What’s the best flooring to use with pets?

We are a nation of animal lovers and recent surveys show that 45% of all households in the UK have a pet. If you have a special furry friend in your life there is no reason why you cannot share a home happily together. However you need to ensure that your furnishings are suitable for use for pets as well as people. Most importantly, you should take care to choose the best flooring for your pet.

Pets have nails and they can easily scratch a wood floor or carpet. Many breeds also shed their fur. Pets who roam outdoors are liable to bring dirt into your house. And however house trained your pets are, accidents can still happen.

Tips for pet owners

The first thing you should do is to trim your pets’ nails. You should keep your pet’s toys in a designated room, and certainly away from any delicate vases which might get knocked over.

Your pet’s food and water should be kept in a room which is easily cleaned. The kitchen is usually a good bet.

Make sure you have matts near all external doors to catch the dirt from your pet’s paws as they enter the house.

You should also think about placing rugs in areas frequented by your pets to reduce the wear and tear on your floor.

Carpets

In our experience, carpets and pets do not go well together. Pets will turn your beautiful carpets into a smelly mess of filth before long. Carpet soaks up dirt particles and can be destroyed very quickly. If you are set on carpet no matter the cost, we would advise you to choose carpets without loops as these tend to catch pets nails.

Real wood

Real wood floors are vulnerable to urine which stains the wood and causes a nasty smell that will linger on even after cleaning. Spills from water bowls can seep into the wood and cause it to warp. Furthermore, real wood is easily scratched into oblivion by pet nails.

If you love real wood and nothing else will do, we suggest that you pick the harder options such as Brazilian Walnut, Oak, and Hard Maple. Coating the wood with a urethane finish for added protection is also recommended.

Laminate flooring

For most pet owners, laminate is the best flooring choice. At Cherry Carpets we stock laminate floors with special protective layers that protect against stains and scratches. Laminate is extremely easy to clean. Wiping with a damp cloth is sufficient in most cases.

Pets may find some laminate floors to be too slippery, which can cause them to slide around as they run through your home. This can potentially lead to injury. To avoid this we would advise pet owners to avoid the high gloss options and go for laminates with a textured finish.

Vinyl

Vinyl is another excellent choice for pet owners. It stands up very well to scratches and stains. It is very hygienic, water resistant, and easy to clean. At Cherry Carpets we have a variety of vinyl finishes which mimic natural materials.

Want to know more?

At Cherry Carpets we are well established in the flooring industry in London, Kent and Surrey. We stock a premium range of flooring materials including carpets, real and engineered wood, laminates and luxury vinyl tiles. We have a team of expert advisers on hand to answer your questions.

If you want to find out more about the best flooring options for you pet, give us a call today. At Cherry Carpets, we take great pride in every job, regardless of the size and we go the extra mile to ensure that we exceed your expectations and continue to build on the excellent reputation we have built. Our team are all fully employed by Cherry Carpets, meaning you get the benefit of fully accountable staff and also avoid the additional cost of paying a sub-contractors premium.

If you are considering a new floor for your home or commercial space then please call us on or click here to complete the contact form and we will be in contact within 24 hours.

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