Best Floor for a Pet

Do you have a pet, or are thinking of getting one? Are you wondering what flooring choice is the best option when considering accidents, claws, spills, or smells? The Pros at TimberTown have put together this handy guide for pet owners when selecting a new floor.

Carpet

Though carpet might be one of the cheaper options initially, be prepared to do a whole lot of vacuuming, and deep cleaning! Carpet fibres attract dust, danger, and mites which is what primarily contributes to “that pet smell” so many pet owners notice. Even with regular carpet cleaning, you’ll need to have your carpets sanitized regularly to protect against allergens that can affect both you and your pets.

If you’re thinking of getting a puppy or kitten, be prepared for lots of accidents along the way as your new pet learns to hold its bladder as well as where they should “go”. Stains are going to be quite common in the potty-training stage which is going to significantly affect the lifespan of your carpet.

Just as boxes are often more fun to play with for cats than the toys once inside of them, carpets are often just as fun for clawing.

Laminate

Laminate tends to be the least expensive type of flooring and with advances in printing techniques, can often look indistinguishable from real wood, stone, or tile. They’re extremely durable, meaning claws aren’t going to leave scratches or dents quite as easily. And all those accidents and spills? They can be cleaned with soap and water in order to keep your floor allergen and stain-free. Most laminate floors aren’t waterproof, so if spills are left too long you might have to remove sections of your floor and replace the underlay or subfloor depending on the severity.

Luxury Vinyl (LVP/LVT)

Luxury Vinyl Plank or Tile (LVP/LVT) is one of the most durable flooring choices that you can buy. Because of their composition, vinyl floors are 100% waterproof, meaning no spills or accidents are going to damage this flooring. They can be cleaned with soap and water or other cleaning products so that they remain completely sterile.

Luxury Vinyl has more decor options compared to laminate, and if durability is what you’re most concerned with, vinyl is your best option.

Engineered Hardwood

If you want the look of hardwood floors but are considering a pet, or have one and are looking to upgrade your floors, Engineered Hardwood is an excellent option. Most engineered floors are water resistant, meaning they can handle spills and accidents as long as you wipe them up and don’t let them sink into the floor. This can cause warping of your boards, as well as damage to your subfloor or underlay.

Hardwood

Initially, you might think Hardwood floors are a no-go when it comes to pets, but that isn’t true! If you’re willing to put in the work, your hardwood floors and your pets can exist happily together.

Unlike laminate, vinyl, or engineered, hardwood floors can be sanded and refinished. This means that if you do notice large scratches on your floor, you get rid of them with a little elbow grease. That said, because most hardwood floors come with natural knots and whorls in the wood, a few scratches aren’t as noticeable as they would be on perfectly smooth floors.

Which floor should you choose?

Other than carpet, your flooring choice comes down to how durable you want your floor to be and how much you want to spend.

Laminate floors are the cheapest, and fairly durable, while Luxury Vinyl tends to cost slightly more but is waterproof. Engineered floors are a good alternative for someone who wants the look of hardwood but not the price tag. Hardwood floors might take a bit more upkeep, but they’ll outlast the other flooring options in the long run.

We also offer cleaning products to keep your floors in good condition, pets or no!

Come into any Timbertown store and feel the floors for yourself. We offer free take-home samples, so you can test out the durability of your new floor yourself before you buy!