Pet owners already understand the benefits of sharing their home with non-humans. Research has even confirmed that pets can decrease an owner’s stress, lower their blood pressure and cholesterol levels. However pets can be tough on a living space by causing damage to furniture, floors and possessions. Fortunately there are flooring options that are able to withstand the stresses caused by pets. In this article we’ll go over some of the best flooring options for pet owners.
Tile
Tile flooring works well with pets because it’s strong, durable and resistant to scratches and stains. There’s little chance that your pet’s claws will be able to mar the surface of a tile floor or that any “accidents” with leave a permanent stain. The smooth surface of tile floors are easy to sweep and mop while being available in a wide variety of colours and styles. If there is a drawback to tile is that it can be hard or slippery underfoot, but that can be rectified with area rugs and pet beds.
Vinyl
Vinyl is much softer underfoot than tile while still providing an easily cleaned surface. Vinyl is water resistant, durable and comes in a wide range of styles to allow matching with the rest of your house. Vinyl is also less noisy than harder flooring options which might be welcomed by owners of active animals. A disadvantage of vinyl is that it can be ripped if heavy furniture is dragged over it, but it should still be able to withstand the paws of your pets.
Bamboo
Bamboo is an eco-friendly flooring option that looks similar to hardwood while providing a durable and easily cleaned surface. Although stain resistant, bamboo may naturally discolour with time but it’s also easily refinished. On the downside, bamboo is more prone to scratching than tile or vinyl. And although more water resistant than hardwood, excessive moisture can cause warping.
Laminate
Laminate flooring is a popular option because it resembles hardwood but is much easier to care for and comes at a much lower price. Laminate flooring is resistant to fading, staining and scratching because of its durable top layer coating. Laminate floors work well with pets because they are easy to clean and maintain. A drawback of laminate floors is they cannot be refinished, so if damage does occur, the offending piece will need to be replaced.
