Building a home or remodeling an existing one? Flooring is an important decision for family home with household pets. Pets put flooring to the test.

Hardwood Flooring:

Not the best choice.

Why?

Urine is likely to leave not just that ghastly scent you would expect but a dark spot regardless of how quick you get to it. Urine seeps deep into the wood. Removing urine stains may require removing the finish, sanding the floor and refinishing the floor. Unfortunately, even stains contained to small areas are not an easy fix. It could get even worse, unfortunately: In some cases, the odor and stain may reappear because of salt crystals left behind from urine that cannot be dissolved. In these instances, replacing the wood flooring may be necessary.

Urine is not the only problem. A pet’s water bowl can present moisture issues too. Place the bowl on a mat to protect it. When the bowl spills, dry the spill right after it happens. The moisture will soak into the wood, which swells and contracts. Trim or file your pet's nails to avoid scratches on the flooring. As a pet traverses across the flooring, their claws damage the surface. Some homeowners declaw their pets, for this reason. Flooring coated with a high quality urethane is likely to be more scratch and stain resistant. Hardwood flooring should be swept on a weekly basis.

****

Laminate Flooring

Some pet owners regret opting for laminate flooring for its firmness and variety of design choices. Why? Because it can be difficult for pets, especially dogs that slip and slide as they traverse the surface. Doing so makes their hips move in unnatural ways and damage their bodies. This slippage is likely pronounced in those smooth, high gloss laminate floors. This can be minimized with a laminate floor with an embossed or textured finish. Laminate won’t show scratches as easily as some other surfaces, but because they are slippery and uncomfortable to lie on, rugs are recommended throughout the home to help the pet.

Bamboo Flooring

Bamboo is a firm choice. Some say it is one of the best pet-friendly flooring choices. It is likely to withstand foot traffic and take time to wear out. It is also a renewal material - a wise choice for the green-minded. Its stain resistant characteristics free people from worrying about accidents or spills. Its durability translates into savings with minimal repairing other types of flooring. For those who are trying to decide between using hardwood and vinyl flooring, choosing bamboo floors is a great compromise.

Cork Floors

Cork is a green flooring choice good for the environment and the health of the occupants, pets included. Cork is an antimicrobial type of flooring that will reduce the growth of mold and other allergens. Cork is scratch resistant, though it should be swept regularly to prevent scratching from particles of dirt left on the floor. It is an excellent sound absorption option, so as pets walk across the floor, it will not be as loud. While the flooring is water resistant, it is a natural product, so spills should be cleaned up promptly. Discoloration of this flooring will happen over time when exposed to sunlight.

Stone Tile Flooring

This type of flooring is amazing for pet owners because it does not scratch easily, and scratches don’t show as they do in other types of flooring. When pets have accidents on the stone tile floor, there is much less reason to worry over how this will impact the condition of the flooring. With these two factors considered, this is a good choice for pet owners, but the floors are hard and cold so they are not very comfortable to lie on, unless the floor is heated by radiant heat. Consider using area rugs and pet beds to alleviate this problem. Granite is the hardest of the natural stones and is the best choice for scratch resistance. Softer stones such as marble, slate, and travertine may require somewhat more maintenance than granite, especially if they feature a polished finish.

Tile

Much similar to stone, porcelain or ceramic tile is a good choice in terms of wear and tear for pets. It won’t scratch easily. If pets don’t manage to make it outside before relieving themselves, the urine won’t damage the condition of the floor as it would with hardwood. However, much like stone, the surface is hard and uncomfortable for pets to lie on, but rugs will help.

Vinyl Flooring

While many people wouldn’t think vinyl flooring be a very pet friendly flooring choice, the new luxury vinyl flooring is an excellent choice, and it’s great for small children, too. The flooring is scratch and stain resistant, low in allergens, easy to clean and maintain, and even quiet to walk on.

Carpet

When it comes to pets, carpet is likely the worst flooring choice one can make, simply because it is easily damaged by pets. Even normal wear and tear on carpet in a pet-free home happens faster than with other flooring options. If carpet is the only choice because it is the most cost effective option for home flooring, the best thing to do is choose a carpet without loops as pet nails can snag on the loops and cause the carpet to wear faster.

While budget and ease of installation will be factors impacting the flooring decisions of a home, taking time to consider the best flooring options for pets beforehand may save money in repairs and frustration in the long run. Cutting corners on flooring to save money is not a good choice if the flooring needs to be replaced in a few months or even a year due to the wear and tear from the pets.

Floor Covering Media is

a social media network.

Retrieve timely, objective news and

information at https://www.floorsearch.info.