When building a new home or remodeling an existing home, flooring choices are everything. With pets in the home, this becomes even more important, because pets are just as hard, if not harder, than people on flooring surfaces. What are the best flooring choices for pets in the home? Let’s take a look at the pros and cons of several types of flooring to help in the decision making process.
Hardwood Flooring
Though this is one of the most desired types of flooring in a home, it is not the best choice for homes with pets. Pet urine can stain the hardwood, leaving a terrible smell and a dark spot in the wood. Even if urine accidents are cleaned up quickly after the fact, the urine may still seep into the wood, causing damage. To remove these stains, you may have to go so far as to strip, sand, and refinish the floor. If the stains are contained to one small area, this is hassle enough, but if the stains all over the place, the entire floor may need to be redone. At times, the odor and stain may reappear because of salt crystals left behind from the urine that cannot be dissolved. If this happens, completely replacing the wood may be necessary.
Another thing some pet owners forget to factor in when it comes to hardwood is the pet’s water bowl. If possible, place the water bowl on a mat of some sort to help protect the hardwood from moisture when the bowl spills. Quickly dry the spill after it happens, because moisture can soak down into the wood causing it to swell and contract.
Keeping pets nails trimmed or filed will also be necessary to avoid extraneous scratches on the flooring. As pets walk or run across the floor, their claws may damage the surface. While some owners may elect to declaw their pets, it certainly isn’t a possibility for all.
If the flooring is coated with a high quality urethane, it will be more scratch and stain resistant. Sweep the floors clean at least once a week for best maintenance.
Bamboo is harder than the hardest hardwood flooring and is one of the best Pet-friendly flooring choices.
Laminate Flooring
Due to the hardness of laminate flooring, pet owners may turn to it instead of traditional hardwood. While this may work to provide the décor people want, it can be difficult for pets, especially dogs, because they will slip and slide as they walk or run through the home. This will cause their hips to move in unnatural ways, which may cause costly damage to their bodies. This is pronounced in smooth, high gloss laminate floors and can be mitigated somewhat by choosing a laminate floor with an embossed or textured finish. Laminate won’t show scratches as easily as some other surfaces, but because they are so slippery and uncomfortable to lie on, rugs are recommended throughout the home to help the pet.
Bamboo Flooring
Bamboo is an excellent choice for homes with pets, for many different reasons. It’s harder than the hardest hardwoods, meaning it will stand up to more traffic. It won’t wear out, and it’s completely renewable, so it makes a good choice for those who are trying to be green. It is stain resistant, so people don’t have to worry about accidents or spills. Due to bamboo’s hardness it will save money compared to repairing other types of flooring. For those who are trying to decide between using hardwood and vinyl flooring, choosing bamboo floors is a great compromise.
Cork Floors
Cork is a green flooring choice good for the environment and the health of the occupants, pets included. Cork is an antimicrobial type of flooring that will reduce the growth of mold and other allergens. Cork is scratch resistant, though it should be swept regularly to prevent scratching from particles of dirt left on the floor. It is an excellent sound absorption option, so as pets walk across the floor, it will not be as loud. While the flooring is water resistant, it is a natural product, so spills should be cleaned up promptly. Discoloration of this flooring will happen over time when exposed to sunlight.
Stone Tile Flooring
This type of flooring is amazing for pet owners because it does not scratch easily, and scratches don’t show as they do in other types of flooring. When pets have accidents on the floor, there is much less reason to worry over how this will impact the condition of the flooring. With these two factors considered, this is a good choice for pet owners, but the floors are hard and cold so they are not very comfortable to lie on, unless the floor is heated by radiant heat. Consider using area rugs and pet beds to alleviate this problem. Granite is the hardest of the natural stones and is the best choice for scratch resistance. Softer stones such as marble, slate, and travertine may require somewhat more maintenance than granite, especially if they feature a polished finish.
Tile
Much similar to stone, porcelain or ceramic tile is a good choice in terms of wear and tear for pets. It won’t scratch easily. If pets don’t manage to make it outside before relieving themselves, the urine won’t damage the condition of the floor as it would with hardwood. However, much like stone, the surface is hard and uncomfortable for pets to lie on, but rugs will help.
Vinyl Flooring
While most people wouldn’t think vinyl to be a very pet friendly flooring choice, the new luxury vinyl flooring is an excellent choice, and it’s great for small children, too. The flooring is scratch and stain resistant, low in allergens, easy to clean and maintain, and even quiet to walk on.
Carpet
When it comes to pets, carpet is likely the worst flooring choice one can make, simply because it is easy to destroy. Even normal wear and tear on carpet in a pet-free home happens faster than with other flooring options. If carpet is the only choice because it is the most cost effective option for home flooring, the best thing to do is choose a carpet without loops as pet nails can snag on the loops and cause the carpet to wear faster.
While budget and ease of installation will be factors impacting the flooring decisions of a home, taking time to consider the best flooring options for pets beforehand may save money in repairs and frustration in the long run. Cutting corners on flooring to save money is not a good choice if the flooring needs to be replaced in a few months or even a year due to the wear and tear from the pets.
Related posts:
- Choosing the Right Flooring to Minimize Allergies
- Everything to Grain: Choosing Your Hardwood Flooring Board
- 10 Quick Features of Laminate Wood Flooring
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I have a dog who pees on the floor (he is 7). I also have a cat and 2 kids. I currently have laminate flooring which is destroyed from the dog. water damage from my sink. What would be the best flooring to put down, that would hold up to my household and that is easy to maintain and keep clean. I am lookng for quality but yet affordable.
Hi Karyn,
Laminate flooring may still be a way to go, depending on a number of factors like AC rating and thickness being very important. Kids, pets, and laminate flooring can live together in harmony, but only if the conditions are right. Housetraining for your dog may be on your radar already, but that’s a good place to start no matter what kind of floor you have. Taking off footwear while inside, and immediate attention to things like spills (as immediate as you can as a busy parent that is) are all simple, but effective ways to preserve the look of your floor.
But, this depends on the room as well. If there’s a water source where excessive moisture is an issue, you may wish to find a porcelain tile to lay down. There are some stylish tile varieties out there that many people turn to for places like bathrooms, kitchens, and laundry areas. In addition to a fairly wide selection, porcelain tile is impervious to any kind of moisture, so it’s also very practical in these kinds of areas.
I hope that helps, and let us know if we can help you narrow it down any further.
I was surprised to not see concrete flooring listed as an option here for pet-friendly floor surfaces. Concrete is extremely pet friendly…won’t harbor fleas, doesn’t collect pet dander, won’t scratch, resists stains and urine, slip-resistant…and at the same time concrete can be aesthetically pleasing with coloring agents. For your readers who want to know more about concrete as a flooring surface: http://www.concretenetwork.com/concrete/interiorfloors/
Hi,
I have slate floors and my dog pees frequently upon getting excited. Yesterday when he did this, after wiping it off of the slate, we noticed the floor in the places where he peed were slippery like wax and looked dull compared to the finished slate tiles that did not get peed on. I was wondering if dog urine can damage the finish on a slate floor? Or was it more likely a cleaning product that was on the towel used to clean the mess up that did it? Or some other unlikely culprit all together?
If you have heard of anything like this happening to a slate finished floor before let me know… he pees on other areas of the slate and it has never happened before?
Sabrina,
Thanks for getting in touch.
Was the material sealed after install? If not, then the dog urine will definately effect the floor. Slate Tile is porous and the acid in the dog urine can have an effect on the finish.
Once the slate is stained it can be extremely difficult to remove (it soaks into the material itself).
I have heard of slate staining but not due to this specific occurance.
Hi
We are having a new home built and will install travertine flooring. We also have an eight year old Maltese who has frequent “accidents” in the house. Will that destroy the floors?
Thanks!
I would not recommend laminate floors for pets unless you opt for a waterproof product. Flooring that is built from wood fibers will swell if a pool of liquid sits on them for more than an hour or two and this can be a significant problem if you have a pet that has frequent accidents. All it takes is for you to not notice one accident right away, or have one occur in the middle of the night, and you have permanent floor damage.
We have a 3 season room with alot of glass. We also have several cats who may or may not use the litter box. What flooring should we use to 1) prevent stains, 2) easy clean up, 3) avoid sun fading, 4) possible consider using with radiant heating. I am thinking porcelain tile, but am worried it may be too hot for the summer. Radiant heating is not a must but would be nice to make it a more 4 season room. My husband uses this room alot. I also considered bamboo rather than cork (due to cat accidents and fading), but not sure I can put radiant heating under it.
Hi, I am reflooring my stairs and hallway upstairs, as well as the 4 bedrooms. I want to put laminate flooring down, (there is wall to wall now), but I have 2 small dogs that do have accidents frequently, ruining the carpet in hallway and stairs.. I am thinking of the vinyl plank in the hallway, with laminate in bedrooms, and carpet on stairs. Is it possible to lay vinyle planks on stairs that have the bullnose (i think thats what its called) look to them? (They only have plywood under wall to wall now). Also, are vinyl planks the better option for me with the pets?
Hi Karen,
We do not carry bull noses for vinyl. While you can definitely install vinyl planks on your stairs, it will not come with a rounded out look that you are going for.
Vinyl is comparable to an AC4 laminate, which is very durable in regards to scratch resiliency and is more resilient to moisture than laminate as well. It is a great option for pets, but laminate is good as well (AC3/AC4).
Cheers,
Rodney
I just had a prefinished floor installed, and have noticed that some of the abutments are not tight. I can actually run my fingernail between the spaces. Should their be these spaces?
Put you animals outside where they belong and you
Won’t have to worry! Its kind of.. no its plain disgusting to
Not only have pet hair all over but urine?! And around kids?!
One word.. yummy!
Sorry lol.. just sayin!
Oh and for the best kind of flooring.. its called grass.. its
Great stuff.. they can pee all over it and you font even have to
Worry! For more info on this wonderful option for letting
Your animal pee all over you can just Google grass.. u
Its quite popular!
I have 3 dogs, 2 of which are small and which I have not been able to house train. I need to replace all the flooring on both the main floor and in the family room downstairs. It seems to me that my only option is a good quality vinyl. Am I correct in this assumption?
Hi Carla,
Vinyl will probably be the best option. But laminate is a good alternative as well (look for ones that are AC3/AC4 rated) and they will hold up. Just note that with laminate, or any natural product repeated exposure to moisture, especially in the same spot will result in issues.
Rodney Noriega
I have stone floors (travertine) I sealed them upon installation 1 yr. ago. I have a new puppy who has made mistakes as well as my cats. I ‘ve used a neutralizer after cleanup. With or without using the neutrilizer it leaves a very dull finish. Best tile suggested i reseal it again and it “may Help” but it changes little. This stone and installation was very expensive. Is there any finish I can use to prevent my stone being damaged. Any HELP w/b greatly appreciated….
Hi Sharon,
Unfortunately, you don’t have many choices once a stain has set in and it is difficult to resolve. It is true that resealing it “may” help, but the only other alternative I see is to replace the entire tile(s) if it is only isolated to one or two tiles. Hope that helps!
I read all the comments on the different typs of flooring but nothing on bamboo. How does it stand up to pets. Help.
Hi Lou,
Which specific style of Bamboo were you looking at? Strand Woven for example, is an incredibly dense and hard material due to the way it is made, and as such will hold up better to pets. Whereas if is traditional carbonized bamboo, the material may be a bit softer and more susceptible to scratches. If you can respond, with the style you are looking at I can better address the issue.
I have slate flooring and when I am gone for extended periods of time, I place my little dog into the bathroom with puppy pads. Sometimes he misses the pads and it gets on the slate. Will I have odor issues? How can I avoid odor issues?
We are considering bamboo flooring in our kitchen. We have a small older dog that does have accidents. We are sometimes gone for extended periods and are worried if she has an accident on the bamboo flooring how it will hold up if not cleaned up immediatly. I have searched several sights and all that say is that it is very durable for pet scratches.
I am wanting to replace carpet in my home due to doggie accidents and just living in the country that tracks in a lot of dirt. I already have tile in part of my home, but want to put down some type of wood look down. We have see vinyl planks what do think? Or just was kind of floor would last with country living and animals without breaking the bank/?
Hey Melissa,
Vinyl can be a good option for an affordable and durable product that will still give you that “wood look”. For a wider variety of styles another product you should probably consider is laminate, which once again has the appearance of a wood floor with that same durability and affordability you are looking for.
Have you ever heard of a product called trafficmaster allure ultra vinyl plank flooring??
Hi,
We are redoing our basement. We have a work out area with a weight machine, treadmill and bike. Guy at flooring place said we could take laminant in there also. Have some concerns about wear and denting. Found a vinyl plank floor that looks wood. Would that be a better product to use?
Hi Ginny,
For your basement, both styles will work in this application. Vinyl would probably be a slightly better choice because of its durability but having said that, if you go with an AC3 laminate flooring (great for high residential use) then you will be fine just as well. Note that for your basement, you will need to put a moisture barrier down.
In addition, I would recommend that you use padding under the equipment (weight machine, treadmill, bike, etc.) to prevent scratching.
Rodney