Which Kind of Flooring is Best for Pet Owners

We are a nation of pet lovers! According to the Pet Food Manufacturers Association it is estimated that 40% of UK households own a pet, with a total pet population of around 57 million. Unsurprisingly, cats and dogs are amongst the most popular pets to own! With so many households having a four-legged friend it’s important that you carefully consider the flooring in your home. In this blog we will explore some of the different flooring options out there.

Vinyl

First up, it’s vinyl. There are a number of advantages of using vinyl flooring if you have pets. First of all it is hard-wearing and provides good resistance to scratches and water. Thick vinyl is also available which provides increased resilience to tearing. Vinyl is also really easy to maintain meaning that any spillages can be mopped up easily and pet hair can be swept away without being ground into the surface. Unlike tile flooring, vinyl doesn’t get cold in winter and therefore provides comfort for animal paws and human feet alike!  Each of these benefits make vinyl an affordable, hard-wearing and stylish option for pet owners.

Stone

Having an easy to clean floor is really important when owning a pet, whether it’s dirt from outside being brought in on the animal’s paws or any accidents leaving an unpleasant odour behind, it’s important that it can be cleaned up quickly and easily. Like vinyl, stone tile flooring is really easy to clean. Whilst stone tile flooring can be a great option for easy maintenance, unfortunately it does have its drawbacks. Stone tile flooring is cold underfoot and is hard – therefore not very comfortable for your family pet or you! If you do decide a stone tile floor is best for you it would be advisable that you put down cushions and blankets for your pet to sit on for additional warmth and comfort.

Laminate

Many homeowners choose laminate flooring because it looks very much like hardwood flooring and is also really affordable! Often laminate flooring is able to hide most scratches and is easy to clean. Unfortunately, laminate flooring can be really slippery and this makes walking difficult for cats and dogs – potentially leading to an injury and consequently it is not the best option out there for pet owners.

Carpets – Avoid!

Carpets are a really popular floor covering but unfortunately they come with a number of disadvantages for pet owners. Although really soft and warm under foot (or paw!), carpets can be difficult to clean. Dirt from wet, muddy paws after playing outside can’t be wiped up easily and neither can urine which can cause staining and a lingering unpleasant odour. Unlike some other floor coverings, carpets are more difficult to clean and maintain making them an unsuitable choice for pet owners.

If you’re looking for a new floor covering which is going to be easy to maintain with pets around but still looks great in your home then you can find a flooring specialist near you to help you decide.