to remember to clean up any spills or accidents immediately to help protect your hardwood floors.
Final Thoughts
There may not be a perfect pet proof flooring, but there are certainly options that hold up better in homes with pets. Choosing to floor is a very personal choice and which one is right for you depends on you. Flooring is expensive and will be with you for a long time. Weigh up the pros and cons and do your research, and you will find the perfect pet-friendly flooring solution for you.
Whatever flooring option you decide to go for, just remember that accidents and scratches will happen. Be sure to finish your floors with a scratch-resistant finishing product and try to trim your pets’ nails often to help reduce scratches. This grooming will help protect your new floors for as long as possible and allow both you and your pet to enjoy your new flooring with peace of mind.
