Your choice of the most suitable flooring material for your home is influenced by many factors, including weather, maintenance requirements, durability and foot traffic. Whether you havepets is another important factor to keep in mind. Flooring that is not petfriendly will not be able to withstand the damage done by their pet’s claws. Itmay even be unhealthy for them if they are unable to walk on it properly. When you visit a reputable flooring store, the professionals working there can give you many options to suit your pet’s needs as well as yours. How petfriendly a flooring material is will also depend on the weight, breed and size of your furry friend.
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Before you decide on a flooring material that is suitable for your pet, consider the following criteria:
Keeping these criteria and requirements in mind makes it easier to browse through the numerous flooring materials available and find your best match. The following are some of the most suitable kinds of flooring when you have pets at home:
1. Vinyl
Luxury vinyl flooring is a great choice when your home is blessed with pets. Many homeowners are apprehensive about this type of flooring material, thinking that it does not look beautiful enough. However, modern luxury vinyl floors replicate their natural counterparts and look beautiful. Theyare also affordable, durable enough to withstand a pet’s claws, are scratch and stain resistant, and easy to clean.
2. Cork
Cork is an environmentally-friendly, natural flooring material noted for its beauty and sound absorbing texture. It is soft and warm underfoot, so your pets’ clawswill not create that much noise. However, it is only a good choice if your pets are calm,trained well, and belong to a smaller breed that does not tend to claw the floor.
3. Laminate
Laminate is a good choice provided you are opting for an embossed or textured finish instead of a conventional glossy one. This is because glossy floors have less traction than textured ones, so your pet will have more difficulty balancing and walking. Laminate flooring does not highlight scratches and dents which makes it a durable choice for homeowners with pets.
4. Tile and stone
These are the most durable choices when you have pets. They are water and stainresistant, and are easily cleaned. Irrespective of the breed and age of your dog, they will have no difficulty walking on this type of floor. Moreover, since these materials do not get stained, bathroom accidents will not pose a major problem. The only drawback is that stone flooring is hard and cold and can be very uncomfortable to walk on in winter.
5. Engineered hardwood
Engineered hardwood is more affordable than regular hardwood but does not have the problems that solid wood poses. It does not expand as much as solid wood and looks exactly like hardwood. Like solid wood variants, pets can damage engineered wood. Fortunately, it is not too expensive to replace or repair. Rustic or distressed variants provide pets with more traction.
Choosing a flooring material according to the needs of your pets requires time and dedication. Your four-legged friends are part of your family, so their needs should be given priority in your home and interior design. The above-mentioned are some of the best choices. When you visit any reputable flooring store, rest assured that you will find many variations of these material types to explore.