From the Floors Up

The Best Floors for Pet Owners

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There are many variables to consider when shopping the market for your next flooring. Since flooring can be a significant investment that can last for many years to come, it is crucial to pick one that you love. However, pet owners are troubled with another variable. Not only does your floor need to withstand you and your family’s standards of living but also your four-legged family members as well. It would be a shame to invest in a floor that is not suitable for everyone. Well, have no fear, because we explored several of the most common flooring options to discover which is the most pet-friendly option to consider adding to your home. Let’s take a look!

Carpet

No surprise, carpet is not the most ideal flooring option for pets. While it is soft and can be great for you to spend time on the ground with your pets, it is not best for longevity. Carpet has made many advancements in preventing stains; however, if accidents penetrate down to the padding, it can leave a foul odor in your home. Carpet can also easily collect dust, fur, and dirt from your animals. And if your animals go outside or spend time with other animals, it can also store fleas.

Hardwood

Hardwood is a durable option depending on what kind you buy. From floating engineer to solid hardwood, different hardwoods all have their own sets of pros and cons. However, hardwood can scratch. While it can be sanded and refinished, it is essential to know that hardwood is not the most durable option. You can also have permanent damage to your floor if water or pet accidents occur. Hardwood can easily be ruined when exposed to liquids. If your dog love to run around your home as well, hardwood may not be best for traction under their paws.

Luxury Vinyl

Most vinyl plank floorings are marketed as pet-proof. They are 100% waterproof and extremely scratch-resistant. These durable floors can stand many of the obstacles pets throw at them. They are also extremely easy to clean if accidents do occur.

Tile

Tile is another great option. Tile is waterproof and durable. It can be easy to clean while being scratch-resistant. Your main concern is dirt collecting in the grout lines over time. You may also want to note that these floors can become slippery when wet and may give your pet a hard time to find traction.

It comes down to personal preference. While no floor is perfect in every situation, vinyl plank flooring reigns supreme as an excellent option for pet owners. You will need to make sure that this option is also functional with your lifestyle. You may want to consider another great option like tile as well. All in all, the choice is yours. Make sure to weigh out the pros and cons of every flooring option and find which is best for your home.

3 Reasons Why You Should Use Luxury Vinyl

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Is it time to upgrade your existing flooring, flip a property, or build a new home? If so, the time is now to start looking at Luxury Vinyl Flooring. The best vinyl plank flooring brands offer an affordable, waterproof, faux wood flooring product with excellent warmth/texture and installs with a peel-and-stick technique or clicks together with ease. Luxury Vinyl Tile (LVT) is a luxury vinyl product that looks like stone or ceramic tile, complete with gorgeous natural colors and surface texture that feels like the real thing. Some styles are even made to be installed with grout, but installation will increase due to the labor. Talk about realistic! We have listed three reasons below for why you should use luxury vinyl. Let’s take a look!

The Product Will Not Break the Bank

Your LVP flooring will be a fraction of the cost of hardwood flooring. In fact, LVP’s installation is so much easier to install than hardwood floors, ceramic tile, or natural stone. This feature is a benefit to the homeowner with lower installation charges compared to standard flooring installation charges. With a reasonable installation and product cost, homeowners can have a beautiful flooring product at a great price.

It Is Stunning

Luxury Vinyl is absolutely gorgeous and has come a very long way regarding its technology and appearance. It will look and feel like hardwood, ceramic tile, and natural stone. In fact, you will be amazed at the styles and colors available in Luxury Vinyl.

It Is Durable

Everyday wear and tear is a given on flooring with children, pets, water spills, etc. Even the best engineered wood flooring tends to get scratched and can suffer water damage if spills are not cleaned. Linoleum may eventually start to tear and rip while carpet can get stained and lose its shape. Flooring installers and experts will tell you that LVP floors are tough as nails! Many brands are 100% waterproof and constructed with cork backing, making the floors comfortable, quiet, and forgiving when items are dropped. If you have children and pets, you know how loud it can be when they are running through the house on hardwood and tile floors. Again, with the cork backing, the floors are more soundproof while being easier on your back and legs if standing for long periods of time.

All in all, luxury vinyl is an incredible flooring solution. Be sure to ask your sales representative for more information to learn everything that this incredible product has to offer.

Measuring for Flooring and Its Variables

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Many companies will come out and measure before installing flooring – this is not because you are naïve and do not know how to measure a room. In fact, it is to ensure they order enough flooring for your project. Every room will come with its own variables, and in many situations, you need to know more than the square footage of a room. While linear footage can help give your flooring company a general idea, there are still many variables to consider. Here is a brief look at why measuring flooring can have many variables:

Carpet

When carpet is manufactured, it is typically created on a large roll. These rolls are traditionally 12-feet in width and can be up to 300-feet in length. The size of your room determines how much length you will need. So, if your room is below 12 feet in width, you will just order for the length.

  • Example: 11×11 Bedroom will call for a 12×11 roll of carpet
  • Example: 10×14 Bedroom will call for a 12×14 roll of carpet

However, what happens when you have a room that is 16×14 can completely change the equation. A room over 12-foot will need to be seamed. Carpet is directional, which means it needs to run the same way to be installed correctly. So, a room that is 16×14 could be complete with two 12×16 piece rolls; however, there would be a substantial amount of wasted product! So, these areas are created by making cross seams.

Carpet can also be calculated out differently depending on how many rooms or the shape of the rooms being done. Some rooms may be L-shaped. There are several variables that can go into the exact measurement needed for carpet.

Tile, Hardwood, & LVP

Prepackage flooring that comes in boxes can be a little simpler to figure out the measurements. If a box says it contains 27 square feet of material and you are doing a room that is 100 square feet, you will need four boxes. Unfortunately, the problem arises when you have an area that is just over a box amount. Let us say you have a box of LVP that covers 20 square feet, and your room is exactly 100 square feet. Would this mean you need five boxes of LVP? Not quite because you need to calculate waste. In these situations, you will most likely need to invest in six boxes of flooring. Also, some products may come damaged from the manufacturer with a broken tile or a splintered piece of hardwood. Calculating a little heavy is always a safe bet.

If a company asks to come out and measure, it is best you have them do so to help keep your quote exact. With many variables from transitions to installation, a trained eye is best. This can help assure that you are getting just the right amount of flooring.

The Best Flooring Materials for Contemporary Homes

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When searching for flooring materials for your contemporary home, there are a few options that stand out among the rest. They are the type of materials that are very desirable to homebuyers in the market for an up-to-date look that is move-in ready. If you want to be sure you have made the right choice, check out some of the best choices for contemporary settings.

Hardwood/Engineered Hardwood

Hardwood is one of those materials that has stood the test of time. These floors are endlessly versatile with a variety of furnishings and are valued for the quality look they bring to a living space. While more expensive and timely to install, hardwood floors are always going to be a good investment. If your budget is not as high as you would like, you could still achieve the look you want through the installation of engineered hardwood. Engineered hardwood has a thinner top layer of hardwood with additional wood layers fused beneath it. It is a quicker process to use the engineered version of this material, and you can still enjoy the warmth and class it provides to the room. In fact, there are very few engineered wood disadvantages at all.

Ceramic Tile

Ceramic tile is another excellent choice for a contemporary home that is always sought after by homebuyers. Tile gives the room a clean look and is easy to maintain. The variety of different types of floor tiles on the market today makes it easy for anyone to create a complementary look to any of their decor. Textures, patterns, and shapes can all be used to add a bit of customization to the space while still being able to enjoy the stain- and mold-resistance properties that it provides.

Carpet

Carpet is always going to be appealing for homebuyers who want a space to provide a warm and welcoming retreat from other more formal areas of the house. Carpet is an excellent addition to the living room or bedrooms. Its padding will provide comfort underfoot and help reduce noise, which is a desirable trait if you have children or pets. It is also a safe space in the event of a fall, so both young and old can feel secure when they are standing on a carpeted area.

All in all, contemporary designs can have a very versatile flooring selection. From carpets to hard surfaces, contemporary design is able to gracefully master any of these flooring types.

Different Flooring Types for Pets | Pros and Cons

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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.

From the Floors Up

From the Floors Up blog was created with the goal of providing a destination for consumers, designers and those interested in the flooring, design, and kitchen and bath industries. Here you’ll find, current, accurate and informative information that is always just a click away!

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