What is the Best Type of Flooring for Pets?
When building a new home or remodeling an existing home, flooring choices are everything. With pets in the home, this becomes even more important, because pets are just as hard, if not harder, than people on flooring surfaces. What are the best flooring for pets in the home? Let’s take a look at the pros and cons of several types of flooring to help in the decision-making process.
Finding the Purrfect Flooring for Pets
Laminate Flooring
Due to the hardness of laminate flooring, pet owners may turn to it instead of traditional hardwood. While this may work to provide the décor people want, it can be difficult for pets, especially dogs, because they will slip and slide as they walk or run through the home. This will cause their hips to move in unnatural ways, which may cause damage to their bodies. This is pronounced in smooth, high gloss laminate floors and can be mitigated somewhat by choosing a laminate floor with an embossed or textured finish. Laminate won’t show scratches as easily as some other surfaces, but because they are slippery and uncomfortable to lie on it is not a great flooring for pets. Rugs are recommended throughout the home to help the pet if you choose laminate.
Bamboo Flooring
Bamboo is an excellent flooring for pets for many different reasons. It’s harder than the hardest hardwoods, meaning it will stand up to more traffic. It won’t wear out, and it’s completely renewable. This makes it a good choice for those who are trying to be green. Bamboo is stain resistant, so people don’t have to worry about accidents or spills. Bamboo’s hardness will help save money when compared to flooring that will require repairs from scratches. For those who are trying to decide between using wood and vinyl flooring, choosing bamboo floors is a great compromise. If you choose bamboo snap lock flooring, the installation will be easy too.
Stone Tile Flooring
Stone is an amazing flooring for pets because it does not scratch easily, and scratches don’t show as they do in other types of flooring. When pets have accidents on the stone tile floor, there is much less reason to worry about how it will impact the flooring. With these two factors considered, this is a good choice for pet owners, but the floors are hard and cold so they are not very comfortable to lie on. However, you can use radiant heat to make it warmer. Consider using area rugs and pet beds to alleviate this problem.
Granite is the hardest of natural stones and is the best choice for scratch resistance. Softer stones such as marble, slate, and travertine may require somewhat more maintenance than granite, especially if they feature a polished finish.
Porcelain or Ceramic Tile Flooring
Similar to stone, porcelain or ceramic tile floors are is a good choice in terms of wear and tear for pets. It won’t scratch easily. If pets don’t manage to make it outside before relieving themselves, the urine won’t damage the condition of the floor as it would with hardwood. However, much like stone, the surface is hard and uncomfortable for pets to lie on, but rugs will help.
Vinyl Flooring
While many people wouldn’t think of vinyl flooring for pets, the new luxury vinyl flooring is an excellent choice. It’s great for small children, too! The flooring is scratch and stain resistant, low in allergens, easy to clean and maintain. It’s even quiet to walk on.
Carpet
When it comes to flooring for pets, carpet is likely the worst choice one can make. This is because it is easily damaged by pets. Even normal wear and tear on carpet in a pet-free home happens faster than with other flooring options. If carpet is the only choice because it is the most cost-effective option for home flooring, the best thing to do is choose a carpet without loops as pet nails can snag on the loops and cause the carpet to wear faster.
While budget and ease of installation will be factors impacting the flooring decisions of a home, taking time to consider the best flooring options for pets beforehand may save money in repairs and frustration in the long run. Cutting corners on flooring to save money is not a good choice if the flooring needs to be replaced in a few months or even a year due to the wear and tear from the pets.
ronkeddy
I’ve had a pet for three years now and I opted for porcelain tiles. They work like a charm. I suggest you do the same.
Ken
While I am a pet lover of the highest degree I am amazed and disagree with a few of the answers here. The first one is a concrete floor. There are details and very important ones being left out. A standard porous concrete floor is NOT impervious to pet urine. I had this experience in two different homes. In order to be urine resistant that floor has to be finished/polished, sealed and treated. I had two instances where a pet Siamese Cat unknown to me had urinated on the same area numerous times. Over time, the urine soaked into the concrete and I literally had to saw the concrete slab and then re-pour and go to well over a thousand dollars worth of flooring repairs.
Ceramic and porcelain tile no matter what form it is in, is in and of itself impervious, but the grout lines are not. Again, the grout lines must be as small as is humanly possible and the grout lines must be sealed with a commercially available sealer. Don’t seal it and that urine spot problem grows when you leave your home and the family pet urinates repeatedly in the same spot. It must be treated with a sealer and that sealer must be re-applied every few years. You will never know all the hidden places where the urine sits until it dries on the surface.
The sense of smell is so good on most dogs and cats that they are able to smell urine or a marking from a previous resident of the property no matter what one does. Their first job as they move in as the new feline or canine resident of that property is to mark that property as belonging to them. This is a tradition with both species and housebroken has nothing to do with it. This is an instinct going back through evolution of the species.
My personal experience is to use the high end sheet vinyl, carefully work with the installer and arrange for the seams to be in locations not easily accessible to your pet.
With other hard forms of flooring just be certain to clean and reseal every 3-5 years depending on exposure.
Other point of note:
If you want to have bathroom rugs look very carefully. Both dogs and cats are attracted to the rubber backing which prevents the rug from slipping on the floor. To some, urinating on this is a virtual obsession. If you want the rugs, go ahead and get them but make dead certain that you don’t leave them down when the shower or other portions are being used.
Jennifer
Hi All,
I am a renter; and I have a dog, and a cat. They are both well trained as to where to go potty, etc. My concern is the nails for both, and scratches. I will need to let my landlord (great guy) know what is best; but to also let him choose as it is HIS home. He needs to pick something that will give him resale value, but I also do not want to endanger my pets hips with the laminate. I was looking at the wood-like porcelain. Anyone have any success with this? I plan on using many rugs, and have pet beds already.
Thank you,
Jennifer
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cathy bridgers
We put laminate floors in our house about the same time we got our cat. Both are holding up very well. Cat is three years old and the floors are too.
Betty Saenz REALTOR
Here in the south, stone, tile and concrete floors are great pet options because we do not worry about the freezing cold here, so the colder flooring feels good to our pets. I always have room size rugs, area rugs and pet beds too so my pets have an option of where to lay down. Of course my cat always loves my laundry basket! Even hickory hardwood floors scratch with dog nails!
Stephanie
I have 2 cats and a dog. We have chosen to do an acid stained concrete. It’s durable, inexpensive, easy to clean and doesn’t absorb urine odors. It is very attractive as well.
Gabby
This may sound crazy, I am a first time homeowner. With concrete floors where do you buy it? Do you buy concrete, mix it and lay it or do you got to a store for flooring and it comes in tiles or something? I hope I don’t sound really stupid I just would look to know more about concrete flooring
Richard Felt
I have a large Maine coon cat who between the carpets and tile kitchen floor causes damage. Wish I would have had him declawed but that ship has sailed. Need the very best flooring for my kitchen to stop his scratching it up. Any suggestions?
BuildDirect Product Expert Team
Hi Richard,
Thank you for getting in touch! I would definitely suggest looking into vinyl plank flooring or porcelain tile flooring. These are both really durable options that are also water resistant which makes cleaning very easy. Please let us know if you have any other questions!
Linda Szymoniak
I don’t believe in declawing, although our Maine Coon, who passed recently, came to us declawed. I simply trim the nails of my other two cats. It has made a tremendous difference (they aren’t trying to shred furniture, etc., too).
Pamela Maxfield
Richard,
Regarding your regrets for not having had you cat de-clawed, please go online and research the effects on animals. Veterinarians compare it to our having our fingers removed up to the first joint. It is a horrible, cruel practice; I am appalled that the author of this article brought it up as an option, & I am going to comment on it.
Pamela Maxfield
Joe Grimberg
THE BEST flooring for pets, is CONCRETE flooring. It is extremely durable, withstands scratches and does not absorb wetness and orders!
I offer free in home estimates for all remodeling projects located in Los Angeles and surrounding cities. 818-633-5462
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penny cleverley
please help I have just moved into my new home I have a 10 year old newfoundland dog hee cannot walk on the floor cause he keeps slipping he has a hard time getting up too i’m afraid he is going to break his legs hips he weighs about 200 lbs I need a floor that he can walk on
BuildDirect Product Expert Team
Hi Penny,
Two options I would suggest are cork flooring or vinyl plank flooring. Cork will definitely be the softer of the two options, although you would want to ensure that you are trimming your dog’s nails frequently to prevent scratching. With vinyl plank flooring, it is a one of the more durable types of flooring and should be able to help as it does not have a slippery surface.
We do send up to 5 samples free of charge, so I would highly recommend ordering a some samples of both vinyl and cork options to see if either of these would work for your desired application!
Patty
The very best solution is good quality linoleum. It can be easily cleaned. You can get the kind that has some traction and you can also get a design that looks very much like hardwood flooring.
If you paint with Kilz BEFORE you put down the linoleum, the animals will be discouraged from using your room as their restroom. Linoleum is also more affordable than carpet or hardwood.
You have to decide if you’d rather have your animals or a certain floor covering. Linoleum seems to be the best solution for all. Small pieces of carpet or rugs can soften the feeling of the room and they can either be washed or thrown away.
I wish I had known this several years ago!
Good luck to all!
Stacy
We bought bamboo for our floors and have a ten year old boxer and a setter , it is horrible we have such bad scratches every where. We are going to have to replace all the floors I am a groomer so my babies nails are always trimmed . What other ideas are there for flooring for a hyper dog, and a dog that’s older so not to hurt his joints??!
Pocohontas 1
have 2 dogs & wee-wee pads, these 2 guys seem to miss wee-wee pads, need to know the HONEST – best flooring for my 2 – 5yr old yorkie babies. HELP…
Giorgia
Rose urban? did you find out about bamboo?
I have 7 dogs and I they all seem to enjoy marking the territory! Help!
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Arati
Thank you for this wonderful article.
Rose urban
What happens to bamboo if dogs pee on it . Does it smell? Is it cleanable.
Hermes
We bought our home last year and it came with bad carpet. We did not bother to change it because we have 6 dogs and it will only mean a huge waste of money. We just had it professionally cleaned and have been doing carpet shampooing ourselves every so often. Carpet condition has deteriorated so bad that all stains and smell dont go away anymore even with powerful pet cleaners/enzymes. Thinking of just finally ripping off the carpet and doing our floors. What is the most pet friendly, water and stain proof, most durable and most economical as we are on a tight budget. Areas would be foyer, formal living, diningroom and stairs. Considering installing new carpet on family room and upstairs bedrooms. Thanks.
Valerie
Susan, hoping someone answers you! I’m in the same boat!
Valerie
SLA, I have the same problem………right now there are 6 small dogs living in my home. Needless to say, my tile floors are a mess. I am in the process of using an enzyme cleaner, however, I am leaving it on for a week at a time. I pour it on. Spread it out. Cover entire area with plastic drop cloths so the enzyme remains wet and has an opportunity to really work. I also put the legs of my diningroom chairs and table in cups containing the enzyme. I’m hoping this works as I wish to put my home on the market. SO……….now I am wondering, when I move, what is the best flooring to put down. I’m almost leaning towards a sheet vinyl for where the dogs will be. I doubt their habits will improve quickly. I use puppy pads, however, one mistake and all the dogs have to claim the new area.