Things to Consider with Pets

If you're a homeowner who is excited to install new flooring, you may take a look at your beloved pet and worry that it’s not possible for the two to go together. Fortunately, that's not true. You don't have to get rid of your pet to keep your floors safe!

Hardwood Floors and Pets

Hardwood flooring and pets can go together; and with few headaches. In fact, iit doesn’t harbor pet hair and dander, allergens, and unpleasant critters like mites, ticks, and fleas, so its a clean option. Additionally, many pets often prefer lying on a hardwood floor rather than on carpet since wood is a natural insulator.

However, like any natural element the material is subject to wear and tear. Animals with long, piercing nails do have the ability to scratch and dent a hardwood floor surface. As long as you make sure that you keep your pet’s nails are short to avoid any scratches, hardwood flooring is a universally good option. If not regularly trimmed, a pet's nails can cause as much damage to your hardwood floor as a high-heeled shoe.

Before running out to order the hardwood floor of your dreams, take note that the best type of hardwood floor finish to use when you have a pet is an oil-based urethane finish. To ensure the long life of your hardwood floor, have the initial finish applied in three coats with a satin sheen, and keep it well maintained. This finish will provide the best protection and it will be the easiest finish type to maintain.

Take it a Step Further

Floors are meant to be walked on - but if you want to take an extra precaution, you might consider crate training for your pet to keep them off the floors when you are away. Advocates of crate training consider it an ideal method of giving your pet security and peace of mind. It appeals to a puppy's instinct to create its own den, while keeping him out of trouble.

Make it a Family Affair

Finally, a great way to protect your floors from pets is to teach family members floor maintenance and damage prevention. Explain to your spouse (and children) the importance of preserving the floor by sweeping, mopping, and prompt clean up of the messes that your pet may leave. With the whole family pitching in, care and maintenance of your hardwood floor should be a cinch.

Hardwood floors and pets are compatible as long as you remember these simple guidelines. You don't have to choose between having the love of a pet and the enduring beauty of your home, so take the next step and  install the dream floor you've been wanting.

Non-Hardwood Options

Keep in mind that there are substitutes for hardwood floors. If you are looking for a more cost-effective option for your pet-friendly home, consider laminate flooring. Laminate floors offers a replicated look of hardwood flooring, while providing a sturdy and stain-resistant surface for your pets. With laminate, you may have fewer issues with moisture, dents and scratches. But while laminate flooring is more resistant to moisture, you’ll need to clean up any spilled liquids quickly to prevent any long-term damage.

Vinyl flooring, another synthetic type of flooring that offers durability, easy clean-up, easy to maintain, resilient, and moisture-resistant, scratches, and dents. Vinyl floors come in a huge assortment of colors and designs - like ones that mimic a wood pattern. Additionally, vinyl softens the sound of your pet’s nails when they walk across the floor.