Whether you are looking for a new home or are doing renovations, if you have four-legged friends, choosing the right floor, the one that best suits them, requires some important considerations.
Choosing a floor that suits your tastes and lifestyle, while also being pet-friendly, may seem difficult, but there are many options that will work for everyone in the family.In fact, it is quite possible to find floors suitable for the lifestyle of dogs and cats, while retaining their beauty and value: you just need to know what to look for.
The main aspects to consider, before choosing a floor for the home, are undoubtedly the resistance to scratches (dogs can cause damage with their nails), to water and, of course, the portion of the budget that can be dedicated to installation of new floors, so as to choose a solution that offers a good return on investment also in terms of quality and durability.
Now let's look at some of the best options when it comes to pet-friendly flooring.
What are the best floors for pets?
One of the favorite options for pet owners is undoubtedly that of ceramic, stone or porcelain tiles, mainly due to their resistance to liquids and their ease of cleaning. Furthermore, solutions such as porcelain stoneware allow you to combine the advantages of these materials with the aesthetics of wood.
However, tiles are by their nature decidedly cold, a feature that can be a disadvantage when there are animals in the house.
The same goes for PVC and laminate floors, which can be aesthetically very beautiful but which do not offer the advantages, in terms of thermal insulation and warmth of the material, of solutions such as wooden parquet; it is therefore important to also consider the temperature element of the area in which the house is located before proceeding with the choice of flooring.
However, PVC and laminate are excellent solutions for homes where pets also live: resistance to water and stains, ease of cleaning and the possibility of choosing a textured floor, able to offer a good level traction control and therefore to avoid accidents due to the slippery surface, are all positive elements to take into consideration.
PVC and laminate floors tend to be allies of the budget, but it is good to avoid solutions that are too cheap, because in any case, if there are animals in the house, the surfaces must be resistant and solid.
For those who don't want to sacrifice aesthetics and want real wooden floors, prefinished parquet is an excellent, resistant and long-lasting alternative. However, it is important to remember that, to help keep it in good condition over time, it is important to intervene promptly to remove water or other liquids: although it is a floor designed to be particularly resistant to humidity, we are still talking about a "living" material and not completely immune to minor water damage.
Bamboo is a very interesting option, both in terms of mechanical performance and comfort, for all family members, even four-legged ones.
Known for its extreme resistance to stains, as well as for its ease of care and maintenance, "natural steel" harmoniously combines all the advantages of a wooden floor and is less delicate than many essences used for parquet.
Available in a large variety of colors and finishes, bamboo parquet is also an eco-sustainable choice and suitable for green building.
final tips and tricks on pet flooring
Regardless of the type of flooring you choose for your home, there are some targeted actions that can help maintain the cleanliness and general condition of its surfaces.
Here are some useful tips to keep your floors in top condition:
- Make sure to avoid water stagnation on surfaces, removing liquids in a timely manner and placing dog or cat bowls on mats;
- Clean your four-legged friend's paws after every walk, so as to prevent debris and dirt from entering the house;
- Remember to trim your dog's nails periodically so that the risk of scratching surfaces is minimized;
- Constantly remove hair and possible residues from floors: a very simple vacuum cleaner is all that is needed to keep any type of floor clean, from ceramic to wood.
While there's no such thing as a "perfect" floor for pets, with a few small steps you can keep your floors in top condition even with your four-legged friends running around.
With different options, such as waterproof floors and scratch resistant finishes, there are endless possibilities to find the right floors that suit the whole family's lifestyle.