Pet-Friendly Flooring

Home is where the pets are. All day. Whether you have a constantly-excited new puppy, a lazy lap cat, or an aging companion, you want to make sure your floors stand up to the pet test. Your home is your pet’s home, too, after all! What flooring is best for you and your furry friends? Find tips for choosing flooring from the pros right here.

What Makes Flooring Pet-Friendly?

Pet-friendly flooring can be comfortable, stylish, and pragmatic! Your flooring needs to be able to stand up to your pet’s nails or claws, resist staining or damage from accidents, and clean up quickly and easily. Look for the following when choosing your flooring:

1. Water Resistance. Even the best-trained pets might experience accidents! Especially with new puppies, growing cats, and senior pets, you want to make sure that your floors won’t become stained or damaged in the event of any potty problems. Choose flooring that is water resistant or water repellant for easy clean up and long-lasting like-new appearance.
2. Durability. Pet nails and claws can wreak havoc on weak flooring. Choose a flooring type that will resist scratching, tearing, or peeling over time. When your pet gets the zoomies, you don’t want to see a runway of claw marks marring the hallway floors. Harder flooring types (like stone, ceramic, or porcelain tiles) provide great durability and scratch resistance!
3. Hypoallergenic Qualities. Consider allergies that might affect you, your family members, or guests. Avoid flooring that might trap pet dander or fur that could be released into the air with traffic. Some flooring styles even have hypoallergenic qualities built in to help you control the air quality of your home!
4. Comfort. No matter what type of flooring you choose, consider pairing it with padding or underlayment that provides some cushion for pet and human feet. Many of these options include a moisture barrier to provide added protection and ultimate comfort! Consult a flooring professional to find the best pairing for your chosen flooring type.

Top Pick: Ceramic or Porcelain Tile

Tile flooring is an excellent choice for pet owners. The hard surface of ceramic or porcelain tile resists water – and pet accidents – and is easy to clean. Regular cleaning can even keep your floors clear of pet hair and dander that may affect some people with pet allergies. Because ceramic or porcelain tile is highly durable, you don’t have to worry about your pets’ nails or claws scratching or damaging the floors! Ceramic and porcelain tile also comes in a wide variety of shapes, sizes, colors, and patterns – so you can choose the flooring that best fits your style. Tile flooring can be cold and hard underfoot, but pairing it with a radiant floor heating system or area rugs will keep you and your pet comfortable even in the coldest months.

Quiet Comfort: Cork Flooring

Cork is a highly underrated flooring material. Similar to wood flooring solutions – and made from the bark of cork trees – cork flooring offers great comfort and an antimicrobial surface. That means your floors will resist bacterial growth, mold, and potentially harmful allergens. Cork flooring is also highly effective when it comes to absorbing sound. So when your pooch is feeling playful, you won’t have to endure the noise of paws pounding up and down the hallways. Cork is durable, but less so than ceramic, porcelain, or stone tiles. Still, regularly-trimmed nails and claws shouldn’t present any major threats to your cork floors!

Honorable Mention: Luxury Vinyl Flooring

Luxury vinyl flooring is a quality, affordable choice for pet owners. Its high durability will protect against scratches and its hard surfaces make cleaning quick and easy. Luxury vinyl flooring offers protection against water damage, as most luxury vinyl flooring is water-resistant. Paired with a moisture barrier underneath, this flooring option can affordably protect against pet accidents and messes. This flooring option also offers comfort, with a softer surface underfoot for you and your pets. What’s the drawback? Compared to these other flooring options, luxury vinyl flooring often offers lower impact on the resale value of your home.

Careful Consideration: Hypoallergenic Carpet

Carpet is not one of the best choices for pet-friendly flooring. However, if you love the soft feel of carpet for low-traffic areas, you might consider a hypoallergenic carpet designed for pet owners or one of the most stain-resistant types of carpet. To minimize the chance of lingering pet stains or odors, take proper care and maintenance to keep your carpet clean and have your carpet cleaned professionally once a year.

Come See the Pet Lovers at The Carpet Center!

Our team is standing by to advise you on the best flooring for you and your pet. Whether you’re looking for one of the flooring types listed above, a hypoallergenic carpet designed for pet owners, or something else entirely, our huge selection and helpful staff is here to serve you! Contact us today or visit our showroom for a free quote!