Hal Major © 2009
BobVilaContractors.com
Treating your pet right requires more than just food and water. Dogs and cats especially crave human interaction and that means they follow you from room to room. But, that also means there is a potential for their claws to damage your flooring.
Limit Pet�s Access
The first solution for keeping your floors looking new is to limit your pet�s access to certain areas in your home. Allow them to roam freely in the rooms with the least potential to damage the floor. Carpeted rooms present the greatest potential for problems caused by those little �accidents� that all pets have. It is difficult to remove stains and especially odors from carpets.
Invest In Pet Bedding
Buy your pet a bed and train them to sleep in it. The bed should have removable covers that you can throw in the laundry. It should also be large enough for their complete body.
When cats and dogs stand up they push their feet and claws into the surface to keep from slipping. A large bed will give them a surface to use and stop the surrounding floor from being damaged. Also, certain breeds have a high concentration of oil in their fur that can stain or darken carpet.
Laminate Floors
Laminate floors are practically pet-proof. Laminate is a tough and resists scratching and stains. It is comprised of 3 layers, the surface wear layer made to look like hardwood, tile, stone, or brick, the core which is a durable engineered wood product made to resist moisture and the backing ranging from a paper layer to a full plastic laminate layer.
Laminate can be a problem for pets because it is slick. They have trouble walking, getting up and potential muscle damage if their legs go sideways. Their hips aren�t built to go that way. Area rugs that can be shampooed or washed are a definite buy with laminate flooring.
Hardwood Floors
Hardwood floors are not scratch or stain resistant. They generally are not as slick as a laminate floor and they can be refinished. A high-grade hard urethane will reduce the potential for scratching and staining. The alternative is to buy pre-finished hardwood flooring. These come with a scratch resistant coating.
Stone, Tile and Cork Flooring
Stone, tile and cork flooring are good for traction and hold well. The secret to keeping these floors in new condition is to seal them with specially made sealers. The sealers prevent liquids from penetrating the pores and staining the floor. Depending on the amount and kind of traffic the floor has they should be re-sealed at least once a year.
Carpeting
If you have or decide to put down carpet and your pet is allowed in the room, plan to have it professionally cleaned at least once a year to keep it fresh and clean.
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