According to recent statistics the typical British family home has 2.4 people living in it with around 51% of UK Households owning a pet, with Cats and Dogs by far the two most popular animals, with twelve millions of each species living within homes in the United Kingdom. Most British families consist of one or two children with one or two parents and at least one pet!
Fixtures inside these well-loved, much-used, family homes need to be extra durable, strong, hard-wearing and versatile, especially when it comes to flooring options. Each floor in each room of the home needs to be capable of withstanding years and years of Claws, Paws and Feet, so choosing quality, Engineered Wood Flooring, purchased from and installed by an experienced professional flooring expert such as www.irwintiles.ie/wooden-flooring/engineered-wood-flooring is potentially not only the most affordable, cost-effective flooring solution for a family home but the most durable, hardwearing, slip-resistant flooring there is!
With a coating that protects it from scratches and makes it easy to sweep clean and mop up any unfortunate accidents, Engineered Wood Flooring is probably the most cost-effective and affordable flooring product on the Market. With the average age of children leaving home now around twenty-four to twenty-seven years, cats living between thirteen and seventeen years and dogs between ten and thirteen, investing in a flooring option that’s going to withstand all those years of Claws, Paws and Feet is not just economically prudent it’s intelligent.
Protecting wooden floors from pet claws
Dog claws can quickly mark wood, cork and vinyl, but a few simple habits help. Training makes a real difference, and rewarding good behaviour with healthy treats encourages your dog to settle calmly rather than skid around. People and animals tend to use the same routes through a room, so rugs placed on those busy areas reduce wear without hiding the floor entirely. Where only some rooms have wooden floors, a baby gate or closed door can keep pets out.
Dogs’ claws can be trimmed neatly by a vet or groomer. Cats’ claws should not be trimmed, as they need them for climbing outdoors. A better option for both is soft claw sheaths, thin rubber covers that fit over each nail.
Keep the floor clean too, because grit on the surface acts like sandpaper and leaves small gouges. A steam cleaner designed for hardwood can help. Finally, check the protective coating is intact, as it seals the wood against marks, dents and stains, and have it redone every few years.