The Ultimate Guide to Pet-Friendly Flooring

Which Flooring is Best for Cats and Dogs?

Ah… pets, the lovable family members. Did you know that more than 60% of US households have pets? If you’re one of us, you must know the flooring limitations of being pet owners. But how much are the limitations? Is there such a thing as a pet friendly flooring? Yes of course! The right type of flooring will keep your house pet friendly, and beautiful too!

Yes pets are cuddly and adorable, but their untrimmed nails can scratches to certain types of flooring. Even well-behaved pets that don't deliberately scratch, can still cause damage from simple acts such as running or jumping. So which ones are good for pets?

Hardwood Floors

Hardwood floors are nature’s best products in my opinion. They are also greener than vinyls. But, when you have dogs, you should go for a wood species that are harder. The hardness of a wood can be measured, it is called the Janka Hardness Test.

Usually oak or hickory’s hardness are good enough, and they are sustainable and cost effective. Also have distressed, wirebrush, or sawn-back surface look, with Urethane finish. These will help hide the scratches over time.

Luxury Vinyl Planks

Vinyl planks are the most water resistant flooring out there. So when your pets have accidents, and you don’t happen to be there to immediately wipe it down, it’s ok! The likelihood of the water coming through to the subfloor is minimal. Vinyl is also very easy peasy to clean up. And the fact that vinyl is plastic, it’s very resistant to scratches from your pet’s nails. Just be careful, do not go below 20 mils of wear layer, otherwise your pets will easily penetrate the top layer. The downside of vinyl is that it’s plastic, and some folks don’t really like the look, the steps, and it’s also very slick, both to humans and pets alike!

Laminate Flooring

Laminates are getting closer to vinyl in terms of its water resistance and hardiness… definitely not your father’s laminates! For example, RevWood laminates by Mohawk is marketed as waterproof. It has multiple layers of top coating to prevent scratches. The layers of laminates can absorb the heavy traffic and your pets’ nails.

Conclusion

Yes, there are some give and take whichever way you choose, but when there’s a will, there’s a way. Now keep in mind that all of these surfaces are hard and slick, and your pets may have trouble with grip. We recommend having area rugs to make the room more comfortable for your pets.

Last Words

We know how a flooring project is a huge undertaking for you. But if you’re not in a rush, I encourage you to shop around. Then check us out. We're a Factory Direct Retailer, so our hardwood prices are guaranteed cheaper than any other retailer. We import the materials ourselves, passing along the savings to you. Should you have any further questions, please email us at hello@redeemedflooring.com.