America is a nation of pet-lovers! A recent survey by the American Pet Products Association revealed that nearly two-thirds of the US population (85 million families) own at least one pet.
And why not?
Pets make amazing companions! Isn’t it awesome to have a four-legged companion by your side, always! It’s comforting to have someone who’s always looking forward to seeing you?
As a pet parent, you’d do everything in your capacity to make life comfortable for them. Then why not start from the ground up? The flooring of your home plays a critical role in their well-being. A hard flooring, for instance, can take a toll on their delicate paws and leg joints.
On the other hand, their hard claws can easily damage your home’s flooring, especially when they aren’t trimmed regularly. Hence, the surface you install should stand up to such pet-induced wear and tear. Besides, the flooring should be easy to clean with minimum need for upkeep.
Here are a few attributes you should consider when looking for an ideal pet-friendly surfacing.
A – Durability
If you’ve got paws on your property, it pays to install durable and high-performance flooring. Those four-legged furballs can wreak havoc on a flooring that cannot stand up to scratches, heavy foot (and paw!) traffic, stains, and other forms of damage caused by pets.
For instance, dogs and cats possess natural clawing and scratching instincts, causing damage to any surface. Hence, durability should be the first thing to consider when choosing a suitable flooring for a household with pets.
B – Comfort
Pets are so like kids. They love to play and are high on energy. Hence, the surface that they stand and run on all day should be comfortable and absorb the impact of slips and falls.
For instance, choosing a hard flooring like ceramic or stone can injure their paws and cause joint pains in the long term. Hence, it’s advisable to opt for a flooring that upholds the health and comfort of your pets.
C – Traction
Pets, like humans, often lose their balance. In such cases, they should be able to rely on their paws and not slip or skid. Skidding is particularly bothersome for homes with older pets.
For instance, a laminate or high-gloss surface offers little or no grip, making it impossible for pets to move around freely. Pets often feel unsafe on such surfaces. You may even notice a change in their gait as they have to use too many muscles when moving around on such surfaces.
An ideal pet-friendly surface will have a good grip or offer high traction, protecting your pets from injuries.
D – Ease of Cleaning and Upkeep
Pets are adorable; yet, there are so many not-so-attractive qualities that pet parents need to manage to keep their homes in order. For instance, shedding hair, dirty paws, and smelly accidents are common in households with pets.
So, you need to have a surface that’s easy to clean. Imagine having a wall-to-wall carpet in your rooms. Though carpets are soft underfoot and offer excellent grip they aren’t hygienic and practical in homes with pets. So, if you have carpet flooring in your home, it’s time to consider a resurfacing project.
Transform your home into a pet-friendly abode by investing in a surface that’s easy to clean and maintain.
E – Noise Resistance
All pet parents love to see their pets moving around the house. However, at times, the constant pitter-patter of their claws on hard floors can be annoying. It almost sounds like a stampede of elephants when anyone is sleeping or trying to focus on something important.
Hence, it’s ideal to install a quiet surface that absorbs and arrests the transmission of sound waves. The flooring you choose should able to absorb –
- Impact sound: The sounds of things hitting the flooring. For instance, your pet’s claws hitting against the surface.
- Transmission sound: The sounds of conversations, television, or music.
Rubber Surfacing: A Pawsome Candidate for Homes with Pets
When we consider the above-mentioned criteria, rubber surfacing seems to be the clear winner. Let’s see why rubber surfaces make an ideal pet-friendly flooring option.
1. They Are Durable, Soft, and Comfortable
Ironically, an ideal pet-friendly surface should be durable yet soft and forgiving in case of a skid or fall. In fact, in most flooring options, soft does not necessarily translate into long-term durability. However, rubber surfaces are an exception here.
Rubber floors can stand up to the routine wear and tear caused by pets while protecting them from serious injuries and joint pains. It’s a pliable surfacing option that’s tough and easy on their paws and feet.
Further, unlike stone or ceramic, rubber surfaces aren’t hard or cold. Pets tend to feel cold in their paws as the blood circulation in this area is lesser than the rest of the body. So, a hard and cold surface isn’t suitable for pets, especially those having arthritic paws.
Pets tend to stay in the room their parents occupy. So, if your room’s flooring is stone or ceramic, your furry pal will lie there, causing their muscles to get stiff and sore. Being soft by nature, rubber floors offer adequate support to pets, allowing them to move around or sit comfortably.
2. They Offer Great Traction
Rubber has a high coefficient of friction, making rubber floors a non-skid surface. The flooring material resists motion; hence, no moving object can slide past the surface easily. Rubber surfaces are non-skid even in wet conditions. Isn’t that great news for water-loving pets?
Install poured-in-place rubber surfacing today, to create a safe and enjoyable environment for your furry companions.
3. They Are Easy to Clean and Maintain
As mentioned earlier, floors that are frequented by pets see a lot of dander, stains, spills, pet messes, and dirt. Hence, cleaning and maintaining the space is a huge task.
Rubber surfaces are easy to clean and maintain. All you need is a mild soap solution and a mop.
Moreover, any flooring with open and wide seams is never a good idea for homes with pets. Seams not just allow moisture and dirt to settle but also promote the growth of mildew and bacteria.
With rubber surfacing, you do not need to worry about letting moisture (spills or urine) linger for too long. Since poured-in-place rubber surfaces are seamless, they do not let moisture seep through to the subfloor.
Finally, rubber surfaces need minimal upkeep as they are resistant to routine wear. Even in case of a scratch or damage, all you need to do is call a local rubber surfacing expert. They’ll inspect the area and repair it in no time!
4. They Possess Noise-Cancelling Properties
Rubber surfacing can soak in sound waves and prevent them from bouncing around the area. This makes the space quieter even when your pet runs around the room.
Summing Up
Only a pet parent can understand how much trouble pets can get into if the flooring isn’t pet-friendly. Selecting a flooring option that stands up to a comfortable life with your four-legged family member can be a tricky decision. However, we are sure that the information shared above has convinced you of how rubber surfacing is ideal for families with pets.
If you are considering a rubber flooring project to transform your home into a pet-friendly haven, get in touch with River Rock Resurfacing. Our team of experts would love to hear from you!