Regardless of whether you are constructing a new house or you are undertaking extensive renovations, one of the most important decisions to implement is deciding on the correct floors. If you are the owner of pets, the choice becomes harder for you though – this is because hardwood floors are particularly sensitive to scratches, and you pets are likely to leave scratches on the floor.

What do you do when you want the elegance of a beautiful floor, considering that you have some furry friends? They will lead to wear and tear eventually, but that does not mean you cannot give it a try. Read on to find out the best floors to choose in this case, and some tips on preventing damage to existing floors.

 

These are a good choice if you want a timeless, elegant, and clean look, but they are not the wisest option to go for if you have pets in your home – simply because they are more prone to damage from water and staining.

However, you might already have them in your house, or you have decided you do not want to install any other floor in your home. In this case, you can pick out certain woods that are friendly to pets. These include cherry, oak, mahogany, maple, walnut, hickory, and sycamore. Avoid using softwoods because of their easier tendency to dent and scratch, and they will also be a bad choice if you have bigger pets such as larger dogs.

Another consideration to make is finding hardwood floors that have a urethane coating instead of wax or other common finishes like vinyl. This particular finish will make the floor more resistant to stains and scratches.

A basic rule to go by is – the harder the wood is, the more likely it can resist scratches form your pets. If you are not sure, you can use the Janka Hardness scale, which is a measurement regarding the hardness of different woods. The higher the rating on the scale, the harder the wood is. You can also call the services of hardwood floors Dallas to help you with installation.

 

If you want to give your furry friends a soft landing, you can choose this floor. Carpets work well for areas with lower traffic like bedrooms, but you should be careful to look for those that do not have loops – the paws of your pet can snag on these loops and cause injuries.

Traditional carpets tend to be tricky when handling pets, but there are certain ones you can choose. Cleaning can also be a problem, unless you use cleaners that have hydrogen peroxide as a base. This will stop any stains from reaching the subfloor and padding of the carpet, which will also reduce odors in case you cannot find the stains on the carpet immediately.

This is actually one of the more popular floor choices for pet owners, as it is friendly, elegant and easy to clean. The natural hardness it has is very good in resisting scratches and stains compared to traditional hardwood floors, so it is a good compromise if you are looking for a long lasting surface.

It is a customer favorite for its durability and environmental friendliness, making it a good choice if you are torn between installing vinyl flooring or hardwood. It is also able to withstand high traffic, so you can install it in your living room as well. The only drawback it has is that the darker color finishes tend to be more vulnerable to scratches from your pets, as well as damage from water (since the damage sows easily). They are also expensive, depending on the type of bamboo and its branding.

 

This is also another environmentally friendly option if you are considering an alternative to bamboo, as it is anti-microbial in nature. That means you pets can walk and sleep on it as much as they want, and it will not encourage the growth of mold or the increase in allergens – a perk you and your pet will appreciate greatly.

Another advantage is that it remains pliant and warm, making it very comfortable to walk on. That also gives it a major benefit in high traffic areas, since it can withstand them very well. Its sound absorbent nature also ensures your pets do not wake up due to disturbances, and it needs very little maintenance other than sweeping and some dusting.

The disadvantage cork floors seem to have though is their tendency to get scratched because of sharp nails, and exposure to sunlight for prolonged periods will discolor the material. It is also not good for rooms that have a lot of heavy furniture such as cabinets, because they can leave dents on the floor permanently.

This is similar to hardwood floors in terms of its look, but it gives you an easier chance to clean up after pets. Even though it is durable and hard, it is also quite slippery when wet, so you need to be careful when cleaning up.

If the prospect of having a high gloss laminated floor intrigues you, just keep in mind that it will reduce the traction of your pet and lead to injuries. For this reason, make sure you choose one that has an embossed or textured finish to reduce the chances of slipping and injuries, or you can lay rug pads and area rugs over the floor to give some extra grip.

The advantages of this floor though is that it is very easy to clean and the scratches it gets are less noticeable compared to other floors.

 

This remains one of the best options for pets because it is resistant to scratches while remaining extremely durable. That also makes it easy to clean. The only disadvantage is the temperature changes, it might not give your pet comfort when it gets cold, though area rugs and radiant heating can solve the problem.

It is important to choose the right floor for your pet, aside from hardwood floors. Fortunately, when you consider all these options and the space in your home, you can come to a correct decision that you will not regret.