A Guide to Pet-Friendly Flooring

If you have pets in your home, you know how tough they can be on your floors, and if you’ve had pets for any number of years, you’ve probably seen your fair share of wear and tear. Choosing the right flooring for your home, whether that’s luxury vinyl, laminate or engineered hardwood, means thinking beyond just how it will look and considering how well it will hold up to your furry, four-legged family members. 

Pet-friendly flooring has come a long way over the years, and luckily that means that you no longer have to sacrifice style to get something durable. Here’s what to keep in mind before you buy:

Scratch and Moisture Resistance

Pets can, and often do, cause a lot of damage to flooring with their claw and bladder accidents. No matter how well trained your pets are, they can still get the zoomies and accidents can still happen, like knocking over your freshly brewed cup of coffee or slopping water from their bowl all over the place. 

Because of these common pet behaviors, you’ll want floors with a strong wear layer that can resist scratches and that won’t absorb moisture. This is important for protecting the surface, as well as the subfloor where real damage can occur if liquid seeps through.

Slip Resistance

We all know how excited dogs get when they hear the word “walk” or “treat,” and we also know how energetic cats get when you pull out their favorite toy. All of this excitement often leads to running and scurrying around, and without the right flooring, your four-legged friends could end up slipping and sliding all over the place, which can lead to other accidents (like those coffee and water spills we talked about earlier). 

When shopping for pet-friendly flooring, opt for a type that has a surface layer with realistic visuals and textures to give your pets better grip. This can be especially helpful when your pets get up there in age and can’t move around as well as they used to.

Noise and Sound Absorption

While there’s something endearing about the cute sound of happy paws trotting across the house, it can get annoying to hear the constant click-clack of claws on your floors. High-quality laminate, luxury vinyl and engineered hardwood flooring often have strong sound-control properties to reduce the noise from people and animals walking around. And with the right underlayment, the sound is absorbed even more. Sound absorption and noise control are always worth considering when you have pets, especially if you have an open-concept or multi-story home where sound carries easily.

Maintenance and Cleanup

As a pet owner, you already know that one of the biggest day-to-day concerns is how easy your floors are to clean. Between all of the pet hair and potential moisture, you need a floor that doesn’t trap either. You also want one that doesn’t stain easily. When looking for pet-friendly flooring, keep in mind how frequently you’ll be sweeping, vacuuming, mopping and cleaning up after your pets.

Comfort Underfoot

It’s kind of a funny thought, but pets spend a lot of their time on the floor, whether that’s napping, playing, lounging or adorably sunbathing by the window. Because of this, comfort matters more than people think. The flooring you choose for your home should have a comfortable, forgiving feeling underfoot. It’s a small thing that makes a big difference in the daily lives of every four-legged and two-legged member of your family.

Silent Blue Flooring: Style Without the Sacrifice

When you have pets, it often feels like you have to choose between floors that look good and floors that will actually withstand the test of time. With Silent Blue Flooring, you never have to make that choice. Our wide range of flooring products gives you the style you’re looking for and the durability your home needs. While luxury vinyl plank is generally considered the most pet-friendly option for its superior waterproof performance and scratch resistance, laminate and engineered hardwood flooring are still fantastic choices. No matter which one you prefer, we have them in our stores!

Each one of our products is carefully designed and manufactured with durability, scratch resistance, moisture resistance, sound absorption and comfort underfoot at the forefront. Because we manufacture our own products, you skip the retail markup and enjoy the highest quality flooring at the best possible prices. When you visit our Fort Lauderdale or Tampa flooring store, you’re met with friendly product experts who are here to walk you through every step of the selection process. That’s the Silent Blue Flooring difference! Experience it for yourself by visiting us in store or contacting us online.