The Best Floor Tiles For Heavy Traffic & Pets
The Best Floor Tiles For Heavy Traffic & Pets
When selecting floor solutions, it’s always wise to pick an option that suits the way it will be used and who will be using it. Living spaces that see more regular use have a heavier footfall which means that the flooring you pick must be hardwearing and able to withstand plenty of traffic. Dining areas, kitchens and hallways that lead outdoors are all parts of the home that must cope with this extra pressure.
If you have a busy household blessed with pets, you’re one of around 16 million UK homes that counts a dog or cat as part of the family. While having four-legged friends share the rooms of your house might bring you joy, certain floor types may be more suitable than others to cope with their habits. When cats and dogs exit and enter your home, they’ll often bring bits of the outdoors inside and you’ll want a floor that can be cleaned easily.
While some pet owners opt for laminate and luxury vinyl that resembles natural stone for their kitchen tiles, these are not ideal when cats and dogs are around. If accidents happen, they can end up getting waterlogged and warping while claw marks and scuffs from food bowls can mar their surfaces. In dining areas, wood floors may be selected but again these are not suited to homes with pets as they can become scratched by claws and when dirt is tramped across them from muddy paws, they can be costly and time consuming to clean.
For this reason, porcelain
kitchen floor tiles are better options by far, so read on to learn how to select tiles best-suited to your home with pets.
Porcelain floor tiles
Providing it's within your price range, a floor made of kitchen porcelain tiles is the perfect choice for use with cats and dogs. Like ceramic tiles, porcelain options can’t be clawed and provide an easy to clean surface that won’t be damaged by pet mess.
More durable than ceramic tiles, porcelain is exceptionally hardwearing and won’t be marked by metal food dishes when your pets are tucking into their dinner with gusto. Porcelain tiles can also be slip-resistant, reducing the chance of your dogs and cats falling and hurting themselves. Pet falls can lead to muscle injuries, bruising and even broken bones in older animals, so this is an important consideration. Choose tiles with a slip rating of R10 to ensure your pets keep their balance and stay safe.
Picking Tile Colour & Texture
Finally, when selecting your tiles, consider a colour that will blend in with your pet’s fur, so when they shed it won’t look too untidy. If you’re house proud this can save you hours in extra vacuuming and sweeping, so is well worth considering. Porcelain tiles are offered in a wealth of natural tones from whites, blacks, and cool greys to warmer browns, beiges and creams. Choosing tiles with a speckled texture can also disguise unwanted marks in between cleans.
While lots of tiles can be found that mimic an extensive array of natural stone from limestone to marble, you’ll also find porcelain options that resemble woods such as cherry, oak and cedar for stylish dining room areas that blend well with your pet's coat.