Both laminate and luxury vinyl flooring are great choices but if the pet is prone to accidents, luxury vinyl is the way to go. No matter which option you select, make sure to look at the specifications of the product and choose the most durable option.
Laminate flooring stands up against scratches and stains, making it great for active pets. It's also easy to maintain for most homeowners, putting it near the top when it comes to the best flooring for dogs.
Scratch-resistant flooring is an ideal option for pet owners. Laminate, tile, and vinyl floors are all great options that can withstand scratching and denting. Laminate floors are a great choice, as they offer the look of hardwood but with added protection against claw marks.
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.
Vinyl. 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. They are also easy to maintain.
Now, remember, nothing is ever truly scratch-proof. If you gouge at your laminate, you'll eventually see marks. Dog nails, however, are not going to scratch laminate flooring like they would on natural hardwood. The worst thing you'll have to worry about is the muddy pawprints they leave on the floor.
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.
Because tile floors typically have enough texture, when combined with the grout they provide plenty of traction for your pets. Tile is famously easy to clean and maintain, making it one of the best flooring for pets that have accidents.
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?
What is more waterproof: Vinyl or laminate? While both vinyl and laminate can wick away moisture easily, vinyl is completely waterproof, which means you should go with vinyl for rooms that get a lot of moisture and high traffic.
Yes, laminate floors definitely stand up better to pets because they're designed to be both durable and beautiful — something that simply can't be said of hardwood floors. Hardwood floors are essentially wood planks with a clear coat of lacquer applied to the surface.
Laminate flooring should become the winner when selecting the finest flooring for dogs because it's hard, resilient, and stain-resistant. While laminate is ideal for pet owners, it can be highly slippery for their pets. Scraped or textured laminate flooring is the best for dogs, especially if they're active or older.
Brazilian Walnut or Ipe
Whenever you want the hardest hardwood, domestic species tend to be the way to go. However, Brazilian hardwood flooring is universally hard and dense. Ipe, often called Brazilian walnut, is hard enough that it is even used on outdoor decks.
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.
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.
Vinyl Tile Offers Durable Flooring for Pets That Pee
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. Vinyl is also soft underfoot, making it a comfortable surface for dogs to relax or walk on.
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.
Nail caps are a great and relatively inexpensive invention that can help you protect your flooring from damage caused by your dog's nails. Nail caps are simply glued onto your pet's individual claws. The glue dries in a matter of seconds and the caps usually last for about 4 to 8 weeks.
Encourage your sweating dog to cool down on a mat rather than on the laminate floor (possibly easier said than done). Add a continuous bead of PVA Type II glue to the edges of any laminate planks likely to be exposed to moisture. Glue will keep any fluids from getting in between the planks.
Laminate flooring is good for pet owners, but not so good for pets. It's tough, and resists scratches and splashes, but the hard melanin surface doesn't offer much grip for their paws which can see them sliding about if they get too excited.
In order to preserve and protect the wear layer, make sure any cleaning product you buy or DIY is safe for laminate flooring. Products that are oil-based, acidic or abrasive can damage the surface. Similarly, never polish or wax your floor. Remember, laminate flooring cannot be refinished if it is damaged.
Cleaning the floor using a Swiffer Sweeper and a dry, untreated pad daily can remove dust without damaging the laminate. Dry mop pads that are treated with detergent, on the other hand, can leave a thin film behind.
Don't install your laminate on any floor with a drain. Don't install laminate on any uneven subfloor or outdoors. Don't install your laminate over residential carpet. Don't install a second layer of laminate underlayment.
If your old floors are in bad shape, any new flooring will help. While solid hardwood flooring would add more value, laminate will give your home the look of hardwood at a much lower cost, will look good for years, and your return on investment should be solid.