If you own pets, you’re probably familiar with the damage that they can cause to floors. “What kind of flooring is best for pet owners?” is one of the most frequent questions we get here at our tile store in Anaheim.
The truth is that some floor damage should be expected in homes with pets. The best way to manage it is to choose a flooring system with your furry friend’s needs in mind.
The following types of flooring are advantageous for pet owners:
Stone and Tile Flooring
Stone and tile are still the gold standard when it comes to pet-friendly flooring solutions. Both materials are virtually impervious to scratches, meaning that you won’t end up with undesirable scratch marks even if you don’t trim your pet’s paws as often as you should. Both materials are also water and mildew resistant, making any accidents easy to clean up without permanently damaging your floors. Stone floors such as harder stones like granite and quartzite can be sealed to make them highly resistant to wear and spills. This is true even if you don’t discover an accident right away, giving you much more freedom than other options.
Engineered Hardwood Flooring
Wood flooring is great for a home’s resale value and engineered hardwood floors are compatible with pets. First, we can say White oak and/or Brazilian cherry are two woods that offer more scratch resistance than other options. Next, make sure to use a high quality sealant to minimize the direct contact between your floor and your pet.
If you want to be extra careful, choose a wood with a thick veneer. This way, you can sand any scratches down for a brand new look without compromising the structural integrity of your flooring system. Alternatively, you can go for an intentionally worn look that allows any scratches to blend seamlessly with your decor.
Another way to help hide the scratch marks is to choose rustic or distressed look hardwoods. These styles already look worn and any scratch marks will naturally blend in.
Bamboo Flooring
Bamboo is another option if you want the look of wood in a pet-friendly home. Bamboo is naturally stain and moisture-resistant, helping it stand up to any accidents. It also won’t scratch easily if you use a bamboo that does well on the Janka test, such as strand woven floors.
Cleaning tends to be pretty easy with bamboo too, so you won’t dread the maintenance associated with your flooring system whether the spill is pet-related or not.
If you are trying to decide what the best flooring option for your home is, we urge you to call our Anaheim tile store and talk with our experts! (714) 284-0118
