Do you have a fur baby that is part of your home? Pets are part of our family, but let’s be totally honest. They can wreak havoc on your new chic flooring. Remember, what is going under your feet is also going under your pets paws.
This is Tank. Tank is my 200lb Great Dane who is full of cuddles and love. Tank has also taught me a lot about flooring do’s and don’ts. When I first brought Tank home, I had engineered hardwood floors. I didn’t stop to consider that Tanks paws are as big as my hands. Even though engineered hardwoods are more sturdy than real hardwoods, they did not pass the Tank test! Within a month I was on the hunt for new floors, and I was picky! Who wants super high maintenance? NOT THIS GAL! My ingredients for my new flooring were: Great Dane approved, durable to water, scratches, very big puppy pee puddles, and easy to keep clean.
Tank Says No To These Floors!
Hardwoods
Oh, how beautiful and luxurious hardwood floors are! They are rich with character and warm up the home. Hardwoods are high, (did I mention high?), high maintenance floors. If you are the proud owner of hardwood flooring, then you already know. If you want to be the owner of hardwoods, you have to be ready for the job you are about to take on. Wet equals warp and you will constantly be worried about anything travelling across your floors leaving scratch marks. If you have an indoor pet, you may be sanding and refinishing your hardwoods, a lot. Hardwoods make for great photo ops, but they are not Tank approved.
Carpet
Carpet serves as an excellent noise reducer in the home. There are different quality grades and it is one of the more economical choices for new floor coverings. It also provides a lot of cushion under the feet. If you don’t have indoor pets, this can be a great option. However, carpet is also a dirt/fur trap no matter how much you vacuum. Animals will have accidents. Have you ever had carpet and pulled it up to see what has soaked into the padding underneath? Tank says YUCK!
Tank Approved Flooring
Ceramic Tile
Ceramic tile is extremely durable. It is easy to clean, just make sure to keep the grout sealed. (I learned that the hard way). Ceramic tile doesn’t provide cushion or a noise barrier, and can be priced on the higher side since installation is more labor intensive. But they are a sturdy option. Tank wants to remind you to lay some carpet runners down if your puppy starts to slip, but overall, ceramic tile has Tank’s seal of approval.
Luxury Vinyl
Ding Ding Ding! We have a winner! Vinyl, you say? YES! Luxury vinyl is becoming more and more popular. It is showing up frequently in new builds and is a favored replacement for worn out flooring. Luxury vinyl is extraordinarily heavy duty. While no floor covering is 100% waterproof or scratch resistant, luxury vinyl is very close. It has a realistic look of wood or stone, is cost effective, and is extremely low maintenance. Jackpot! (I keep mine vacuumed with a robot vacuum and spot clean with a Swiffer wet jet). It is also an easy install for all of you DIYers. Tank watched his owner install it, and says if his owner can, anyone can! It is on the slick side like ceramic tile, so Tank asked for some carpet runners. Tank has had luxury vinyl floors for four years, and they have definitely passed the great dane durability test.
So don’t forget to consider your fur babies when you are picking out new floors or purchasing a home. There are many other styles of flooring that are pet owner friendly, and it truly is the owners preference. A happy pet owner makes a happy pet.
