Is engineered hardwood pet friendly?

Choosing the right flooring for your home is never simple, as there are so many options available. The situation becomes still more complicated if you are someone who has a pet that will be walking the floors of your home as well. Not only do your new floors need to please you, but they also have to be able to withstand the scratching, staining and other damage that pets can accidentally cause.

Will engineered hardwood floors be suitable?

Wood floors of any sort will never really be the most practical choice for someone who has a cat or dog. This is because it is a type of floor material that can scratch quite easily, as well as suffering damage from water and other staining. Sadly, for all of their many virtues, cats and dogs do not tend to be very careful when it comes to these matters.

On the other hand, practicality and pet-friendliness are not the sole considerations when you are deciding on new floors for your home. It is also important that you choose a type of floor you really like, as you will be living with it too.

Benefits of engineered hardwood floors

Most flooring firms will offer both engineered and solid wood floors. If wooden flooring is what you want despite having a cat or dog, then engineered hardwood is the choice to make every single time. This is because the manufacturing process generally gives this sort of surface a veneer that is tougher and more able to resist damage from scratches and stains made by your furry friends.

By contrast, solid wood flooring uses ordinary natural wood, which is very much not pet-friendly. If you go to a reputable and friendly family firm to have your floors put in, they will make sure you only get wood that can cope with your pets.

Pet-friendly alternatives to wooden flooring

If you are not committed to the idea of having wooden floors fitted in your home, there are alternative options that any good provider will offer. The two main ones are carpeting and vinyl flooring.

Opting to have carpets will make walking on the floors very easy and comfortable for cats or dogs and will ensure that you do not have to deal with scratch damage. Stains created by pets that require specialist cleaning can still be a problem though.

Vinyl floors are a very pet-friendly choice. Vinyl is easy to get fitted and extremely durable, while also being resistant to pet stains and scratches. Furthermore, unlike a surface such as laminate flooring, vinyl is not slippery underfoot – so there is much less risk of your cat or dog sliding on the floor and suffering an injury.

In conclusion, although wood floors are not the ideal choice if you have pets, engineered hardwood will be the type to go for if wood is what you really want. If you are willing to be more flexible with your flooring, vinyl is the most pet-friendly surface of all.