Installers’ Top Flooring Options for a Dog-Friendly Home

10 There are many flooring types that can withstand the pitter-patter of little paws, but there are others that will suffer underfoot of your fur family.

Dogs, in particular, can be hard on floors. Their nails scratch the surface so the flooring needs to be scratch-resistant. Dogs also have a pesky habit of tracking mud into the house or have accidents. As a result, flooring also needs to be hardwearing and water-resistant.

Another consideration is noise, as you may not want to hear your dog’s nails clicking across the floors at any given hour of the day. Lastly, your dog requires a floor with good traction so they don’t become fearful of skating across slick surfaces.
So to summarize, for floors to be considered pet-friendly they need to be:

• Scratch-resistant
• Water-resistant
• Noise-cancelling, and
• Offer good traction.

So with that in mind, let’s have a look at some of the best flooring options for pet-friendly homes.

A Toronto Flooring Contractors Guide to Pet-friendly Flooring

When it comes to pet-friendly flooring options, homeowners are fortunate to have many options available so they can keep their pets happy while not compromising their interior design. Here our are top pet-friendly flooring choices:

Cork
In our years as flooring contractors in Toronto, we’ve seen this eco-friendly and economical option take the lead as one of the most popular choices among pet-owners. Cork checks off all the boxes: it’s scratch-proof, water-resistant and antimicrobial (pet accidents won’t generate mould). Cork also traps sound and it provides adequate traction for your pet. Additionally, cork is warm underfoot so during the colder months, your furry companion won’t get cold feet.

Luxury Vinyl
One of the best flooring choices that’s not only well priced but ideal for pet-friendly homes is luxury vinyl. It’s also available in vinyl sheets, tiles, and in many different patterns. Vinyl has come a long way: it’s now scratch-proof, water-resistant, and provides good traction for your pets. Unlike hardwood or stone that can be cold on your pet’s paws, luxury vinyl is warmer and more comfortable for them to lay on.

Engineered Hardwood
Although most homeowners dream of laying hardwood, it’s not ideal for pets — especially, large breed dogs. But if hardwood is a must, avoid softwoods. Or to give you the look and feel of hardwood flooring without the drawbacks, engineered hardwood is the way to go.

Be sure to select an engineered hardwood that scores high on the Janka Hardness Scale, like Brazillian cherry for extra durability. To help protect your floors from scratches, you’ll want a thick veneer (so you can sand it down and refinish a few times) and a scratch-resistant finish.

Engineered hardwood also offers some protection against accidents or water spills, though it can become damaged over time and with many soakings.

Stone and Porcelain Tile
Both natural stone and porcelain tile offers your floors near perfect protection against pet-related damages. The main difference between natural stone and porcelain is cost. Stone will cost you more upfront but you can’t beat the look of bringing the outdoors inside.

A drawback to these flooring types is that they are cold and can be slippery. However, there are many workarounds for these issues. You can install radiant heating for the winter months, go with a textured finish for added traction and break up the tiles with area rugs or pet beds.

Laminate
Apart from scoring lower in terms of water-resistance, making it a less ideal choice for a puppy or senior pet; laminate is tough in terms of scratch resistance. However, this does not apply to all laminates — only those that score AC3-AC5 on the abrasion class chart as they are suitable for commercial usage.

You can also reduce the sound of your dog clacking across the floor by using underlayment with a thicker laminate (12mm). The real downside to laminate is to your pet. Its slick glossy surface doesn’t provide much in the way of traction, so buy textured or embossed finish to help and use area rugs.

Pet-Friendly Flooring Options

Pets should have a place in your home, not just in your heart, so show your furry companion that you care by considering them when you’re updating your floors. As the premier pet-conscious flooring contractors Toronto and the GTA has to offer, we can help you select the best option for you and your pet. Contact us for a free consultation.