Whether for aesthetic reasons or to address damages, flooring a home can be a daunting task for anyone.
The process can involve a great deal of time, energy, and organizational skills just to decide what type of material to use for the project, never mind all the work that can go into the actual project.
The last thing anyone could want would be to exhaust all of those resources, energy stores, and savings, only to have something damage their floor; that's why, if you're a dog owner, it's important to find the most durable material possible.
What flooring you decide to use is generally a personal preference.
Hardwood can provide your home with a refined or even rustic appearance, depending on its accents.
Tiling provides an easy-to-clean, minimalistic aesthetic.
Carpeting, while not so easy to clean, is generally popular because it creates a more subdued and soft room.
A number of other factors can go into the decision-making process, such as children, cleaning, and design.
When considering how your decision fits in with your dogs, it's worth looking into what materials are the most canine-friendly.
When investing not only money but also time and energy in an effort to completely alter your home, the first issue that likely comes to mind is the damage that your dog may unintentionally do to your space.
Anyone who's owned a puppy understands that, kind-hearted as they are, puppies often have little "accidents" that cause stains.
They also tend to play games, like tug-of-war or fetch, that cause scuffs and scrap, ruining months of work.
So are there any materials that can prevent this? While no flooring can effectively take the rowdiness out of your puppy, there are a number of options that can reduce the visibility of scratches or scrapes.
For example, bamboo, which has an attractive appearance similar to hardwood, is extremely durable as well as eco-friendly.
As an added bonus, bamboo is notoriously stain-resistant, meaning that you don't have to worry if Fido isn't housebroken yet.
If renovating your home involves changing the material in your laundry or mudroom, cork may be the best choice.
Not only is it antimicrobial, which reduces mold growth, but it is also extremely difficult to scratch and scuff.
In addition, it has acoustic properties that will muffle the sounds of scratching and movement.
As the icing on the cake, it is water resistant, which means that your puppy's accidents will be easier to deal with.
There are some materials that dog owners will want to avoid, such as laminate flooring.
Although laminate may seem beneficial-because it reduces a dog's ability to scratch the floor-it also reduces the dog's ability to grip, and therefore walk, on that floor.
In addition, spillage or accidents can leak into the subfloor, and hair can accumulate between the wood planks.
As any dog owner knows, dogs are more than just pets; they're members of the family.
Finding the proper flooring to make both you and them happy doesn't have to be difficult, and it will pay off in the long run.