Much of this wear and tear occurs on the floor, in particular, as it's where kids and pets spend the majority of their time. As such, if you have kids and pets, you need to have fairly durable flooring.
Need help finding such flooring? Then read on!
What to Consider When Buying Flooring for Kids and Pets
Kids and pets can unknowingly damage flooring in a variety of different ways. The key is to pick a flooring material that can mitigate this destruction. To do so, it will need to possess several characteristics. These characteristics include the following.
Stain Resistance
The type of destruction that is most commonly dished out by kids and pets is staining. Staining could arise not only from spilled drinks and tipped nail polish, but from urine and pet feces as well.
As such, if you have kids and pets, you need to install a flooring material that's resistant to staining. There's really only one material that doesn't fit this bill, and that material is carpet. Every other flooring option will provide average to above-average stain-resistance capabilities.
Crack Resistance
Dogs get excited and jump up and down. Cats get ornery and knock hard objects onto the ground. Kids do both of those things and more.
So, your floor is going to experience quite a bit of physical trauma. How do you fight it? By buying a flooring material that's exceedingly resistant to cracking.
This pretty much eliminates stone flooring. Hardwood might not be the best option either, though it's much less prone to cracking than is stone. The other options on the market are fairly crack-resistant overall.
Scratch Resistance
Dogs claw and paw at everything they see. Cats use their claws almost involuntarily. Kids drag chairs, push things, and get into accidents on a regular basis.
What does it all add up to? Scratches! As such, try to choose a flooring material that's resistant to scratching.
All flooring materials have the potential to become scratched. Note, though, that some are more resistant to scratches than are others. One material that you're definitely going to want to avoid is hardwood.
Water Resistance
Accidents happen, at some point, you're bound to encounter spilt water or some other liquid onto the ground. The important thing is that the floor is able to withstand it.
Flooring materials that struggle with water resistance include carpet and hardwood. Cement and stone flooring can also deteriorate prematurely when subjected to water.
Hardness
Though not for durability purposes, the last thing you should consider when choosing a pet and kid-friendly flooring material is hardness. The harder the material is, the less comfortable it will be. And because kids and dogs are so commonly sitting (or falling) on the floor, it has to be as comfortable as possible.
Materials that are particularly uncomfortable for kids and dogs include hardwood stone, and cement. Not only are they hard to the touch, but they also provide very little in the way of "give". In other words, they don't do much to break falls.
Viable Flooring Options for Kids and Pets
Taking into consideration the factors discussed above, there are three viable flooring options that may be best for you, considering your kids and pets. They include the following.
Laminate
The first option you should consider is laminate flooring. Laminate is a synthetic material that's designed to look like wood and sometimes stone. Available in a variety of styles, it looks great in homes of all kinds.
A fairly soft material, it's highly resistant to scratching and physical trauma. It does not crack, even when subjected to a heavy weight that's falling at high speed.
Laminate doesn't stain, regardless of what's spilled on it. Spaghetti, wine, pet urine —it can all be wiped away effortlessly, even after sitting for a few hours. It's resistant to moisture as well.
Note, though, that laminate flooring lacks durability overall. It will generally thrive for 15 to 20 years before it needs to be replaced.
Vinyl
Perhaps the best flooring material for kids and pets is vinyl. This material offers everything that laminate offers, but to an even greater extent. And like laminate, it's designed to mimic wood and stone.
Vinyl is almost 100% water-resistant, stain-resistant, and scratch-resistant. In addition, it's more durable than laminate flooring, typically lasting 20 to 25 years.
Now, that doesn't mean that vinyl is better than laminate in every way. Laminate is more affordable and is generally regarded as being softer to the touch. But in terms of withstanding wear and tear, vinyl is the far superior choice.
Hardwood
When it comes to accommodating kids and pets, hardwood isn't as of high a quality as laminate and vinyl. That said, if you enjoy its aesthetic, it's still a viable option.
Yes, it does scratch fairly easily, and yes, it can crack. But in both cases, repairs can be made. Just be ready to perform a bit of maintenance from time to time.
And note, hardwood flooring will cost you a little more than both laminate and vinyl. But, on the same token, it will last you much longer as well. In fact, over time, it could end up being the most cost-effective option.
Looking to Buy Durable Flooring?
Now that you know a thing or two about durable flooring, you might be searching for some. If so, you're in the right place. National Floors Direct has you covered.
We offer a number of different options, each of which comes in a wide variety of styles. Browse our laminate flooring options now!
