Pets. While occasionally frustrating, and always loveable, humans’ relationship with animals is one based on love and cuddles. We love them for the almost supernatural way they can brighten our day; but at the same time, we so easily get annoyed with the way they ruin our stuff. Even though you can do a lot to maintain a cat or dog’s claws, it’s inhumane to get rid of them entirely, so instead of getting rid of the animal when it tears up the floors or carpet, we at Ozburn-Hessey believe getting new flooring installed is a better idea.
With that in mind, here are some tips for getting the right kind of floor to suit your animal.
It’s a dog’s world
When it comes to floors and dogs, most people are going to presume that hardwood floors and carpet are right out the window. The truth is that, while it might be a bit more difficult, they are not entirely out of the question. Carpets are probably not a great idea because of the difficulties potty training; we promise you, accidents will occur. Hardwood floors, on the other hand, are within the realm of possibility. We at Ozburn-Hessey have a variety of products to choose from, including something that will satisfy your needs when it comes to hardwood flooring. If you decide to go with hardwood flooring, keep in mind it will take a bit more work to maintain, because the wood will scar and stain, so just keep your dog’s claws clipped and be quick with a paper towel and sanitizer.
If that sounds like too much work, then you’re probably better off going with something like laminate or vinyl flooring instead. Both are cheaper in terms of cost than hardwood flooring, but usually don’t last as long. They are, however, a great deal more resistant to scratching and tend to be an easier cleanup.
Who runs the world? Cats.
Most of these will also apply to cats, with some exceptions. If given a scratching post, most cats will take care of maintaining their claws themselves. It takes some of the work you might need to do out of the equation, and since cats are a lot easier to potty train, carpets actually are a viable option, although some cats might see the carpet as one big scratching pad. Some of the high-end hardwood floors come with a special coating that makes it easier for cats to gain their footing, cutting down on the amount of incidental scratching. Another type of flooring that you might want to consider is bamboo, which along with being pretty dense and somewhat scratch resistant, is also pretty eco-friendly, since bamboo takes a lot shorter amount of time to grow.
There are a lot of things to keep in mind when it comes to choosing the floor for your home, and keeping things like how your animals will affect it in mind will help prolong the floor’s life. If you have any questions about what floor is best for you and your furry friend, then please contact us today so we can get started!
