Preparing your floor for Floors for Paws

Preparing you floor

To ensure you have a lifetime of hassle free flooring it is essential to have your sub-floor prepared in the correct manner. If you have a perfectly smooth and dry sub-floor you can simply adhere Floors For Paws directly onto it. Unfortunately this is rarely the case, so we would like to look at the best solutions.

Latex sub-floor
This option is a quick and trusted process to ensure your FFP is fitted onto a suitable base. It is used on existing concrete floors that need to be smooth and levelled. Quick drying options such as the Stopgap 300 is ready to walk on in 2 hours and to work on in 4. This solution is also ideal for going over existing tile floors (who wants to take out all the tiles and build up again!) The photo below shows a kitchen diner before and after being latexed. As you can see the grout lines show through while it is drying but as long as 3-4mm is applied onto the tiles the surface will dry completely smooth.


1. Tiled floor


2. Two hours post latex


3. Floors for Paws Greenwood flooring

SP101 Ply board – Flooring Grade
Ply board should be used over existing wood flooring, or when you need to bring up the level of the floor by over 4mm. In the case below the carpet that was removed was 10mm and therefore too deep to apply a latex without the need for Grano chippings. This depth of latex would take two months to dry! The 9mm ply board is cut into place and secured with mechanical fixings at regular intervals to ensure no movement. The ply board is then ready for FFP to be adhered directly onto it. We recommend a minimum of a 6mm ply board base.


4. Build up with 9mm ply


5. Floors for Paws Wychwood flooring

If you are not a DIY nut; don’t worry because our recommended installers can carry out the preparation and installation for you.

Here our superb installation engineer John carries out fitting of 130 sqm of Greenwood to Rigsby Wold Holiday cottages new accommodation. For more details on this Dog friendly holiday please visit Rigsby Wold Holiday Cottages.

Call us today to discuss any aspect of your project on 01937 830948.

The Best Flooring for Puppies

Puppy on Floors for paws

The Best flooring for a new puppy

We all know the excitement of bringing home your new puppy; those doleful eyes that make you want wrap your puppy in cotton wool and never let it leave your sight -The proof that love at first sight is real and the kids say ‘you’re the best parents in the world!’

Success; everyone is in love and happy. Now for the practical……

Short of taking your puppy into the garden at 15 minute intervals your puppy is going to pee (and worse) on your carpet at some point. (Crate training can be a good way to avoid this, but personally I find making a puppy sleep near their own mess is a little mean)

So as you clean your carpet for the seventh time in two days you start to think; ‘I need a new floor – ceramic will be good. Its wipe clean – problem solved.’ Unfortunately your little puppy will be like Bambi on ice on smooth flooring, and your vets bills will far out weigh the cost the new floor.

Laminate? Prone to scratching, and moisture underneath the top covering

Stone? Urine can soak into the stone

Wood? Scratches and stains

So What is the best flooring for puppies???

Floors For Paws is stain proof, waterproof, Anti-slip and Anti-scratch. Wherever your dog goes: go Floors For Paws. The world’s best flooring for dogs & dog owners.

For more information on our products and to browse our selection, click here to explore our PawSafe Domestic Range.

If you want the best flooring for your puppy, simply call us today on 01522 300218 to find out more, or  drop us an email to info@floorsforpaws.com

The Challenges of Dogs and your Flooring; Part One

Cavalier laid on greenwood

If you are reading this, you are more than likely a dog lover! We are too. To us they are the greatest animals on earth. Only dogs have evolved alongside man for the last 15,000 years. We become more and more educated on what behaviours drive dogs and as such we understand the needs they have when living in our homes.
What is the main driving factor of dogs?

Self-preservation & Play:

They love to play. One of the main characteristics of all healthy dog is the drive to play. Inherent from the evolution of the Grey wolf packs have utilised play to prepare themselves for survival and confrontation. Although domesticated dogs do not face the same challenges as wild dogs it is a trait that will not be disappearing anytime soon.

As part of your pack dogs will expect us to play with them. But even when we don’t they will entertain themselves; chasing after a ball, having a mad rush around the living room, and trying to dig through to Australia!

Dog Claws:

This can be very detrimental to your flooring, in the form of claw marks. Flooring such as wood, laminate, rubber and carpet will be damaged or gain unsightly scratches from dogs claws and cause expensive restoration or replacement. Your beautiful floor can become tired looking very quickly

Solution to dogs & Flooring:

Floors For Paws is The World’s best flooring for Dogs & Dog owners. We understand the challenges our beloved companions provide, and as such have found the solution. Our 0.6mm wear layer is twice the industry standard for vinyl flooring, and is capable of resisting the scratches and scuffs that are inevitable from dog claws.

Click here to view our range and order your free samples today.

What is the best flooring for dogs?

best flooring for dogs

The Best Flooring for Dogs: A Comprehensive Guide

Finding the best flooring for dogs involves more than just aesthetics; it needs to stand up to claws, spills, and active pets. Below, we evaluate different flooring types based on essential factors such as anti-slip properties, durability, and scratch resistance.
This guide will help you choose the ideal flooring that’s perfect for both you and your furry friends.

Key Features to Look For:

• Anti-Slip: Helps prevent injuries and improves mobility, especially for older dogs.
• Glued Down: Ensures the floor is secure and stable underfoot and watertight
• Water Resistant: Guards against doggy accidents and spills.

• Scratch Resistant: Minimizes wear and tear from paws and claws.
• Stain Proof: Helps keep floors looking new, even after accidents and spills
• Durable: Stands up to everyday use and lasts for 30 years.

Best Flooring Options for Dogs

1.
Wood Flooring

Wood is a popular and attractive flooring choice, but it may not be ideal for homes with dogs.

• Advantages: Hypoallergenic and long-lasting (especially hardwood). Wood floors add warmth and elegance to your home.
• Disadvantages: Prone to scratches from claws and susceptible to staining from pet accidents.
Dog claws and liquid spills may result in expensive refinishing over time. Furthermore, wood flooring can be slippery, increasing the risk of injury for pets.

2. Carpet

Carpet is soft and cozy, but its downsides often outweigh the benefits for pet owners.


• Advantages: Provides warmth and softness, making it a comfortable option for pets and homeowners alike.
• Disadvantages: Traps allergens, which can be problematic for dogs and humans with sensitivities. Carpet also wears down quickly with heavy use from dogs, and it absorbs odors and stains easily.
Cleaning pet hair and accidents out of carpet can be a challenge.

3. Ceramic Tile

Ceramic tile is a durable, water-resistant option that many dog owners find appealing.

• Advantages: Easy to clean, highly waterproof, and extremely durable. It’s great for high-traffic areas and can last for decades.

• Disadvantages: Slip-resistance is a major concern. When wet, ceramic tiles can become very slippery for both humans and dogs, increasing the risk of injury. Research shows that slippery floors can contribute to long-term health problems for dogs, such as arthritis.


4. Laminate Flooring

Laminate has been a go-to choice for budget-conscious homeowners for years.

• Advantages: Inexpensive, easy to clean, and available in various designs.
• Disadvantages: While laminate may be scratch-resistant, it can be prone to staining from pet accidents.
Chemical cleaners can damage the floor’s surface over time. Laminate also lacks the slip-resistance dogs need, making it less safe for them, especially in areas prone to moisture.

5. Rubber Flooring

Rubber flooring offers softness and comfort but is less common in home interiors.


• Advantages: Excellent anti-slip properties and available in many colors. It’s warm and soft, making it ideal for dogs.
• Disadvantages: Rubber floors can be easily scratched and may not suit the aesthetic of many homes. Additionally, it is more difficult and costly to install, making it a less popular choice for residential spaces.


6. Luxury Vinyl Tile (LVT) Flooring

LVT has surged in popularity, and it’s easy to see why. This flooring is often considered the best choice for dog owners.

• Advantages: LVT is waterproof, scratch-resistant, and stain-proof. The textured surface provides excellent slip-resistance, reducing the risk of injuries.
The high-quality 3D printing technology gives LVT the appearance of wood, stone, or ceramic, allowing you to achieve the look you want without sacrificing durability.
• Disadvantages: Though LVT is highly durable, lower-quality products may not hold up as well over time.
Always ensure you invest in high-quality vinyl for maximum benefits.

7. Floors for Paws PawSafe domestic range

At Floors for Paws, we’ve developed the PawSafe Domestic range, endorsed by veterinary professionals to be kind to dogs while delivering durability and aesthetic appeal for homeowners.


• Advantages:
• Our LVT flooring is designed specifically for pet owners, offering the highest slip rating of any vinyl plank flooring, making it ideal for both young and older dogs.
• We’ve worked with experts like Dr. Hannah Capon of Canine arthritis management to ensure our flooring minimizes injury risk for dogs.
It’s waterproof, stain-resistant, and scratch-proof, designed to withstand the wear and tear from even the most active pets.
• Available in a range of attractive wood and stone-effect finishes, our multi-layered construction includes a soft comfort layer that provides cushioning underfoot for both you and your pets.


If you’re looking for the ultimate flooring solution for you and your dogs, Floors for Paws offers the best of both worlds. Call us at 01522 300218 or email info@floorsforpaws.com  for more information on our ranges

Why Floors for Paws is The world’s best Flooring for Dogs

When choosing flooring for your dog-friendly home, it’s essential to prioritize safety and durability.
While many options offer some benefits, our PawSafe domestic range stands out as the best choice due to its superior slip-resistance (+36 PTV) scratch-proof technology, pet-focused design and bespoke customer service.

Make your home safer for your dogs today by contacting us to learn more about the world’s best flooring for dogs.


FAQs on Flooring for Dogs

What is the best flooring for dogs who scratch?

• Luxury Vinyl Tile (LVT) is the best option due to its highly durable and scratch-resistant surface, making it perfect for homes with active dogs.

Is vinyl flooring good for dog owners?


• Yes, especially luxury vinyl, which is waterproof, easy to clean, and offers excellent slip resistance, reducing the risk of injury for pets.

How do I maintain my floor with pets?

• Regular cleaning with pet-safe products and addressing spills immediately will help maintain your floor’s appearance and longevity. See our video guide here.

The Benefits of Anti-slip Flooring for your Dog

Donna Willis

I have spent my whole life working with animals, as my uncle was a farmer and I grew up with no other destiny as my love for animals was so strong. Its funny, I never realised how much thought needs to be put into flooring until I became a veterinary nurse. This issue has only become more highlighted as I became an animal physiotherapist.

Flooring was always been second nature for me. Even on farms, we paid a lot of attention to the floor and bedding to ensure it was good for the animals foot care. It had to be shock absorbing, non-slip and not allow the animals to get wet hooves, paws or claws. It doesn’t matter what animal it is, we need to think about the same basic principles.

When I became a nurse I did some home visits and became more aware that many people lived differently and had different types of home and décor. When I became an animal physiotherapist I became more aware than ever before, that there were other type of flooring out there were less than ideal. Some of the questions I have to raise with owners is, what type of flooring do you have? A common answer was laminate or tiles. As time has moved forward more and more people are opting for hard floors for the understandable convenience and cleanliness. Lots of the flooring has become more varied aesthetically, but many hard options remain shiny and hard and cold.

We are all very house proud these days and with it becoming more expensive to move house and buy homes, people are choosing to invest in making their own home perfect. This is wonderful! I would like to ask that in choosing perfection, please remember to think about the comfort of our animals in those homes too. It’s actually not even just for the animals. As we age, we will also see great benefit in choosing a floor that suits these needs too.

An ideal floor will have good grip. If we lose our balance we need to be able to rely on our feet and not slip more. Rather like tyres on the road. A little forgiving slide is OK as it allows you to slow to a stop without damage, but skidding is a real worry, especially for the older pet or human. Laminate and high gloss floor tiles don’t allow enough grip and so can make our pets feel unsafe. Some dogs even get to the point where they refuse to walk on these types of floor, and I have seen this countless times. In many cases the dog may alter their gait and walk looking very strange as they over use too many muscles to try to be extra careful on the floor High gloss and laminate also make it virtually impossible for some animals to get up from laying on as they can’t get the traction needed.

An ideal floor is an easy to clean one! I understand this completely, so it can be easier to have a hard floor rather than carpet. Vinyl makes a great compromise as it is easy to clean and has excellent grip. After all, we can’t carpet every room, its just not hygienic or practical.

An ideal floor is not too hard or cold. That might sound ironic when talking about hard floors, but if you fall on a tile or stone floor it is less forgiving than a fall on a less solid surface. The temperature is also something to consider. The circulation in paws and feet is poor compared to the rest of the body, so they get cold so walking on a cold surface is not kind, especially for arthritic toes. Many of our pets will also choose to lay in the room we are in and if they are laying on a very cold stone or tile surface then their muscles can become very stiff. They can also get sores on their bony prominences, like their elbows, from where the circulation is so poor as they have laid with the pressure on the skin for too long on a hard surface.

I too, like many others, am going through a home renovation. I was over the moon when I found Floors for Paws on my hunt for suitable flooring. I am a big fan of vinyl for the grip, temperature, and ease of cleaning. A big feature of Floors For Paws is the extra scratch resistant layer, and I definitely think this is a big bonus to stop claw marks. I have an old arthritic dog and a young 3 legged dog. Both love to follow me into my kitchen and my bathroom! Both will benefit, and most importantly, over my life I will have many dogs and they will all benefit regardless of age. I also know my whole family and myself, will also benefit. Thank you Floors for Paws!

Donna Wills PGC A Phys, RVN, MIAAT.

Member of RAMP

Member of the British Veterinary Nursing Association

M. 07776 182 911
W. www.animalphysiotherapy.org.uk


What is Pet Friendly Flooring? UK

pet friendly flooring

What is pet friendly flooring? Well, that depends who’s asking; humans or dogs!

In the past we have regarded ‘pet friendly flooring’ as a system that is easy to clean and maintain in an environment with pets. Smooth hard floors are excellent at keeping out ingrained dirt, however they are not the best solution for all of us in the family. What we have sometimes not considered is what our beloved dogs require;

Slippery floors are a significant contributor to chronic pain and arthritis in dogs, due to injury from slips. For dogs with existing arthritis it is essential that flooring issues are addressed.

It’s time we stopped asking ‘will my dog damage my flooring?’ And start asking ‘will my flooring damage my dog?’

Most dogs in the UK live in their owner’s home, and may spend up to 90% of their life in that environment. If there are steps that they repeatedly struggle up and down, floors they repeatedly slip on, or solid cold beds they repeatedly sleep on, their condition will not improve as they will continue to injure themselves.

Your dog’s lack of ability to correct and therefore protect themselves when they slip or have to negotiate difficult paths will leave them prone to further trauma.

A slippery floor, be it wooden, laminate, or tile is very hazardous for an arthritic dog that already has weak & painful limbs. Repeated slips, no matter how small, will progress the clinical signs of arthritis.

For more information about Canine arthritis please see below;

Canine arthritis 

So when choosing your next pet friendly flooring please take into account the slip-resistance of your choice;

Our PawSafe domestic flooring has a +36 PTV rating so is 100% safe flooring for dogs.  On top of this it ticks all the boxes you require as a dog owner and a home owner; Durable, guaranteed against Dog claws, waterproof, easy to maintain and attractive. no more grubby, hard to clean carpets!

Click below for the best pet friendly flooring

Best flooring for pets