What Type of Flooring is Best for Pets?

If you are a pet owner, you want the very best for your pets. While many people consider different types of floor designs for their new home from an aesthetic point of view, they often don't consider how their pets will fare in a home with those flooring designs. We've compiled a few questions for you to ask yourself about your pet, when choosing the flooring designs for your new home. Dog Does your dog shed? If so, you're going to want flooring that's easy to clean. In which case, hardwood floors or laminate hardwood floors are probably your best option. Does your dog have trimmed nails? If not, you might want to consider hardwoods. Laminate wood floors are softer than hardwoods, and your dog's nails might scratch the finish. Verdict: Hardwood flooring Cat The same concerns that apply to dogs apply to cats as well. If they shed, you'll want flooring that's easy to clean, and if their nails aren't trimmed, and you don't want scratched floors, you'll want to go with something durable like hardwood. Verdict: Hardwood flooring Rodent Does your rodent have a 'hamster ball'? If not, you're definitely going to want a hardwood floor, that will be easy for the animal to walk on. If you do have a 'hamster ball' for your rodent to roll around in, short carpeting would also be okay. Verdict: Hardwood floors or short carpeting Bird Is your bird loud? If so, you may want to consider carpeting to absorb some of the sound. Hardwood or wood laminate floors can still be an option, as long as you make sure the room has plenty or throw rugs, furniture, and drapes to absorb the sound. Verdict: Carpeting, possibly hardwood or laminate wood floors Reptile Do you let your reptile crawl on the floor? If not, flooring choice obviously doesn't matter. If you do, they would be better off on a hardwood or laminate surface. Verdict: Hardwood or laminate wood floors Fish Do you allow your fish to crawl on the floor? Really? Verdict: Pet ownership may not be for you. There are many other things to consider when choosing flooring for a home with pets, such as the environmental friendliness, air quality, and comfort, etc. This will give you a starting point to make sure you consider the needs of all the residents of your home before looking at new flooring options.

Keeping Your Beautiful Hardwood Inlay Flooring Clean

Your hardwood inlay flooring looks beautiful, but over time, it's easy to collect dust and track dirt, so it does need to be regularly cleaned. But you want to protect the quality of your floors and keep them looking beautiful forever, so there are certain steps you can take to carefully clean your hardwood floors. Hardwood flooring is generally more durable than soft woods, and typically more expensive. This doesn't mean that they can't be harmed, however, only that you want to try particularly hard to avoid any damage. After all, it costs an average of $5,800 to add hardwood flooring to a home in the U.S., and home buyers are inclined to spend an extra $2,000 for a home with hardwood floors. Tips for Safely Cleaning Hardwood Inlay Flooring When moving heavy furniture, make sure you slip a piece of cloth under the legs, or cover each leg with a heavy sock, in order to protect your floors. Put plastic or fabric-faced glides under the legs of furniture to prevent scuffing and scratching. Remember that cleats, sports shoes, and high heels can dent any floor surface. Never wet-mop a wood floor. Standing water can dull the finish, damage the wood, and leave a discoloring residue. Wipe up food and other spills immediately with a dry or slightly dampened towel. Place mats and throw rugs at doorways, exteriors, and interiors to help prevent the tracking of grit, dirt, and sand. Sweep or vacuum wood floors regularly. Hardwood floor inlay designs can be difficult to replicate if the floor is damaged, so it's important to avoid doing so. If you're getting a new floor installed, be sure to ask the flooring company if they have any recommendations for keeping your wood inlay flooring safe from damage.