When you’re looking at renovating or buying a new home, selecting the flooring is especially imperative when you have pets in the household. As much as you love your doggo, your furry friend can cause all sorts of wear and tear over time when you pick the wrong types of flooring. Generally the flooring you select should be durable and easy to clean due to urine accidents, muddy paws, and other inevitable things that arise. Fortunately you still don’t have to sacrifice style as long as you’re mindful of your floor choices. You can have the best of both worlds with these flooring options for households with pets.

Laminate Flooring

Laminate for the most part are very pet friendly. Laminate floor gives your home a look like hardwood but can be easier to regularly clean. The sealant layer on laminate makes it scratch- and scuff-proof. Your dog may have an accident and if it is cleaned up relatively quickly your floor will last for a very long time. Laminate is hard and durable. Laminate is also less expensive than wood, concrete, or most tile. The only potential issue with this type of flooring is that the layer that protects the laminate is very slippery. Selecting a textured or embossed finish can help prevent your dog from slipping when walking around. A rug or rug pad on top of laminate can give your dog extra traction.

Luxury Plank Vinyl Flooring

Vinyl flooring is the go-to choice for many homeowners with dogs. And there are many reasons why. Vinyl is scratch and stain-resistant, waterproof, cost effective, and it comes in a variety of styles. and colors. Aside from being very durable to foot traffic, most vinyl plank floors can imiate hardwood flooring and still maintain decent traction for dogs walking around your home.

Hardwood Flooring

Hardwood floors are a beautiful and easy way to keep your home looking great. Plus there’s hardwoods like oak that will never scratch or dent no matter how adventurous your pup is! There are some engineered hardwoods that are more pet friendly than others. If you have a large dog for example that is over 100lbs we would recommend you avoid using products like birch, pine and most maples. Hardwood flooring with a matte or low gloss finish is better suited for hiding scratches. If you’re worried about scratches showing up then distressed or reclaimed wood flooring look scratched already. Before you consider hardwood floor installation learn about the species of hardwood that are best for dogs.
  • Hickory – It is a popular flooring option all around, its hardness well surpasses birch and it often comes in a rustic-like and handscraped style
  • Cherry – The sheer hardness of Brazilian Chery hardwoods means you will never have to worry about your pet scratching the veneer.
  • Walnut – Like hickory, walnut is a hard surface product with a unique look as well
  • Mahogany – From the same family as Brazilian cherry, mahogany is a hard, durable hardwood that will well surpass the lifetime of most pets

Sealed Concrete Flooring

Concrete floors are the go-to for any modern home. They resist scratches, they’re easy to clean if accidents happen, and you can get them sealed so that nothing goes wrong with their beauty! The only downside? Well, concrete is cold in the winter which means you might consider adding a rug to add some warmth.

Stone Flooring

While there are many different types of floors that can be used for your dog, one option worth considering is stone. It’s easy-to-clean and scratch-resistant – not to mention waterproof, so no more worrying about spills or stains!

Tile Flooring

Tile flooring is great for pet owners because it’s durable, easy to clean and has a variety of design options. However, if you have animals with serious bathroom habits then the grout might be an issue but most dogs will not cause this problem! Faux-wood tiles look just like real wood except its made from plastic so it’s perfect even when your pup has accidents or sheds all over the place.

Carpet

Carpet is a cozy look for bedrooms and family rooms that can be found in many homes. This type of flooring adds warmth to any space, but it’s not without its drawbacks–especially when you have pets! If you can’t live without its warmth, consider installing carpets specially made with anti-pet stain qualities in mind—they’ll help at hiding dirt easily! To keep fur looking fresh year round consider vacuuming regularly so dirt doesn’t build up too quickly before guests come over. Choose wisely when making color choices: don’t go for white because it will show every single mess within seconds. Instead, try a neutral non-white color. It won’t show dirt as often.

Floor Maintenance Tips for Dog Owners

A few easy tips to help lessen or prevent floor damage:
  • If you don’t want any accidents from your furry friend, sealants and finishes can be applied during installation to help protect against messes they could make.
  • Place a mat underneath the dog bowl to catch any water that spills over.
  • Clip your dog’s nails regularly, for most dogs this is every one to two months. However you’ll be able to tell when it’s needed as you can hear the dog’s nails click when they walk on your home’s floor.
  • Put doormats at every entrance including doors going out to your backyard. If you decide on hardwood floors you can also be able to condition some hardwoods once per year and buff every few years.
Need help choosing a specific flooring installation? For Austin and Central Texas homeowners, contact us today.
Millennium Hardwood Flooring 9705 Research Blvd Suite C1 Austin, TX 78759 512-351-2258