Pets are no longer required to sleep outdoors except on the coldest nights. Pets have become a part of the American family. The shift from service animal to companion animal has changed the ways that many people think about how they treat their dogs, cats, and other pets. In return, pets have given us health benefits such as decreased blood pressure, cholesterol levels, and feelings of loneliness.

The next time that you want to replace your Flooring, make sure you choose an option that matches your pets needs. At Express Flooring, we recognize that our products have pros and cons for pets. We give our customers honest information that can help them choose their new floors wisely.

1. Carpet Flooring
2. Tile Flooring
3. Wood Flooring
4. Laminate Flooring
5. Vinyl Flooring
6. Stone Flooring

Carpet Flooring

Pros: Carpet flooring is one of our favorite options for pet-friendly homes. Carpets create soft floors that animals will enjoy lying on. Just because you want your dog or cat in the house doesn’t necessarily mean that you want it on the couch.

We even have a Stainmaster carpet specifically designed for pets. Stainmaster PetProtect carpet flooring has features that:

• Resist pet hair.
• Reduce pet odors (hey, accidents happen).
• Make it easy to clean.
• Give fibers durability.

The human members of your family will also benefit from carpeting. Many people don’t realize that carpet fibers can capture pet dander. Studies show that carpet actually prevents allergens from floating in the air, which means you can breathe easily while your pet stretches out on the floor.

Cons: While most pets love carpet flooring, the product isn’t always perfect for you and your furry friends. Some types of carpet are difficult to clean after pets have accidents. Loop carpets can also catch claws, making it difficult for pets to walk on carpeted floors.

We can help you choose a carpet that avoids these problems. Depending on the type of pet that you own, you may need to choose a cut pile carpet that has been treated with stain-resistant chemicals.

Tile Flooring

Pros: Tile flooring is very easy to keep clean, so it’s a superb option for households with young or incontinent pets. If your pet has an accident, you don’t have to worry about it staining the tile flooring. Instead, you just clean the mess when you discover it.

Tile flooring also suits the needs of animals that have retractable or short claws.

Cons: The downside to tile flooring is that it lacks the comfort that pets get from thick carpeting. That problem is easy enough to solve by providing soft bedding for your animals. We can also help you choose area rugs that your pets will enjoy lounging on throughout the day and night.

Wood Flooring

Pros: Wood flooring is a good option for families that don’t mind sweeping frequently. Depending on your pet’s hair color, you may even be able to see the fur accumulate in corners. Assuming that you don’t want “dust bunnies” as new pets, the accumulation tells you that it’s time to sweep or vacuum the floor.

Cons: You may run into a few challenges if you choose wood flooring for your home. Long claws can scratch the wood’s surface. “Accidents” can also stain wood if you don’t clean them soon enough.

Most people find that they can avoid these issues by keeping their pets’ nails trimmed and potty training new animals so they understand the house rules. Express Flooring can address pet stains and odors when they become significant.

Laminate Flooring

Pros: Laminate flooring looks like wood, but it has a protective top layer that protects it from damage caused by claws and teething pups. The protective layer also means that you don’t have to worry as much about messes.

If you want hardwood floors, but you’re worried that your pet might damage the wood’s surface, laminate flooring is a good option for your household.

Cons: Pets may not find laminate flooring very comfortable. That’s the only downside to choosing it. Again, we can help you choose an area rug that will add comfort to the floor. You can also put your pet’s bed in the room so it has a comfortable place to lie.

Vinyl Flooring

Pros: When it comes to resisting messes, few materials can beat Vinyl Flooring. Vinyl flooring is practically impervious to liquids, so you don’t have to worry about pet accidents staining the material or reaching the subfloor. Having our professionals install the vinyl flooring makes it even more resilient.

Vinyl also has a softer feel than most types of flooring. It’s not as soft as carpet, but it’s much more comfortable than tile and stone flooring. Most animals don’t have any problems stretching out on vinyl floors for afternoon naps.

Cons: From your pet’s perspective, there aren’t any negatives to vinyl floors. Some members of your family, however, may want to avoid vinyl flooring because it isn’t recyclable. That’s a personal choice that you and your family will have to make, though. Many people feel that the pros of vinyl flooring outweigh the cons.

Stone Flooring

Pros: Stone flooring looks wonderful in kitchens, bathrooms and outdoor areas. Your pets probably won’t love it, though, since it’s rather hard. Stone isn’t exactly the most comfortable option for indoor pets.

Cons: Natural stone flooring can absorb liquids, so it’s best to keep untrained animals away from rooms with stone floors. We can, however, use topical and penetrating sealers to make your stone flooring less absorbent.

Realistically, though, how much time do pets spend in kitchens and bathrooms? For most families and pets, the location of stone flooring means that the negative features don’t matter much.

Pet lovers have plenty of good options when choosing flooring products. Schedule a free, in-home estimate so we can help you choose the perfect option for your household.