If you have a pet, you will most likely base your entire home interior design, as well as the materials you use, on your pet. Finding the right flooring for your home as a pet owner requires some key considerations because you must find one that complements your personal style while also accommodating your furry friends. Not sure where to begin? Here are some things to think about.
1. Scratch Resistance
The paws of our animals, unlike the fleshy feet of humans, are more likely to scratch the surface of our flooring materials. Even if your pets don’t have the tendency to scratch against surfaces, your floor may still sustain scratches when your pet runs around the house, especially if you do not cut their nails on a regular basis.
If you don’t want your floor to become damaged and scratched in a short period of time, consider getting highly scratch-resistant flooring materials like vinyl flooring or engineered wood flooring. Both of these materials typically have a protective wear layer on them that prevents your floors from being scratched and do not need to be recoated frequently.
2. Water & Stain Resistance
Even if you are a homeowner without a pet, you will most likely be looking for water- and stain-resistant flooring. If your pet isn’t potty trained, or if you want to avoid accidents and spills, look for flooring materials that will not be easily stained or damaged by moisture. Some of the more water-resistant materials include luxury vinyl tiles and SPC flooring. If you prefer wood floors, you may consider engineered wood flooring, which can be made more water and stain resistant by recoating it frequently.
3. Maintenance
Many animals shed fur, and some may not be potty trained, which can cause the floors to become dirty. Having a pet also means you’ll have less time to fully concentrate on cleaning your floors because they’ll run around, following you while you’re cleaning. Thus, it is crucial to choose floors that can be easily maintained with a simple vacuum or wipe. Luxury vinyl tiles and SPC flooring are the easiest to clean.
4. Traction
Many floor types can be slippery for your pets. You may notice that your pets are sliding around on very smooth surfaces. In order to keep your pets safe, look for flooring materials with more traction so they don’t slide around and collide with everything in the house.
Luxury vinyl tiles and SPC flooring provide good traction for your pets, and vinyl also makes less noise when your pet runs around. Wood flooring may not be appropriate because your pets will not be able to get a good footing.
5. Aesthetics
Lastly, because it is your home flooring, you may want to look for a flooring design that complements the rest of your home interior. Wood designs are the best because they are timeless and can easily be incorporated into a variety of home interior designs. Although natural hardwood flooring may not be suitable for pets, vinyl flooring is available in a variety of wooden patterns and colours you can choose from.
There isn’t a flooring material that is completely pet-friendly, and you may encounter some problems with any material you have chosen. However, you will still be able to find materials that can withstand the daily wear and tear that comes with owning a pet. As long as you pay attention to the cleaning and maintenance of your floors, you can keep them looking beautiful even after many years.
Floorrich is the leading flooring company in Singapore providing non-toxic and eco-friendly flooring solutions to homeowners. Get in touch with us for more assistance.