Pet-Friendly Flooring - A Comprehensive Guide
You can find a pet in one in two homes in the UK, which equals to around 20 million pets owned in the UK alone. That's a huge amount of lucky animals living with individuals, couples and families in their homes.
As lovely as it is to have a furry friend, we all have to weigh up the pros and cons prior to making that lifetime commitment of being responsible for an animal.
With pets in the home, your choice of flooring becomes even more important. Why? Dogs and Cats are just as hard, if not harder than people on soft furnishings and flooring surfaces. So how can I protect my flooring from any potential pet damage?
We may not be able to provide you with any advice on puppy and kitten training however when it comes to protecting your home we can help you ensure that you have the best pet-friendly flooring so you’re not forking out for a new floor in a few months time!
Best Flooring for Pets
Luckily, there is a wide range of types of pet-friendly flooring options for dogs and cats on the market. We have provided a little advice on the types of flooring that you may be considering in order to help with making your decision:
- Wood flooring for pets
- Textured laminate flooring
- Pet-friendly carpet
- Tiles
- Vinyl flooring
When it comes to your flooring you need to ensure you opt for a durable, easy-to-care-for choice that is suitable for the size of your animal. You also need to consider what you’re protecting your floor from – this should include thinking about scratches, stains, odors, snags, and dirt.
Wood Flooring for Pets
Wood flooring is easy to clean and practical for both cats and dogs. However, you need to be cautious of animals slipping and scratching hardwood floors.
Solid wood flooring is both practical and durable and suitable for any room or space within the home. Its versatile nature means that it’s easy to install and easy to look after even with pets.
There’s no need to make your home look cheap, with our range of wood flooring we offer the best possible prices on the market. Therefore you can afford to opt for luxury solid wood flooring, so even with a pet you can have the sleekest, most stylish home of all your friends! And why not?
The best pet-friendly hardwood flooring options are oak, walnut, maple, hickory and bamboo. It’s worth also noting that when it comes to pets it's best to avoid investing in softwood floorings such as pine and chestnut due to being prone to dents and scratches.
Engineered wood flooring is a cheaper alternative to solid wood and is again extremely versatile and easy to fit into any room in the house. All of our engineered wood flooring is designed to look like hardwood flooring – but with a cheaper price, it’s a perfect choice for refitting your floors on a budget.
Our range of engineered flooring also has a scratch resistance coating that easily prevents any potential scratches that may happen with an animal in the home. This choice of flooring can also be brought back to life as engineered wood can be easily sanded down to look new and last a lifetime!
Laminate Flooring for pets - Embossed and Textured
Laminate flooring may look like hardwood flooring however this flooring option can be easier to clean and maintain than hard or soft wood flooring. Definitely something to consider if you feel like you’re going to have your hands full!
Our range of laminate flooring is both water and scratch-resistant so it could be a great choice for you to add to the equation!
Be careful though as laminate can tend to be a little slippery underfoot, therefore, we would recommend choosing an embossed or textured laminate to add a little friction under your pet's toes and prevent any unnecessary trips to the vets!
Also, you can never underestimate the power of a rug, not only will it provide a safe, cosy patch for your pet, it also breaks up a room and can really add a touch of glamour to your home!
Pet-Friendly Carpet
Now when it comes to per friendly carpet, pet owners can face a difficult decision. But with Flooring Megastore’s choice of carpets and expertise – fear not! Your most difficult decision will be which carpet or colour to choose.
Our carpets have that gorgeous new carpet smell that we all love – but how can we ensure we keep the carpet as fresh and snag-free as the day we bought it?
Dark or patterned carpets are always a safe bet however our range of stain-free carpets are perfect for pets and young children, as they are easy to clean and durable which means no matter how many accidents you may have in the early days of puppy training, it won’t ruin your new carpet – regardless of the colour. Be sure to invest in good stain and odour removal for any mishaps that may occur!
Many people still opt for a carpet in their home for its warm, cosy feel that adds a sense of comfort and tranquillity to a room - so don’t be put off by carpet if you invest in a pet!
Ceramic Tiles vs Luxury Vinyl Tiles
Tiles are a great option for pets as it is extremely easy to clean, scratch-resistant and resilient. Bear in mind that some soft stone tiles may require a touch of care and maintenance in order to keep they stylish look.
The downside to tile is that it can be cold underfoot which is the last thing you want to feel first thing in the morning! However, there are many options available such as underfloor heating or opting for Vinyl tiles (LVT) that don’t have a cold touch.
We have a wide range of luxury vinyl tiles online and are perfect for rooms such as kitchens and bathrooms. As it says in the title, these are luxury and designed to look like tiles however do not be put off by the phrase ‘luxury,’ if you think we mean expensive, think again! We offer some of the most competitive prices on the high street to ensure that our customers get the highest quality products are the lowest prices!
They are easy to clean and can withstand pressure from large animals. Simply wipe clean for a fresh, clean look!
Vinyl Flooring for Dogs and Cats
And last but not least, pet-friendly vinyl flooring.
Now we might just go ahead and say the truth here, vinyl flooring can be the best possible option for pets. This is due to its versatility, durability and true resilience to withstand years of endurance whatever life throws at it.
It’s also a very affordable option for anyone looking to revamp their home on a budget to welcome a new furry friend into the mix!
Our range of vinyl flooring has a wide variety of colours, patterns and finishes including tiled, stone and wood effects that can be fitted into any room of the house. With all options, we only provide the highest quality at the best possible prices so the cost of beautiful flooring doesn’t come at a price!
Maintaining your vinyl flooring could never be easier – simply sweep, vacuum and wipe clean regularly! Unlike some types of flooring, there is no long-term maintenance work required such as treatments and sanding down – this way you can reduce the worry and get on with enjoying time with your new family member.
If you are shopping in a store then shop advisors should be fully trained and ready to advise you on the best flooring for cats with sharp claws and boisterous puppies however, if you’re shopping online simply drop any questions you have in an email or pick up the phone before making that big decision.
If you would like further advice on which flooring is the best option for the space in your home, please do not hesitate to get in touch and one of our expert flooring guru’s will be happy to help! If you need to speak to one of our flooring guru’s today simply call 01622 790356.
