Loudoun is for dog lovers. But Loudoun homeowners also take pride in their gorgeous, welcoming homes. And beautiful flooring is a big part of that equation. Dogs mean cuddles and companionship, but they also mean dirt, shedding, scratching, and the occasional accident. When you have a dog, you’re subjecting your floors to:
- Dirty paws
- Scratchy toenails
- Shedding hair
- Pee and poop stains
We know our canine companions are 100 percent worth it. You just need flooring that stands up to what our pups dish out and still looks terrific.
What Kind of Flooring Is Best for Dog Owners?
When installing flooring in a pet-friendly home, you generally want rugged and water-resistant materials.
Luxury Vinyl Flooring is our absolute favorite for homes with dogs. It is:
- Scratch-resistant
- Water-resistant
- Easy to clean
- Attractive, offering gorgeous wood, ceramic tile and stone looks in a wide range of stylish colors.
Laminate flooring is another excellent option for homes with dogs.
- Today’s waterproof laminate offers better resistance to pet accidents than past laminate models.
- It’s less expensive than other hard flooring options.
- It’s scratch-resistant
- It’s environmentally friendly and often made of recycled materials.
Can I Still Get Hardwood If I Have a Dog?
Pet owners often avoid hardwood. It’s pricey and not as resistant to wear and tear as other hard flooring options. However, if hardwood is your dream, it can be done–even with dogs. Choose a harder wood variety like oak or walnut–a knowledgeable contractor can help you choose. Talk with your contractor about water and scratch-resistant finishes. An aluminum dioxide/polyurethane coating can help with both scratch and water resistance. For minor scratching, you can buff and coat with a fresh layer of polyurethane for a routine refresh. And your contractor can sand and refinish hardwood when severe scratching becomes a problem.
What’s The Best Carpet for Dog Owners?
Carpet is another material that can be problematic for pet owners. The good news is that today’s sophisticated carpets are easier to clean than ever. High-quality brands like Karastan SmartStrand are pet-friendly, easy to clean, and stain-resistant, offering gorgeous colors and styles. You can have a luxuriously soft carpet that’s also easy to clean. We recommend the following for dog owners:
- Invest in a high-quality vacuum to keep up with dirt and hair.
- Use a robotic vacuum for day-to-day cleaning in addition to routine vacuuming
- Schedule a professional cleaning every six months.
Loudoun Carpet Care, the sister company to Loudoun Valley Floors, offers both steam cleaning and hot water extraction, a technique prized by pet owners for removing spots and stains. Hot water extraction uses a cleaning solution followed by hot water, then sucks everything up to remove dirt. We also use specialized EPA-approved solutions for disinfecting and sanitizing.
Love Your Pets, Love Your Floors With LVF
At Loudoun Valley Floors, we’re animal lovers, and many of our clients are too. We know that beautiful floors and pets can and do coexist. We can help you choose the right flooring material based on your pet-friendly lifestyle, decor and budget. Then select Loudoun Carpet Care for professional cleaning and stain removal. It’s a winning combination for folks who love their pets and want fabulous floors.