The outer layer of vinyl flooring is typically scratch-resistant, which means their claws can't scratch it up and their nails won't leave scratches when they get the zoomies. And, scratch-resistant flooring or not, it's always a good idea to trim your pet's nails so they stay comfortable.
Vinyl flooring is a popular flooring option for families with pets. Luxury vinyl tile and vinyl sheet are highly durable, long-lasting, and resistant to moisture, scratches and dents.
Wax the Floors
Take a quality car wax and a clean rag, working the wax into the scratch in circles. Fill the entire scratch with the wax, carefully wiping away any excess wax from the vinyl surrounding the area. After waxing, take a clean cloth and rub it gently over the area, ensuring a smooth and consistent finish.
Vinyl flooring is arguably the best of all flooring materials for homes with pets. Vinyl is one of the easiest of all materials to clean, making it ideal for young or old pets prone to indoor accidents. And there is an almost infinite variety of patterns available.
Vinyl plank flooring is an excellent choice for all kinds of durability, including superb scratch resistance.
Vinyl is our top choice, but laminate is also an excellent option. If you have a bit more money to spend, you can consider tile, which is more expensive than vinyl or laminate flooring but offers similar dog-friendly characteristics like water and scratch resistance.
Con: LVP May Dent
Luxury vinyl flooring can dent and even scratch or scuff, especially from heavy appliances, furniture, or other weighty objects. Just because it's resistant to something doesn't mean it's impervious to it. However, do know that LVP resists scratches better than real hardwood.
Pet Friendly Flooring at Floor & Decor
Flooring like treated hardwood, ceramic floor tile, porcelain flooring, vinyl, and laminate are perfect for pets—their texture keeps paws from slipping, they are water resistant to prevent damage from accidents, and they protect against scratches and dents from long nails.
Laminate is known for its durability and ability to withstand scratches, making it a great option for highly active pets. Laminate has a similar appearance to vinyl but it tends to more closely mimic the design of hand-scraped or distressed hardwood thanks to its surface detail and texture.
Vinyl is a favorite flooring option for kitchens and bathrooms and also makes great flooring for dogs that pee, as it's very resistant to liquids and easy to clean.
Will my luxury vinyl plank scratch? While Luxury Vinyl Plank is known for being durable, it can be damaged. Dull or scratched luxury vinyl flooring is unattractive, and will certainly ruin the illusion as well. Preventing scratches and maintaining the shine are therefore important parts in caring for your floor.
It only takes a few steps to get scratches out of vinyl flooring. To fix a minor blemish, gently buff the area with a scouring pad, apply a paste wax, and wipe it with a soft cloth. If the scratch is larger, we suggest applying a scratch concealer and following these steps.
Unfortunately, though, any amount of scratching will do some damage to the record. The damage may not be noticeable at first, but it will be there. Luckily, there are some tools that you can use that, while they won't stop damage, they can minimise it.
Affordable and animal-friendly, vinyl flooring often nabs the number one spot for pet-friendly flooring. Not only is it inexpensive and suitable for anywhere in your house, but vinyl flooring is also resistant to scratches and stains caused by mucky pups and playful felines.
Most dog owners forgo hardwood flooring because it can be easily damaged by dogs' nails. If you're set on hardwood, consider a hard wood variety or engineered hardwood planks, which tend to hold up better. Laminate, vinyl, tile, and carpet have excellent scratch resistance to hold up to the click-clack of claws.
Durability. Laminate and LVT/LVP flooring are both extremely durable, but they have their weaknesses. Laminate is prone to scratches and chipped corners over time, so vinyl is probably a better choice for your home if you have pets. LVT/LVP is scratch-resistant, but it's more vulnerable to denting and tearing.
Vinyl also has a longer lifespan and better overall durability than laminate. Although it can last twice as long as laminate, vinyl (especially luxury vinyl) may involve a larger investment upfront.
While costs are similar, the value of premium vinyl far exceeds that of laminate based on quality and value. Unlike laminate, premium vinyl is durable and stable, resistant to moisture and climate, and is easy to install and maintain. Laminate is restricted to light traffic and low moisture applications.
Dogs remember past experiences of slipping
In many cases, fear of slipping from a prior bad experience is the “why” behind your dog's fear of hardwood floors and other slick surfaces. So, how can you help your dog in a way that supports his natural reflexes and abilities?
WPC and SPC Vinyl flooring is perfect for pets as they are waterproof and installed locked together as a “floating floor” – not permanently affixed to the subfloor – excess so moisture doesn't penetrate through to the subflooring. In other words, when your furry best friend has an accident it won't ruin the floor!
These floors can resist scratches, scuffs, stains, and even a certain amount of gouging in their durability. However, extreme heat can damage the luxury vinyl plank. Some of the culprits through which heat damage can occur include hot pans, curling irons, dropped cigarettes, and more.
Unless you are a quick draw on the mop; dog urine will damage laminate flooring, real wood flooring, engineered wood and tile grout. Unfortunately with a lot of flooring the pee will be absorbed into the floor itself or underneath and this is what can make the issue very difficult and expensive.
Not environmentally friendly
Off-gassed VOCs can adversely affect health and an indoor environment, particularly without windows or ventilation, will lead to higher concentrations. If this is a concern for you, we recommend avoiding high-VOC vinyl flooring and choosing a low-VOC floor instead.
Generally speaking, vinyl sheet flooring will last anywhere from 10 to 20 years, while vinyl plank and tile flooring will last 15 to 20 years. The thickness of its wear layer vastly impacts vinyl flooring's lifespan, so pay attention to this detail when purchasing your flooring.
While luxury vinyl flooring has come a long way from its creation and has increased in durability and visual appeal, unfortunately vinyl may decrease your resale value in the long run. It's important to recognize that while you may spend less on vinyl vs.