By Jill
Posted on Tuesday, October 17, 2023 11:53 AM
The Best Flooring Options for Pet Owners
As a pet owner, you've probably faced the challenges of scratched floors, stubborn stains, and lingering odors. The good news is that the right flooring can help reduce or even solve these issues. This how-to guide will cover everything you need to know to select the ideal flooring for a pet-friendly home.
Why Flooring Matters for Pet Owners
When you share your home with a furry friend, your flooring needs to be up to the task. From muddy paws to accidental spills, your floors need to withstand the daily challenges that come with pet ownership. But it's not just about durability; comfort and aesthetics are equally important. After all, you want your home to be a welcoming space for all its inhabitants—two-legged and four-legged alike. And at Barry Carpet, we have flooring that will do just that.
Factors to Consider
Durability
Pets can be tough on floors. Whether it's scratches from claws or spills from water bowls, you need a floor that can take some abuse. Look for materials that are scratch-resistant and easy to clean, such as luxury vinyl plank.
Comfort
While you might love the look of a particular flooring material, consider how it will feel under your feet and your pet's paws. Some material proves to be too difficult for animals to “get a grip on”, especially for large-breed dogs.
Aesthetics
Your flooring should complement your home's overall design. Fortunately, many durable materials come in a variety of styles and colors, so you don't have to sacrifice aesthetics for functionality. Hardwood is generally a great choice for households with pets because it’s durable and always in style.
Top Flooring Choices for Pet Owners
Luxury Vinyl Flooring
Luxury Vinyl Plank (LVP) is a top choice for pet owners for several reasons. Not only is it durable and water-resistant, but it also offers a level of comfort underfoot that is ideal for pets. The material is soft enough to provide cushioning for your pet's paws, yet tough enough to resist scratches and dents. Additionally, LVP is incredibly easy to clean; most spills and pet accidents can be wiped away with a damp cloth. The affordability factor is another major selling point. With a wide range of styles and finishes available, you can achieve the aesthetic you desire without breaking the bank. Brands like Armstrong and Shaw offer excellent LVP options that are both stylish and functional.
Hardwood
Hardwood floors offer timeless beauty and durability, making them a solid investment for any home. For pet owners, choosing the right type of hardwood is crucial. Opt for hardwoods that are rated high on the Janka hardness scale, such as oak, hickory, or maple. These woods are less susceptible to scratches and dents. If you're concerned about potential damage, consider hardwoods with textured finishes like hand-scraped or wire-brushed. These styles are excellent at camouflaging minor imperfections. Regular maintenance, including the use of pet-friendly cleaners and frequent sweeping, can also help preserve the beauty of your hardwood floors. Brands like Bruce and Mohawk offer pet-friendly hardwood options.
Laminate
Laminate flooring is a cost-effective alternative to hardwood and comes with the added benefit of scratch resistance. The top layer of laminate is designed to withstand wear and tear, making it an ideal choice for homes with pets. However, it's essential to choose a high-quality brand that offers water resistance or waterproofing, as laminate can be susceptible to water damage. Brands like Karastan and Pergo offer water-resistant laminate options that are perfect for pet owners. To prevent slips and falls, consider adding rugs or mats in areas where your pet frequently walks.
Tile
Ceramic and porcelain tiles are highly durable and easy to clean, making them an excellent choice for pet owners. Their hard surface is impervious to scratches and can be easily wiped clean in the event of spills or accidents. However, the hardness can be uncomfortable for pets to lie on for extended periods, and the tiles can be cold in the winter. To combat this, consider adding soft, washable area rugs or pet beds to provide a cozy spot for your pet to rest. Brands like Daltile and Emser offer a wide range of pet-friendly tile options.
Maintenance Tips
Regardless of the flooring you choose, regular maintenance will help it last longer. Here are some general tips for all types:
Regular Cleaning: Vacuum or sweep regularly to remove pet hair and dander.
Immediate Cleanup: Accidents happen; clean them up immediately to prevent stains and odors.
Use Pet-Friendly Cleaning Products: Some cleaning products can be harmful to pets. Always choose pet-safe options.
Conclusion
Choosing the right flooring for your pet-friendly home doesn't have to be a daunting task. By considering factors like durability, comfort, and aesthetics, you can find a flooring option that works for both you and your pet. With the right choice and proper maintenance, your floors will look great for years to come. Visit Barry Carpet in Venice, CA, for more expert advice and a range of pet-friendly flooring options. We have a showroom full of pet-friendly products and a wealth of knowledge to go along with it.
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To find the hardwood flooring that best meets your needs,
contact us. We’d be happy to answer all of your hardwood flooring questions and show you the latest trend in hardwood flooring.
By Jill
Posted on Friday, May 8, 2020 5:03 AM
Always, and especially in the current climate of The Great Pause, fueled by the Coronavirus (COVID-19), installing flooring that is health conscious is paramount. In this blog post, we are highlighting Forbo Flooring Sytem’s unique product, Marmoleum, found at Barry Carpet. Read on to learn how Marmoleum floor covering may provide you with a sense of safety and security in the reality we are facing today.
What is Marmoleum?
Marmoleum is Forbo Flooring System’s patented linoleum floor covering. Forbo is a global leader in linoleum with 65% market share. The product is sustainable, highly innovative, health conscious, and has outstanding quality. Marmoleum comes in sheet, tiles and planks, ranging from marbled to linear to concrete designs.
“Marmoleum sheet and tile floor coverings are naturally antimicrobial, and contain no pesticides whatsoever,” according to the Forbo’s 2013 PDF “Sustain.” Instead, they contain natural materials. Flax seed oil is the main ingredient in Marmoleum, which is a renewable raw material, has minimal waste in its production, and takes up CO2. Additional Marmoleum ingredients, which are also natural, include: wood flour, pine rosins, limestone, jute, and ecologically friendly pigments.
Consider the following positive implications for installing Forbo Marmoleum into your home, office, gym, and healthcare facilities:
In Your Home
What is not more important than providing a healthy home for you and your family? Especially in times like these, our collective awareness of what we want to surround ourselves with has grown. We are more conscious now than ever of how our environment impacts our health--and how we impact our environment’s. The organic hygiene of Forbo Marmoleum excludes added biocides, allowing you and your loved ones to breathe in chemical-free air. In turn, this limits threats to you and your family’s health and genetic wellbeing.
In Healthcare Facilities
Patients in healthcare facilities already suffer from weakened immune systems. With vulnerable populations like these, floor and counter hygiene are especially important.
No additives, pesticides, or phthalates are used in the production of Marmoleum, which decreases bio-accumulative toxicity exposure to both doctors and patients. As an added benefit, Marmoleum’s natural ingredients organically inhibit bacterial growth without compromising doctors’ and patients" health.
Seam welding is not required when installing Marmoleum floor coving. In vinyl flooring, these cracks between seams can breed bacteria. However, Marmoleum eliminates the need for seam welding with its net fit seams, allowing for the floor covering to be more hygienic. Taking it a step further, Marmoleum can also be used effectively on furniture surfaces and even walls. Consider the impact of having Marmoleum on nurse’s stations, desks, carts, and other surfaces where cleanliness and ease of cleaning is required.
In Gyms/Yoga/Exercise Studios
Exercise studios are places where the spread of germs is highly likely. Changing out old flooring and replacing it with Marmoleum can reduce the risk of bacterial spread among staff and clients, and can do so in a natural, health conscious way.
Easy to Clean
While studies have not yet been reported about Forbo Marmoleum’s ability to combat COVID-19, according to Forbo’s 2013 PDF “Sustain:” superbugs like CRE, MRSA, and C. Difficile “won’t spread effectively on a Marmoleum surface,” inhibiting the likelihood of other bacteria spreading.
Forbo Marmoleum flooring naturally prevents the growth of bacteria by also having resistance to dirt pick-up. As a result, the garden variety bacteria that cause stains and odors won’t grow on Marmoleum either. Marmoleum floor coverings have Topshield2 finish, which makes them easy to clean and maintain. Topshield 2 technology allows for eco-friendly cleaning upon installation. Occupancy-ready finish is possible simply by using a neutral pH cleaning solution.
Cost Savings
We are thoughtful that your business may have been financially impacted by COVID-19. When assessing cost and value, it is important to consider the short term expense of installing and the long term value of ownership. Marmoleum has a 30-year system service life, which outperforms that of vinyl or rubber. One of the greatest cost benefits is that Marmoleum is occupancy-ready upon installation, meaning, you can get to work faster or move your tenents in sooner.
Eco-Friendly
As the environment has positively responded to our limited use of emissions these last few weeks, we are all realizing how important it is to make sustainable choices in our everyday lives and businesses. Marmoleum floor covering is 100% BioBased and biodegradable, which in independent life-cycle assessments (LCA), show that it is much less harmful to the world than vinyl and rubber.
At Barry Carpet, we are confident in the high quality and health of Forbo Marmoleum and can say that after selling and installing hundreds of Marmoleum floor coverings, it is one of the most customer satisfactory products out there. As our own Barry Carpet family, we find Forbo’s mission noble: "from the building they’re in to the world outside, [they’re] helping [their] customers work, live and relax in better environments."
While our Barry Carpet showroom is closed, we are still in business! Give us a call at 310.479.3761 or email us at barrycarpet1@gmail.com to receive a quote, order samples, or place your order.
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To find the hardwood flooring that best meets your needs,
contact us. We’d be happy to answer all of your hardwood flooring questions and show you the latest trend in hardwood flooring.
By Jill
Posted on Monday, February 10, 2020 3:29 PM
Amorim WISE - Traces Natural
With the world evolving toward a more conscious outlook on living, greener homes are becoming the most relevant and popular trend in 2020. At Barry Carpet, we are passionate about the environment we live in and pride ourselves on the eco-friendly products we carry. Cork flooring, a sustainable option, has recently become much more accessible and stylish, with some incredible features that will genuinely surprise you.
Cork flooring comes from the outer bark of the cork oak tree. Since it can be stripped and removed several times with little harm to the tree, it is a steady source of renewable raw material. Along with being 100% biodegradable, It is also impermeable to moisture and has natural rot-resistant and fire-resistant properties. A harvested cork oak tree helps reduce global warming by absorbing 5 times more CO2 from the atmosphere. We at Barry Carpet value cork as an incredibly natural and safe product!
Elastic, durable, warm and soft underfoot, cork flooring is flexible to a variety of spaces and because of its softer give, its ideal for children, elders, and those susceptible to falling. Compared to engineered wood, walking across cork flooring is a quieter experience. Since cork provides fantastic insulation against sound and vibrations, it can be used beneath floating floor systems as a muffler and to help give floors a more natural sound. It is also a great choice for intensive building projects, such as apartments, where you need to dampen the sound of heavy footsteps from above.
Amorim WISE - Contempo Loft
Our newest cork brand addition at Barry Carpet is Amorim WISE, which is a sustainable, non PVC, floating solution that is 100% WaterProof. Amorim WISE is a climate positive flooring choice that has superior wear resistance suitable for any type of project.
A cork underlayment is included for extra performance, providing optimal temperature underfoot year round, noise reduction and organic comfort. With a cork rigid core for reinforced dimensional stability and superior wear resistance, Amorim WISE is suitable for any residential or commercial project. Amorim WISE makes cork flooring with wood, stone, and cork visuals, If the look of cork is not for you, there are additional, more conventional natural style options that may suit your taste.
Visit our Barry Carpet flooring showroom in West Los Angeles to see a variety of cork and other eco-friendly flooring options. See our “Eco-Friendly Floors” on our website for more info on cork and other sustainable flooring options. Or give us a call to speak with one of our flooring experts to help you find what you are looking for.
We are Barry Carpet. Quality and beauty, always with a smile.
Barry Carpet
140 Lincoln Blvd, Venice, CA 90291
(310) 479-3761
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Find Out More
To find the hardwood flooring that best meets your needs,
contact us. We’d be happy to answer all of your hardwood flooring questions and show you the latest trend in hardwood flooring.