The Best Pet-Friendly Flooring

If you’re a proud parent of a domesticated animal, then you are probably always checking the floor for stains, accidents, and other random surprises left behind. And when you do find something that doesn’t belong there, all you can do is clean it as quickly as possible and scold your fur-baby, hoping they understand (as much as you do) the severity of the situation.

You are not alone!

At Builders Flooring Source in Saint George, Utah, we know that pets are family and that having the right flooring for you and your pets is important. That is why we wanted to remind you that there is hope!

Whether you are building a new home or just looking into new flooring, we can help you find something that works for you and your four-legged loved one!

Let’s discuss the risks that pets pose to flooring, and then discuss some of your options for the best pet-friendly flooring depending on your needs!

HOW CAN MY PETS DAMAGE MY FLOORING?

Let’s address the most obvious problem first; urine!

One of the biggest concerns of pet owners everywhere is the risk of their animal urinating on the floor, leaving stains, odor, damage, and potentially attracting more dirt and grime to the area as a result.

You may not have been aware of this, but the acid in animal urine (or even vomit) can damage the finish on wood floorboards.

Urine can also stain carpets and increase bacterial growth on the carpet, even after cleaning!

If urine is left on the carpet or floor, the odor can actually cause lung, eye, and skin irritation (although this applies more to extreme cases of neglect of your floor’s hygiene).

Even if your pet is house-trained, there is another culprit to your floor; nails.

Pets need their nails, and we do our best to keep them trimmed, but every so often they get... overgrown. We all know the sound of the nails as they pitter-patter on the floor. It’s cute, but it is also not great for your flooring.

Hardwood floors can be easily scratched by your animal’s nails, degrading the resiliency of the wood. Most carpets can get torn up and fray more easily.

Raise your hand if you have a stir-crazy pup or scratch-happy cat!

While these pets may focus more on your couch or blinds while unattended, your flooring might not be an exception. Some animals (especially young, high energy, or anxious pets) have been known to pull up carpeting with their teeth or claws, causing permanent damage.

When this happens, you pretty much don’t have any other option than to look at fixing, or replacing your carpet.

Now that we’ve got you wide-eyed and horrified, let’s ease your mind! Don’t worry, there are all kinds of flooring options out there to fit your specific needs, and Builders Flooring Source is here to tell you about a few of them.

VINYL FLOORING

This type of flooring is made of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) in addition to other compounds added to give the flooring different looks, texture, and hardness.

The critical difference between Vinyl and Laminate flooring is that the core of the laminate is made from wood byproducts. Vinyl flooring is made from 100% synthetic material.

Vinyl flooring is waterproof (floods are a different story, let’s keep it to pet-accidents and spills here), it is scratch-resistant, and it is cost-effective!! Since Vinyl is synthetic, highly durable, and long-lasting, it offers the best advantages and is easily one of the most popular choices for pet owners.

LAMINATE FLOORING

This is a multi-layer, synthetic flooring product made by using a lamination process. The inner layer of the laminate usually contains melamine resin and fiberboard materials.

Laminate flooring can simulate the look of marble, limestone, slate, and travertine, but the most popular laminate choices simulate a wood grain texture. It is scratch-resistant, stain-resistant, and doesn’t wear or fade easily.

Laminate flooring is also easy to install!

While laminate flooring is known for being scratch-resistant, easy to clean and cost-effective, it is not completely waterproof. There is a common misconception that laminate flooring is waterproof because it is often confused with vinyl flooring (which we will talk about next).

So spills and accidents must be cleaned promptly when noticed to prevent damage to the panels. If the liquid is left on the surface for too long, it can seep into the cracks and cause the boards to buckle or warp. Because of the risk liquid poses to laminate flooring, this flooring is also not the best choice for very humid areas.

PORCELAIN TILE FLOORING

This type of flooring is made from very fine clay that is fired at high temperatures to remove moisture.

Porcelain and ceramic tiles are similar in the way they are made, but the clay used for porcelain tends to be denser than that of ceramic, making it more moisture-resistant and less porous.

Porcelain tile is wear-resistant, perfect for high traffic areas, and is simple to clean. Porcelain also comes in a variety of styles, and also looks luxurious, for those of you who don’t want to compromise style for practicality.

NYLON CARPET FLOORING

We understand that no matter which way we pitch it, you may want to stick with carpeting despite the benefits of hard floors when it comes to your pets. So it is a good thing that there are options for pet-friendly carpeting available!

Take Nylon carpeting, for example.

The carpet fibers are made from nylon, making this the most stain-resistant and durable carpeting option available to pet owners. One great brand we would recommend for pet-friendly nylon-based carpeting is STAINMASTER®.

This is an option that Builders Flooring Source offers customers. This carpet resists pet hair, reduces pet odors, is comfortable, is durable, and is easy to clean!

It has been specifically engineered for pets!

GIVE US A CALL!

We’ve only listed a few pet-friendly flooring options, but the truth is, there are many more!

Every home, every pet, and every person is different. We understand your wants and needs are unique, and we would love to help find you a flooring option that is perfect for you and your pet!

If you’d like to contact us to discuss what options and brands would be best for your specific needs, please feel free to reach out to us at info@buildersflooringsource.com, call us at (435) 628-9690, or visit our website for more information.