The best flooring for dogs is:
- Anti-slip
- Glued Down
- Waterproof
- Scratch resistant
- Stain proof
- Durable
Let’s look at the performance of the most popular floors for dogs;
Wood flooring:
Wood flooring has a warmth and texture that make it a popular choice for home owners. It can last decades (if hardwood) and is hypo-allergenic. It is also easier to keep clean than carpet. The disadvantage of wood flooring when you have pets is that it can be scratched by dog claws, and stained by spillages. Pet urine which can lead to a process of sanding and re-sanding which can become expensive to maintain. It can also be slippery underfoot for you and your dogs.
Carpet:
Carpet is the most popular choice for home owners. We love the feel of soft carpet under our feet, and carpet has the highest warmth retention of all floor coverings. Unfortunately for dog owners it can become worn relatively quickly by dogs. It can trap allergens in the fibres which may cause allergic reactions to home owners and in some cases your dogs.
Ceramic Tile:
Often touted as a good pet friendly flooring the ceramic tile is easy to clean and maintain, hardwearing and long lasting. Very popular in Kitchen installations due to its water resistant nature. It has long been a popular choice with dog owners. The one thing to consider with ceramic tile is the lack of slip-resistance for you and your dog especially when wet. Over the last few years research into dog injuries have found slippery floors to be one of the main causes of arthritis in dogs. Damage from an early age caused by slipping can lead to decreased mobility in later life for dogs.
Laminate:
Once celebrated as the best flooring for dogs due to its ease of cleaning and maintenance, this product thrived due to its low price and numerous designs. Still used today it is a popular choice for those who need a cost effective flooring solution. The negatives of the floor type is that it is prone to staining. Any harsh chemical used to remove these can bleach the colour – and leaks. This obviously has repercussions for dog owners who will have dog urine and water spillages from dog bowls on their floor. It is also very low on the slip-resistant rating.
Rubber Flooring:
Rubber is a warm, comfortable solution for homes. Available in many colours and sustainably sourced. It has good slip properties, but is prone to scratching. It can be difficult and expensive to lay correctly. It is popular for dog kennels and dog training areas where aesthetics are not a priority. Some higher density rubber flooring is popular in homes, however dog owners may find the scratches to be prohibitive to specification.
Luxury Vinyl Tile Flooring:
LVT is universally recognised as the best flooring for dogs and has rocketed in popularity in the last few years. Due to the improved 3d printing technique which allows the floor to take on the look of wood, stone, and ceramic. It is also waterproof, stain-resistant, long lasting, and hardwearing.
Floors For Paws LVT:
Officially: The world’s best flooring for dogs.
At Floors for Paws, our PawSafe flooring ranges have been developed in partnership with caninearthritis.co.uk/cam-endorsed-product/floors-for-paws/ (CAM) to be kind to dogs. Our Pawsafe Domestic range and our Luxury Vinyl range are supplied in a choice of plank or tile options in a range of attractive wood- and stone-effect finishes to satisfy the most house proud amongst us. The multi-layered construction has a textured surface layer plus a soft, comfort layer for kinder cushioning. The PawSafe domestic range also offers the highest slip rating of any vinyl plank flooring and are therefore the best non-slip flooring for dogs currently in the market. Pet owners love our flooring because it’s kind to their pets and it’s great for them; read ‘Best flooring for pet owners’ to find out why.
If you want the best flooring for your dogs, simply call us today on 01522 300218 to find out more, or drop us an email to info@floorsforpaws.com