What is the best flooring for households with dogs?

Floors in households with one dog or more need to withstand muddy paws, loose pet hair, bathroom accidents and scratches.

Most pet owners prefer hard surface flooring such as vinyl or laminate, but some types of carpet are fine for dogs.

Flooring that can withstand dogs needs to be easy to clean, scratch-resistant, and water-resistant. In addition to being practical, flooring has to look good. Having a dog in the home does not mean compromising on stylish interior decor.

Dogs can be messy, which makes it important to keep floors clean. Bathroom accidents and muddy pawprints should be cleaned up promptly.

Luxury vinyl flooring with scratch protection coating is a good flooring choice. Some are available with an antimicrobial coating that prevents mould.

For a more affordable option, choose laminate flooring that has a scratch-resistant top layer that protects against damage from dogs’ claws. Laminate flooring comes in many styles, including a realistic stone or wood look.

For dog owners who prefer the softness and warmth of carpets, look for stain-resistant quality carpets that are designed to last a long time. Short-pile carpets are easier to keep clean. Carpets need to be regularly vacuumed and deep cleaned at least once a year. Use a vacuum that is designed to pick up pet hair.

If you have a dog and want to install new floor coverings, talk to your local flooring services in Wrexham. They can advise you on the best pet-friendly flooring options.

Should you install flooring before or after kitchen units?

Consulting flooring services in Chester and other North West communities on whether to install floor finishes before or after kitchen units can turn up different results. Ultimately, which approach you take depends on multiple factors. Here we explore both options and their benefits and some questions to ask yourself when making a final decision.

Flooring before kitchen units

There are multiple gains to installing flooring before kitchen units. With no fixtures and fittings to work around, installations are smoother and simpler to complete. Choosing flooring first also offers design flexibility, as you can alter the layout of your kitchen at any point without needing to fit a new floor.

Laying your floor before units is best when you want to keep a seamless appearance for your kitchen. Running continuously beneath cabinets, complete flooring offers a flawless look with no gaps on show. This approach is especially suited to home installing permanent flooring like tiles and hardwood boards.

A final benefit is that flooring that extends to your exterior walls can reduce issues of damp and excess moisture in your kitchen.

Kitchen units before flooring

When you want to protect glue-down flooring from scratches and scuffs, fitting kitchen units first makes sense. As less flooring material is required, there are also cost savings involved in getting your units in earlier. Ease of future replacement is also an advantage as you can install fresh flooring without needing to disassemble your kitchen units. Some freestanding appliances like washing machines and refrigerators are better suited to installation on the subfloor rather than new flooring, as they are easier to pull out when repair or replacement is required.

Which option should you choose?

Before planning your kitchen refurbishment consider your needs and aims. If you want a permanent refurbishment and seamless aesthetic installing your floor first is a smart move but if you need to save money and protect the flooring your purchase, start by fitting units and add flooring afterwards. Finally, consider your future needs. If you’re likely to change your kitchen layout, install flooring before units, but if you want to update your flooring more, put your counters, cabinets and appliances in ahead of the floor installation.

Can you install laminate flooring over carpet?

Planning property renovations and wondering if you can install laminate flooring over carpet? Here, we tackle this topic in detail.

People laying laminate flooring in Wrexham and parts of the UK understandably want to make the installation as simple as possible, but taking short cuts like leaving carpet in place can lead to larger headaches. Read on for reasons why experts never advise installing laminate flooring over carpet and the steps you should take instead.

Why you can't install laminate over carpet

To provide stability, laminate flooring needs a firm and flat surface. Regardless of how thin a carpet is, the way it changes shape under pressure means it cannot provide sufficient support for a laminate installation. With different levels of wearing after prolonged use, carpets present also prevent an uneven surface that makes laying flooring effectively an impossible task. When installers attempt to put laminate over carpet, the result is an unstable floor that feels spongey to walk on.

Laminate floor planks typically connect using a tongue and groove or click-lock system. To interlace efficiently they must be fitted on a flat surface, so adding laminate over uneven carpet can see locking systems become damaged as planks shift and bend.

For home health, laminate of carpet is a poor choice. Moisture and allergens can build up in the carpet beneath the flooring and lead to unpleasant odours that rise through gaps between planks, impacting air quality.

What to do instead of laying laminate over carpet

The first task is to remove the old carpet completely. After clearing the room of furniture, cut and roll back the carpet and dispose of it properly. Assess the condition of the subfloor beneath the carpet to ensure it is fit for purpose. If there are any issues like excess moisture or damaged flooring, make sure you resolve them. Ensure that your subfloor is completely stable and level before you start installing laminate. Professional fitters usually add an underlay before installing laminate planks. This guarantees a flat and robust surface for flooring, but also adds a slight cushioning effect that can dampen noise and improve physical comfort underfoot when in use.

By following this approach instead of fitting laminate directly over carpet, your flooring installation will last far longer and protect your investment in a high-quality floor finish.

How high-tech innovations are improving carpets

Several technological advances over the last few years have improved the performance of carpets.

Nanotechnology coatings on carpets function to resist stains and repel spills and dirt without requiring harsh chemical cleaners.

Smart carpets can change colour to match your mood or when you want to change the interior design of a room. Carpets can even generate electricity in high footfall areas.

New advances in fibre technology improve the durability of carpets without compromising softness, making them ideal for busy homes and offices.

Carpets with low volatile organic compounds (VOCs) improve air quality and are especially beneficial for allergen sufferers,

Carpets are also becoming more sustainable. New techniques in dyeing use less water and chemicals, making carpet production more environmentally friendly. More manufacturers are offering take-back programs for worn carpets, which are recycled rather than disposed of in landfills.

Carpets are available that contain recycled materials. For example, discarded PVC plastic bottles can be used as raw materials to make new carpets. They are cleaned and made into chips, which are extruded to form carpet fibres

New methods of twisting carpet fibres make carpets stronger by using a higher density of fibres. Multifilament fibre twists create vibrant colours and emulate the look of natural organic materials, such as wool and linen.

Manufacturers of carpets are increasingly using solution dyeing, a process of adding colour pigments to a polymer solution prior to the fibres being extruded. This improves colour fastness and durability.

To see for yourself how new technology is making carpets better, contact your local flooring company in Wrexham.

Many flooring manufacturers are going PVC-free

PVC hard flooring is durable and waterproof, but it has an environmental impact because it is derived from oil or gas. As consumers become more environmentally conscious, they are demanding sustainable materials. This has led flooring manufacturers to offer PVC-free options.

For example, polypropylene is an alternative with a lower environmental impact, as it can be used without added chemicals and is recyclable. Some manufacturers are researching plant-based materials as an alternative to PVC.

There is a common misconception that PVC-free hard flooring does not perform as well as PVC. While this may have been true a few years ago, modern flooring made from PVC-free materials now matches or even surpasses the performance of PVC. Years of research have gone into developing the formulation of hard-wearing and easy to maintain PVC-free flooring.

The Karndean Evolve range exemplifies sustainable flooring, which features a high content of recycled materials and contains no substances derived from crude oil. Karndean also upholds supply chain transparency, requiring all its suppliers to be certified as environmentally and socially responsible.

The shift towards more sustainable materials is driven by young people who are shaping the flooring market by prioritising sustainability. However, the older generation is also voicing concerns about the environmental issues.

In the commercial flooring sector, the healthcare, education and hospitality industries are showing a strong interest in PVC-free flooring.

To explore the widest selection of sustainable flooring from Karndean and other brands, contact a local flooring company in Chester or North Wales.