Anybody who owns a pet will know the joy that they can bring to our daily lives. Though giving them your love and affection is part and parcel of being a pet owner, there are some challenges along the way.
Our pets can have a big effect on our home. Naturally, there is no malice in this on their part! But as a home owner, it’s important that precautionary steps are taken in order to make sharing your home with a pet as easy as possible.
One concern some people who own pets may have about floor tiles is the effect their pet can have on these surfaces.
So in our latest blog, we take a look at the best ways to use floor tiles if you do have pets, and what to watch out for.
What challenges do pets present to flooring?
Pets can potentially bring a number of challenges to your domestic space. Sharp nails and claws can scratch and scuff up surfaces, leaving unsightly damage.
When your pet starts shedding, there is the potential for fur and hair to hold with your floor’s surfaces – especially if you have carpets.
And a worst-case scenario is your pets having an accident in your home, or bringing in something unpleasant! This can be really quite horrible, so you likely want a floor surface that is able to handle this and other challenges of pet ownership.
The benefits of floor tiles as a pet owner
As the owner of a pet in your home, certain floor surfaces are better placed to deal with the potential difficulties an animal can bring. Floor tiles are a great option here due to their durability and ease of cleaning.
The make-up of carpets and rugs is less pet friendly on one level because they are so much harder to clean. They can pick up muck and dirt, and retain odours that your pet exerts or brings into the home.
For this reason alone, floor tiles are a better choice if you are a pet owner because they are so much easier to clean. This means maintaining a clean and healthy floor surface is immeasurably easier.
What are the best tiles for pets?
If you are considering redecorating or adding some tiles to a specific part of your home, tile and stone flooring generally is one of the best flooring options you can go for.
The hard surface supports easy cleaning and the lack of porosity is beneficial as liquids or muck are less likely to penetrate deep into the surface. Hard tiling is also less likely to pick up scratches, whereas hardwood and laminate flooring can be susceptible to this problem.
Within the scope of stone tiles, any tile that is water-resistant, scratch-resistant and stain-resistant is going to be a good option.
Softer natural stone tiles are more likely to scratch than harder stone tiles. This means that natural slate are perfect for a dog friendly household as selecting a riven surface will provide additional slip resistance too. Natural stone does require to be properly sealed and grouted to maintain their good looks.
Porcelain tiles are among the best tiles for dogs because they offer excellent durability against the challenges of housing a canine.
Ultimately, one of the best ways to find the best floor tiles for pets is to keep a close eye on a tile’s abrasion rating. The rating is supplied by the Porcelain Enamel Institute (PEI) abrasion test. This test is rated on a scale from one to five and will save so much time, as it means you instantly have the answer to your ‘is this porcelain suitable for…?’ question.
It’s important to remember that tiles with the lower PEI rating are softer, meaning that they might not be the best tiles for pets. So don’t overlook this important element of your buying process. We would recommend a PEI3-5 for internal floor areas to ensure your floors are going to have longevity.
Porcelain tiles also can offer some additional slip resistance as a highly polished tile could be a bit slippy for your doggie's paws. Look for a matt porcelain tiles as these will be better for avoiding slips.
Shop with Stone Tile Company
The Stone Tile Company collection of floor tiles is packed full of great options that can work perfectly in your home even with pets.
We have a strong collection of natural stone tiles and porcelain tiles to choose from. Be sure to check the product specification if there is a tile you like to see if it is capable of dealing with pets.
Our team is always willing and able to provide any extra information you may need. As a first port of call, be sure to take a look at our fitting guides and general installation guides. And our team can advise you as well, so do not hesitate to get in touch. Take a look at our delivery information too!
