Anyone who welcomes a pet into their home knows how much joy an animal can bring into your life. The companionship and chance to care for a living thing can be beyond beneficial. Of course, living with an animal does have a tendency to take a toll on your home. Some flooring options hold up better than others in places that pets call home.
Cork
While not necessarily pet-proof, cork offers multiple benefits to households with pets. It tends to be scratch resistant, especially if you keep your pet’s nails trimmed. Lighter cork can be a great way to hide whatever scratches find their way into your floor. Cork is also an antimicrobial flooring, which helps prevent the growth of bacteria, fungus, and germs. This is especially helpful if your furry friend leaves you a little “present” to find later. As an added bonus, cork has sound absorbing properties, so you’ll hear less of your pet moving around the house.
Engineered Wood
Hardwood is generally not considered a good flooring for pets, but engineered wood can be better. It offers you the look of hardwood with improved water resistance (though you should still clean up spills and messes immediately). For best results, choose harder woods that score higher on the Janka test and make sure they have a tough scratch-resistant finish on them. Opt for engineered wood with a thicker veneer so you have something you can sand down and refinish if your pet manages to scratch through the finish.
Luxury Vinyl
Luxury vinyl may be one of the best pet-friendly flooring options out there. Beyond its ability to mimic the look of more expensive flooring options, it also tends to be more comfortable underfoot and is very durable. Water resistance ranges from water resistant to water proof, depending on the type you get. With the easy maintenance and cleaning required to keep it nice, it’s easy to see why luxury vinyl is a great option for homes with pets.
When you have a pet, you’re sure to add claws and messes to the list of things your floor will need to hold up against. As such, it’s important to make sure that you choose a flooring option that will be able to stand up to the additional wear and tear that comes with living with an animal. If your home doesn’t already have pet-friendly flooring, making that change may be the next home improvement project for you to tackle.
We have some great pet-friendly flooring options for you to choose from. Check out our selection of high end flooring products today to find the perfect option for your home.