So, dog owners, I’ve got a question for you: Are your floors surviving or just barely holding on? I mean, between those joyful zoomies and the occasional ‘oops’ moment, even the best floors for dogs might go all out! But don’t worry – there’s still a solution that doesn’t involve bubble-wrapping your entire home! What, you may ask!
Well, meet laminate floors for dogs; basically, a durable, stylish, and dog-approved option from pugs to retrievers! And in this blog, we’ll learn all about their estimated costs, pros & potential problems, straight from an expert! Let’s start, shall we?
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Top Insights
- Top Insights
- How to Choose the Best Laminate Floors for Dogs That Pee, Bite & Scratch?
- Which Are the Best Laminate Floors for Dogs & Extra Enthusiastic Pups?
- 1. Bamboo aka Dendrocalamus Strictus Laminate Floors
- 2. Classic Wood Laminates (Literally the Best Laminate Floors for Dogs)
- 3. Cork Laminate Floors for Dogs
- 4. Plastic Laminates – One of the Best Laminate Floors for Dogs That Pee!
- 5. Stone aka Luxury Vinyl Laminates
- 6. Tile Laminates – One of the Best Laminate Floors for Dogs
- Summing Up
- FAQs
- Conclusion
- Own a Piece of Artisanry: Shop Our Handpainted Collection!
- External Link:
How to Choose the Best Laminate Floors for Dogs That Pee, Bite & Scratch?
Now, I know that most interior experts don’t recommend using laminates directly for a dog’s play or eating areas. But here are seven compelling laminate floor properties & considerations that still make them the topmost choice:
- AC (Abrasion Class) Rating: Got a playful pup who loves zooming or scratching around? Opt for durable laminates, AC 4 or higher like Cherry, Teak or Brazilian Walnut laminates for example.
- Surface Coats: No doubt, bored dogs can be tough on floors. So, save yours with laminate protection films, polyurethane coatings, rugs or PU sealers for more durability.
- Pee & Poo Resistance: While pup pee & poo accidents are unintentional, they do warp your laminates with time. My advice? Go with MDF or HDF laminate cores, along with click-lock or glue down seams for better water resistance.
- Textured Finishes: Despite the grainy texture of many best laminate floors for dogs, they actually have poor friction! So, to help older or disabled dogs get a better grip, it’s advisable to choose hand scraped, stone, or geometric textures.
- Colors & Patterns: Personally, I think it’s best to with light-colored & patterned laminates – Chevron, Herringbone, Mosaic or Plank for example, to hide deep scratches & bites easily.
- Acoustic Treatment: No one wants squeaky laminate floors which literally creak every time dogs run on it, right? That’s why I suggest you opt for natural wood laminates with inbuilt cork, rubber or foam underlayers for better sound control.
- Ease of Maintenance: When selecting the best laminate floors for dogs that pee, it’s crucial to consider the ease of cleaning and repairs. Remember that wider planks and composite laminates are easy to clean, whereas textured wood or stone options may need extra elbow grease!
Which Are the Best Laminate Floors for Dogs & Extra Enthusiastic Pups?
Personally, I feel that the thick and multi-layered hardwood or PVC planks are the best laminate floors for dogs that pee & scratch on them. But are there any more options you can try? Well, let’s check them out below:
1. Bamboo aka Dendrocalamus Strictus Laminate Floors
| Estimated Cost | $3 – 11 per sq. foot, depending on the quality |
| Recommended Finishes | Pre-applied Resin, Penetrating Oil & Polyurethane |
Despite being softer and more premium than other composite wood laminates, bamboo laminates are particularly beneficial for older dogs prone to accidents. And yes, they are easy to maintain too, just regular sweeping & mopping!
Moreover, bamboo laminated sheets (literally the best laminate floors for dogs) are quite durable! They resist your pup’s jumping, biting, literally everything like a pro! And since they already have a pre-treated HDF subfloor, you won’t have to worry about their repairing & installation.
Furthermore, I also concluded that polished bamboo laminates feel a bit warmer and softer underfoot. So, they provide the utmost comfort to short-haired, older or certain dogs with mobility issues.
But are there any potential bamboo laminate problems that you must know? Let’s see:
Quick Tip: You can use specialized bamboo touch up kits – filler sticks, buffing pads & staining pens to hide minor scratches & dog bites from your bamboo laminates.
2. Classic Wood Laminates (Literally the Best Laminate Floors for Dogs)
| Average Price | $4 – 15 per square foot, including the labor |
| Available Finishes | Smooth, Hand scraped, Embossed, Matte & Satin |
I’m a big fan of wood laminate floors, especially the light pine ones I have in my dog’s play and eating areas. Trust me, they’re so easy to clean and wipe without worrying about stains. And, they are quite durable too, resisting jumps & bites like a pro!
Moreover, I’ve noticed that wood laminates are quite resistant to water and fungus compared to others. It’s pretty impressive how they didn’t cause any damage to my concrete subfloors and slabs, even after using them roughly for 6–7 years.
Another important thing is that wood laminates are antibacterial. Like, they have so many polyphenol & silver ion compounds that resists all the harmful fungi & bacteria from your dog’s eyes, hair, drool, etc. So, they are a win-win for you & your pet!
However, before you install wood laminate, it’s important to be aware of some disadvantages. Here are a few you should know about:
Quick Tip: Polish your wood laminate floors with warm water, natural laminate floor polishes and diluted vinegar once a year for better floor shine & finishes.
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3. Cork Laminate Floors for Dogs
| Rough Cost | Around $6 – 12 per square foot |
| Recommended Textures | Medium Grain, Coarse Grain & Hand scraped |
As you all know, cork is literally the softest & warmest wood laminate for dogs, no questions asked! And it’s naturally elastic; So, no dents, scrapes or chips with this one.
You know, we installed cork laminate floors in a part of our office basement reserved for street dogs this summer. And surprisingly, all our subfloor, dog poop smell & warping issues reduced by a whopping 30%.
Also, cork laminates contain so many oils and antibacterial compounds that repel harmful bacteria, say Staph or E.coli for example. So, they are literally the healthiest & best laminate floors for dogs that pee too!
But is there anything that can still go wrong with cork laminates? Let’s check the list below:
Caution: Avoid installing your cork laminates directly near open windows or skylights, as direct sun exposure makes them dull & more porous in the long run.
4. Plastic Laminates – One of the Best Laminate Floors for Dogs That Pee!
| Rough Cost | $4 – 16 per square foot, including the labor |
| Available Textures | Matte, Gloss, Wood grain, Smooth & Embossed |
Do you know that most high-quality and sandwiched plastic laminates have an AC rating of 5.5, which is almost similar to that of Wood? So yes, they are obviously one of the best laminate floors for dogs that pee! No stains, no leaks, nothing!
Actually, most of US clients are really into plastic laminates because they provide a warm and even temperature, even when it’s snowing. And the best part is, they’re so affordable that you can change them out every year with different colors and patterns to match the latest interior design trends!
But here are some potential plastic laminate problems that you need to take care of:
Caution: Refrain from using abrasive cleaners or scouring pads on plastic floor laminates, as they may end up damaging or discoloring the material.
5. Stone aka Luxury Vinyl Laminates
| Estimated Price | $5 – 18 per square foot, depending on the quality |
| Recommended Textures | Granite, Limestone, Marble, Slate or Mixed Stone |
Stone or luxury laminates are the best laminate floors for dogs (no questions asked!) They are simply unbeatable in terms of toughness, even outperforming hardwood floors sometimes. From scratches to dents, these floors can handle any pressure with ease!
Moreover, stone laminates have a textured, dual-color, bumpy appearance of the top. So, they mask all those dog bite scratches and marks like a pro! In fact, you don’t even have to hire professionals for its cleaning & polishing, just daily mopping is enough!
Additionally, our team found that this flooring leads to a 60% decrease in water seepage, pee stains, and warping compared to traditional stone flooring. It also doesn’t have an unpleasant odor like some other flooring choices for dogs.
However, here’s a list of some expert-curated stone laminate problems that you might face in the long run:
Quick Tip: Try to look for LVP (luxury vinyl plank) laminate flooring with a low VOC or formaldehyde-free certificate to avoid any inflammation to your dog’s lungs.
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6. Tile Laminates – One of the Best Laminate Floors for Dogs
| Estimated Price | $9 – 13 per square foot, depending on the texture |
| Top Textures to Pick | Wood grain, Textured Leather, Hand scraped & Embossed |
Cork and stone laminates are tough, but they can’t handle the rough play of big dogs like Labs and Retrievers. So, I recommend going for tile laminate floors instead! Surprisingly, they are over 40% stronger & more resistant to claw scratches than other options.
Also, laminated tiles are super easy to take care of! All you need is a quick clean, mop, and maybe a little pee-cleaning, and you’re good to go! Plus, no tile grout means less hassle with cleaning and scrubbing those grout lines.
And though tile laminates are not as soft and pee-resistant as their stone counterparts, these are the warmest of all! So they are a literal boon in tundra climates, especially for old & injured dogs.
However, here are some potential tile laminate drawbacks that you need to take care of:
Summing Up
FAQs
Textured or patterned laminates with an abrasion class of AC 4 or higher usually provide the best grip & scratch-resistance to dogs. You can even go with luxury vinyl or cork laminates for more absorption resistance. Just avoid the glossy or rubber ones; those will break easily with your dog’s nails.
Yes, dogs do slip on laminate flooring if it’s glossy, wet or has a satin-like finish on top. Hence, we suggest you trim your dog’s nails once a month, wipe up those spills immediately and use textured hand scraped or wood grain laminates for better grip.
Yes, dog pee can warp, tear and expand laminate flooring, especially if its not treated with a floor polish or polyurethane coat on top. So, we suggest you clean any accidental pee stains immediately and polish your floors atleast once in every 4-5 months to save them from bubbling.
Conclusion
So, now that you’re armed with knowledge of the 6 best laminate floors for dogs, it’s time to transform your home into a dog-friendly haven! Basically, consider your pet’s needs and lifestyle, like see if he scratches or if he/she’s a playful zoomie pup when choosing the perfect laminate. Remember, a happy dog is a happy home!
But hey! It’s not just laminates. Do you know that you can also use other aesthetic options like hardwood floors or any of our specially-curated 9 flooring options too? Well yes! Just click on the respective blogs to know the pros, cons & details of each!
Own a Piece of Artisanry: Shop Our Handpainted Collection!
Ps. You won’t find these treasures anywhere else.
External Link:
- Learn the basics of Wood laminated flooring from Mr. Salim Hiziroglu.
- Clear all your doubts regarding the formaldehyde & VOC concerns of laminated flooring from the United States Environmental Protection Agency.
ArchWhispers Team
We, at ArchWhispers are a team of passionate storytellers with 5+ years of experience weaving tales through architecture and interiors. We translate complex design concepts into engaging narratives, making architecture accessible and inspiring for everyone.
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