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.
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.
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.
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.
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. Vinyl tile is easy to clean, easy to install and affordable.
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.
An overview of pets and vinyl floors
It should resist scratching, tearing and other types of damage, unless you try very hard to damage it. In addition, luxury vinyl flooring holds up well against accidents, such as food or water bowl spills or dog urine.
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.
Harder stones, like granite, make great floors for pets while a soft marble tile might not be the best choice. However, there are porcelain and ceramic tiles that replicate almost any look, including marble and wood, with enhanced durability. And best of all, porcelain and ceramic will not scratch.
As for keeping your vinyl-like floor free from pet messes, BISSELL's Pet Inspired line of products and the formulas used with their carpet cleaners are all "purr-fectly safe" for your pets. Additionally, BISSELL's Steam Mop is fabulous because it simply uses steam for cleaning.
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.
Dog and cat urine can often be left on the floor for several hours if you're not home, the incident happens overnight or you simply don't notice. If pet urine is not cleaned up promptly, it can cause permanent grout staining and damage.
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.
Of all the common flooring types we've listed, tile is the best option for homes with pets. Tile flooring is easy to protect and maintain. Pet accidents, which can leave unwanted smells and stains, are simple to clean off a tile floor. Tile doesn't snag like carpet or scratch like wood.
A dog's nails can scratch the surface of many floor tiles, but some types of floor tiles are more resistant to these scratches than others.
Two of the most popular, and best flooring for pets are ceramic and porcelain varieties as they are sealed and glazed for extra protection compared to natural stone tile.
The only way urine or any other liquid could get underneath would be if a hole/tear was made into the vinyl from mistreatment or from a big spill seeping in from under the walls. I've been installing for a long time and I have dogs that have accidents.
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.
If you are looking for the best floors for dogs, luxury vinyl flooring is your best bet, as this style of flooring checks all the boxes. It is waterproof, scratch-proof, dent-proof, and, if the correct backing is used, it can also be sound-dampening.
Installing vinyl flooring is an excellent choice for homeowners who own pets, whether they're cats or dogs. It's a popular choice for customers who have furry friends for several reasons.
Laminate flooring is much cheaper than vinyl, even though it has a higher ROI when it comes to home value. Laminate flooring costs about $0.70 to $2 per square foot, with installation costing about the same as vinyl flooring.
Can dogs scratch laminate floors? By its very nature and construction, laminate flooring products are durable and able to withstand scratches from even the biggest dogs. Sometimes scratches happen, however, so if and when they do happen you'll want to use a laminate floor repair kit.
Vinyl flooring is an excellent option since it's a durable, easy-to-clean flooring type that's comfortable for both pets and humans. It's usually made of four layers: foam or cork backing, waterproof plastic, a design layer printed with an image of wood or stone, and a wear layer to protect the surface.
The effect it will have on a laminate floor is that it can cause swelling of the planks, and create a nasty odour once it seeps through to your sub-floor. Once the pee has penetrated the top of the laminate you will need to lift the whole floor in order to clean up the mess.
Avoid using ammonia-based cleaning solutions. Don't use bleach as an overall vinyl floor cleaner. Keep away from highly abrasive scrubbers or detergents on vinyl. They can damage the floor, causing cracks or scratches.