It can be hard to choose the most ideal flooring for your new home or remodeling project – unless you know what exactly you are looking for. Every homeowner needs to consider a number of factors in order to make the right choice. One of these is whether or not you have dogs in your home. While you love and treat their pets like their family, you will never want to go for a product that is not friendly for pets. If you have dogs, you should always select a flooring material that is resistant to scratches and any kind of damage that dogs or other pets can do.
If you plan to find out what flooring material will be most suitable in terms of durability and elegance as well as pet-friendliness, we would like to present you with some great options. So, keep on reading.
Flooring for Dogs: Key Considerations to Keep in Mind
Today, you have many more flooring options than you had ever before. No matter what kind of needs you have, you will always be able to find a product that is completely in line with your specific requirements. When you are in search of flooring that is best for dogs, consider the following:
Scratch Resistance
Unless your dogs are potty-trained, there will always remain a chance of them doing it just anywhere. Potty on the floor can leave stains and ruin the pristine look of the material. Therefore, you should always look for a material that is resistant to stains as well as water.
Comfort
It is not just about the floor, but about the dog as well. Just like you consider your own comfort when choosing a flooring material, you should also keep the comfort of your dog in mind. Find a product that offers comfort as well as safety to the dog so that he or she can have a good time.
Maintenance
Being a dog owner, you need to find a flooring product that does not require a lot of maintenance on a daily basis. Instead, choose a flooring that will retain its pristine look with the least upkeep.
Cost
Knowing how much you are willing to spend is a key consideration among other things. Before you head out to market, you should decide on a budget in which you want to buy dog-friendly flooring material. The good news is that the flooring market has a suitable flooring product for every budget.
If you still have some confusion deciding which flooring will be best for dogs, feel free to reach out to one of our specialists at the Minuteman Floors in Manchester, NH. We like to educate dog-owners on different types of suitable flooring materials as well as deal in a wide variety of pet-friendly products. With our expert help and advice, you will be able to choose a flooring product that works best both for you and for your dog while also staying within budget.
Best Dog-Friendly Flooring Options
In order to maintain the newness of the flooring material, you should always choose a product after consideration. Making the right choice means the material will be highly resistant to wear and tear and last for several years in a row. Given below are some of the most suitable flooring options that you can choose from as per your specific needs as well as those of your dog.
Luxury Vinyl Planks
Abbreviated as LVP, luxury vinyl planks are popular for a number of good reasons. Apart from being highly resistant, this product comes with multiple other merits. Two key features of LVP products are a broad range of designs and easy maintenance. Most of all, the flooring material is affordable.
Luxury vinyl planks are waterproof and last for a long time. Depending on the overall decor of your home or apartment, you can go for a genuine hardwood look or a look like natural stone. If you have dogs in your home, this type of flooring is extremely suitable, as it will withstand everyday wear and tear. To keep the floor in great condition, all you need to do is little upkeep. Also, LVP products are easy to install. Just seek the help of an expert installer or flooring contractor such as the Minuteman Floors to get the product installed in a proper manner.
Luxury Vinyl Tiles
Luxury vinyl tiles or LVT look like real wood or stone, but they offer many more benefits than natural materials do. Due to its wonderful texture and high durability, a large number of homeowners prefer to install LVT products in their homes, mansions, and apartments. For dog owners or pet owners, this product is one of the most suitable flooring materials. Once you have this material installed in your place, you can forget about the wear and tear caused by dogs. You can have this flooring product installed over an existing floor without subfloor prep.
Luxury vinyl tiles require only the least amount of upkeep. The best thing about these products is that they are available in a wide range of patterns and finishes to match and complement the overall interior decor.
Engineered Hardwood
Also called composite wood, engineered hardwood is designed to mimic the look of natural wood floors with much longer durability. The material has a thin layer of natural hardwood on top of it, hence the look.
For homeowners with dogs, engineered hardwood is a good flooring option. It is both scratch-resistant and water-resistant. However, this product will need a little more upkeep than plastic-based materials such as vinyl planks and tiles. Too much moisture can cause damage to the material. So, you will need to clean up moisture or liquid spills as soon as you can. In terms of colors, patterns, and finishes, engineered hardwood offers limitless options. To enhance resistance to scratches and water, you should get protective finishes done by installers.
Compared to solid hardwood, engineered hardwood offers much better resistance against moisture. That is exactly why this flooring material is often installed in areas such as kitchens and bathrooms.
Rubber
If you have been to a pet daycare or training facility, you must have seen rubber flooring installed in many of them. Though rubber comes with a smell, it does have multiple features for suitable pet living.
Rubber flooring offers a great deal of comfort for dogs and other pets. The product is also scratch-free and slip-resistant. When you install this product, you will not need to worry about lots of maintenance. The least amount of upkeep will keep rubber flooring in excellent condition for many years. However, you may not like to lay down this product in a home or apartment. But rubber flooring is an excellent option for installation in outdoor spaces such as a garage.
Laminate
This product is especially known for its great surface detail and beautiful texture. Being highly resistant to scratches, laminate is one of the best choices for homeowners who keep dogs and other pets.
The product is designed to give the appearance of hand-scraped hardwood. That is exactly why it looks attractive. When you install laminate in your home, you should take the help of an experienced professional. The material offers a much higher level of protection against wear and tear. If you have active pets who like to spend time playing and running on the floor, you should definitely plan to lay down laminate in your home or apartment. The best thing about this material is that it does not require a great deal of maintenance. Just a little amount of upkeep will keep laminate flooring in a pristine state for multiple years in a row.
Tips: How to Care for Your Flooring Material
Once you have installed a dog-friendly flooring product, you can do a few things to keep them in a pristine state, particularly if you have dogs in your home. First, you should try to clean spills on the floor as soon as you can. Do not let water or any other spillage sit on the floor for a long time.
No matter what type of flooring material you have chosen to install, keeping your dog’s nails trimmed will always help. Also, groom your pet on a regular basis so that the likelihood of damage to the floor gets reduced. Pay proper attention to the areas where your dog eats and drinks. These areas often tend to get dirty. If you maintain these areas in a proper manner, you will be able to help the flooring material stay neat and tidy at all times. A daily cleaning routine will also enhance the protection of the floor against spills, dirt, hair, dander, etc.
Talk to an Experienced Flooring Contractor
If you still have a question or look for premium quality flooring material best suited for dogs, you should head straight to the Minuteman Floors. Our flooring experts are always at your service to answer your questions and help you choose the right type of flooring for dogs. Based in Manchester, New Hampshire, we deal in the best wood flooring for dogs and the best vinyl flooring for dogs. We provide professional installation of all pet-friendly flooring products with a wide range of colors, patterns, and styles to match the decor of your interiors.
For your free consultation, you should dial our phone number or shoot us an email using the contact form on our website.