Floors perfect for homes with pets

From their great personality to their crazy antics, our pets have a way of working into our hearts. Inevitably that means, as a valued member of our family, our furry friends also work their way into our homes and across our floors. When it’s time to replace those floors, it makes cents to keep our dog and cat friends in mind when you choose your next floor—your next pet-friendly floor.

Luxury vinyl

Pros: Pet paws, high traffic, accidents, soda…this floor can take whatever your home (and your family) dishes out. These floors are very hard to scratch and stain resistant so they can take running dogs and cats, long claws, and any accidents that might happen. Pet hair can easily be removed, and they are incredibly easy to clean. Luxury vinyl is available in a tile or wood look, can be installed with or without grout, and can be a do-it-your-self project (depending on the product).

Cons: Luxury vinyl can be very hard so you’ll need to add rugs for the comfort of your pets. Scratches can be also hard to fix, so make sure you tell your associate you have pets when you purchase the floor. The cost of luxury vinyl can be intimidating, but you can often get discounts for volume purchases.

Tile

Pros: Porcelain tile is water, odor and mildew resistant, making them ideal for homes with pets. As far as looks, tiles come in a huge variety of colors and styles. Tile can be installed as a do-it-yourself project, and is extremely affordable. It’s also easy to keep clean.

Cons: When the temperature drops, tile floors can feel cold under your bare feet. To keep your feet warm, consider having radiant floor heating installed under the tile. Radiant floor heating can run off of your hydronic heating or can be installed as an electrical mat. Because tile floors are so hard, it can be hard for pets with joint issues because it’s harder for them to get traction when they run through the room.

Hardwood

Pros: Hardwood floors are durable and can be refinished when needed. Wood floors look great and are easy to clean up any fur or debris that your pet tracks in. There are a ton of colors and styles, so you can choose the color and width of the floors that you want installed in your home.

Cons: Wood floors are one of the most expensive flooring options, and are prone to scratching. Hardwoods also can be damaged by water from your pets’ paws, water bowls, or accidents. Keep a rag close at hand so you can dry up easily. If you choose hardwood, put a wood-friendly mat under the food and water bowls. Wood floors are not a good match for basements because they can be damaged by moisture that seeps through the walls and floor (find out what floors are best for basements or just ask us via email or when you come in).

Laminate

Pros: Laminate flooring is as tough as nails (maybe tougher), which means it can handle all the running, playing, and crazy that comes with high-energy pets. With a broom or a damp mop, this flooring is easy-to-clean and easy to remove all the fur that tends to pile up. Laminate floors come in a variety of colors and styles, making them a beautiful addition to any room. These floors are also very affordable and can be a fairly easy do-it-yourself project so they can be a low-cost upgrade to any home.

Cons: Laminate floors can be damaged by water spills—especially when not wiped up right away. These floors are also very hard, which can be tough on pets with joint issues because they can’t get traction. Laminate floors are very loud and tend to echo, especially when pets are running through the room.

Cork

Pros: Cork is antimicrobial, beautiful, and a green product. It is mildew-resistant and soft to the feet, making it comfortable for pets to relax on. Cork can be stained to the color you choose.

Cons: Cork is prone to damage from scratching, which can be a problem in a high traffic household (or a many-paw household). While cork is easy to keep clean, it does need periodic maintenance over the life of the floor. Cork can also be damaged by water, which makes it a problem in areas where your pets come in from outside or around their water bowl.