As much as we love our pets as one of the family, they can be messy and damage floors, so you need a flooring solution that is pet-friendly and practical, yet also stylish.
You need to ensure that the flooring type selected is scratch and stain resistant, and also easy for animals to walk on as some hard surfaces can be slippery underfoot. Most importantly, it should be super easy to clean and maintain and if it is waterproof or water-resistant, it will be an added advantage.
There is a wide range of flooring options available for homeowners, such as laminate, engineered, luxury vinyl flooring and more. All of which have different qualities to consider to ensure they stay looking beautiful for many years, no matter how many pets you may have.
Pet-friendly flooring needs to be scratch-resistant
Even if you keep pets claws to a minimum and groom them regularly, animals have an instinctive urge to scratch and this can easily damage any soft flooring. Hard, engineered floors generally are a good solution to minimise this, certainly more resiliant than carpets which can be easily damaged by pets clawing.
Not all engineered floors are the same though – ensure you pick one with a robust top layer and sealed finish You may also want to consider a material that can be refinished if there is damage down, such as engineered wood flooring which has a top layer of real wood that can be sanded down and resealed.
Another good idea is to select a style in which scratches can be camouflaged seamlessly by the texture and colour tones.
Water resistant flooring is ideal for pet owners
For pet owners, it’s always better to go with a water resistant or waterproof flooring option as if you don’t clean it immediately, even a small amount of water/liquid can damage some types of flooring materials.
Even if your pet is toilet-trained, accidents can happen. Plus, around feeding areas waterproof flooring is a great solution for messy eaters and drinkers. Some dogs drools excessively, making it essential to consider water resistant flooring, plus both cats and dogs will often tread mud and dirt on its feet from garden outside.
Best Pet-friendly Flooring Picks
To help you decide more easily, let us review the best pet-friendly flooring picks.
Luxury Vinyl Flooring
Click vinyl flooring is an excellent choice for pet owners as it is scratch resistant as well as water resistant. Some brands, such as the Pro-Tek range we sell, is 100% waterproof.
Apart from being an ideal material to handle scratches and water spills, it is exceptionally durable and easy for pets to walk on without slipping.
There are multiple styles, sizes and colours to choose from to suit any interior and it is budget friendly too – a perfect all-round solution!
Laminate Flooring
Nowadays nonslip, pet friendly laminate flooring is also available – although you need to ensure you choose a water-resistant laminate to ensure that the flooring is safe from any serious damage.
As with all engineered floors, ensure you select an embossed design to provide some traction for your pet to walk or run without slipping.
Another advantage of laminate floors is that they are easy to clean and maintain.
Engineered Wood Flooring
If because of pets, you never thought of considering solid hardwood as an option for your home, engineered wood flooring is a great option. The look and feel of the flooring is similar to solid wood as the top layer is real wood, so the textures and appearance are authentic.
When you decide to install engineered wood floors, as a pet owner, you need to choose the harder wood variety such as walnut, maple or oak. Avoid soft wood species like the chestnut, pine and fir.
You can get a scratch resistant finish to keep your floor safe from any damage. The lacquered finish can ensure superior protection against stains and scratches.
A clever trick that most pet owners would find useful is to purchase a distressed wood look or rustic effect so that scratches can be camouflaged. Also, select a thick top wood layer, so that you can get it sanded and refinished when you feel the need.
At One Step Beyond we sell the Bespoke Wodflooring range, with a choice of 276 styles and colour options, all finished to order at our London factory. We also have a range of pre-finished flooring in the most popular sizes and colours, including a herringbone.
If you would like any advice on choosing flooring for your pets then please contact us.
To find out more please call 020 3697 6812 , or email info@onestepbeyondflooring.co.uk.
