Pets are members of our family, and we treat them as such. We need to pick our flooring accordingly so that any damage to a new floor is not the pet’s fault. One of the best questions to ask yourself is if you had it to do over again, what would you do differently regarding pets and your current flooring? We have listed the following pros and cons of pet flooring choices that you should find very helpful when in the market for new flooring.
Carpet
Pro
Carpet is a favorite option for homeowners since it creates a soft and warm floor for pets to stretch out.
Con
Carpet requires high maintenance, especially if your pet has accidents, like training a new puppy. You must have it professionally cleaned or invest in a carpet shampooer.
Hardwood
Pro
Hardwood floors are durable, but not immune to pet accidents and scratches due to large, active dogs running through the house. However, if you find the accident quickly, it can be cleaned, and no damage will occur. Also, hardwood floors last for years and years and can be refinished over time, resulting in the look of a brand new floor.
Con
The cons are accidents and scratches from the dog’s nails while running through the house.
Laminate Flooring
Pro
Laminate flooring is often a choice by homeowners due to its cost compared to hardwood floors. There is a protective covering on the top layer of laminate flooring that will help protect against scratches.
Con
Laminate floors will show scratches, especially if you have a smooth glossy finish. If your pet has an accident and you are not home to clean it up quickly, the moisture will damage the flooring, especially if left for several hours.
Tile Flooring
Pro
Tile flooring is often a favorite of homeowners with pets. It is resilient to accidents, and no matter how active your dogs might be, their nails will not damage the flooring. You can put down an area rug so that pets have a softer surface to sleep.
Con
The main con for tile floors and pets is that tile is cold and hard. Often times, in the winter months, tile floors are extremely cold unless you have an area rug or heated floors.
Natural Stone
Pro
Stone flooring’s pros and cons are very similar to tile flooring. Stone flooring is known for its undeniable beauty and durability. It is resilient to bathroom accidents, and no matter how active your dogs might be, their nails will not damage the flooring. You can put down an area rug so that pets have a softer surface to sleep.
Con
The main con for stone flooring is it is not warm and soft for pets. Again, during cold winter months, stone floors are very cold unless you have heated floors or an area rug.
Luxury Vinyl
Pro
In many cases, luxury vinyl is the best option for homeowners with pets. Pay careful attention to LVF because many brands are 100% moisture-proof and are competitively priced compared to hardwoods, laminate, tile, and stone flooring.
Also, many brands have a thick cork backing that is great for standing on for long periods of time. Also, if you buy a hand-scraped plank or tile/stone flooring with a less smooth finish, you will not see any dents or scratches from your pet’s nails.
Con
As far as the cons go for LVT, the least likable fact is that due to its elastic contents, the manufacturing process is not as environmentally friendly as other options.
We hope that you found this list helpful, and be sure to check back weekly for more flooring advice.
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