Mom, I have something to tell you. Whether Fido is a housetraining pup or a geriatric who's having accidents, your floor will suffer. Covering the floor with newspaper or pee pads is a makeshift solution, but if you're installing or replacing floors, you have limited options for Doggie-proof flooring materials. Forget carpet and hardwood floors and instead choose waterproof -- or water resistant -- materials that are Doggie-friendly. Vinyl Vinyl is either completely or almost completely waterproof, depending on type and brand, according to the Floor Coverings International website. For example, the typical peel-and-stick vinyl tiles sold everywhere are not waterproof. On the other hand, Floor Coverings International points out that "luxury vinyl" is thicker and it must be glued on -- it doesn't have a "sticky" backing like cheap vinyl -- so it's waterproof and often recommended for bathrooms and kitchens. Or, in this case, for Doggies prone to accidents. Tiles It's a common misconception that tile is completely waterproof, according to Tile Art Center.

Different types of tile offer different levels of protection against liquids, so if you have a choice, pick the one that's most water-repellent for the rooms where Doggie seems to urinate the most. Impervious tiles -- including porcelain, ceramic and glass tiles -- are the closest to waterproof, since they absorb less than 0.5 percent of their weight in water. Vitreous tiles are a close second, although their water absorption varies from 0.5 percent to 3 percent, depending on the type and brand. Keep in mind that some ceramic tiles fall under vitreous and others under impervious, so you'll need to read labels to find out what type of tile you're buying or consult an expert if you need help. Marble is porous and thus not suitable in areas prone to Doggie accidents. When tiling your floor, use grout to seal the space between tiles and prevent water absorption. Laminate Laminate floor usually looks like hardwood, but it's made using a core board covered by a melamine wear layer. This layer protects against scratches and makes the surface water resistant.

Laminate is not technically waterproof, so it doesn't work very well with standing water -- as it would be the case if Doggie decides to pee on it while you're out and you can't clean it for hours. However, you can buy laminate flooring that have been treated or coated with waterproofing substances. These are usually sold as "spill-proof" or something similar and are labeled for use in bathrooms or kitchens, when water spills are frequent. Circular Sofa Patio FurnitureMaterials That Won't Cut It Dog urine and carpeting don't mix well. Washer And Dryer Talk To Each OtherYou could wash or dry-clean rugs if your dog has an accident, so they could be a better choice than wall-to-wall carpeting. Smart Car Headlight Bulb ClipStill, you don't want to be washing rugs all the time for myriad reasons.

Hardwood floors are ill-advised. Even if you clean the urine right away, staining of the wood is inevitable -- a dog is drawn to urinate on a spot that smells of urine. Typical hardwood surface treatments won't keep a dog's pee from being absorbed, so stay clear of wood. References The Flooring Girl: Is Laminate Flooring Waterproof?Tile Art Center: Tile Is Not WaterproofApartment Therapy: Cleaning Up Puppy AccidentsHGTV Remodels: Laminate Flooring for BasementsChannel 4: How to Grout TilesThe Flooring Girl: What Is the Difference Between Laminate Flooring and Vinyl?The Flooring Girl: What Is Luxury Vinyl? Photo Credits Comstock/Comstock/Getty Images MORE MUST-CLICKS: How to Stop a Bichon Frise From Barking How to Stop My Dog from Jumping & Scratching the Door How to Potty-Train Chow Chows Why Do Dogs Dig the Carpet? Crate Training an 8-Week-Old Lab Puppy How to Stop a Yorkie From Barking How to Train a Cockapoo Puppy How to Calm Your New Puppy at Night How to Stop a Pomeranian From Barking How to Potty Train a 17-Week-Old Dog

Home Improvement Info Resources When building a new home or remodeling an existing home, flooring choices are everything. With pets in the home, this becomes even more important, because pets are just as hard, if not harder, than people on flooring surfaces. What are the best flooring choices for pets in the home? Let’s take a look at the pros and cons of several types of flooring to help in the decision making process. Though this is one of the most desired types of flooring in a home, it is not the best choice for homes with pets. Pet urine can stain the hardwood, leaving a terrible smell and a dark spot in the wood. Even if urine accidents are cleaned up quickly after the fact, the urine may still seep into the wood, causing damage. To remove these stains, you may have to go so far as to strip, sand, and refinish the floor. If the stains are contained to one small area, this is hassle enough, but if the stains all over the place, the entire floor may need to be redone. At times, the odor and stain may reappear because of salt crystals left behind from the urine that cannot be dissolved.

If this happens, completely replacing the wood may be necessary. Another thing some pet owners forget to factor in when it comes to hardwood is the pet’s water bowl. If possible, place the water bowl on a mat of some sort to help protect the hardwood from moisture when the bowl spills. Quickly dry the spill after it happens, because moisture can soak down into the wood causing it to swell and contract. Keeping pets nails trimmed or filed will also be necessary to avoid extraneous scratches on the flooring. As pets walk or run across the floor, their claws may damage the surface. While some owners may elect to declaw their pets, it certainly isn’t a possibility for all. If the flooring is coated with a high quality urethane, it will be more scratch and stain resistant. Sweep the floors clean at least once a week for best maintenance. Bamboo is harder than the hardest hardwood flooring and is one of the best pet-friendly flooring choices. Due to the hardness of laminate flooring, pet owners may turn to it instead of traditional hardwood.

While this may work to provide the décor people want, it can be difficult for pets, especially dogs, because they will slip and slide as they walk or run through the home. This will cause their hips to move in unnatural ways, which may cause damage to their bodies. This is pronounced in smooth, high gloss laminate floors and can be mitigated somewhat by choosing a laminate floor with an embossed or textured finish. Laminate won’t show scratches as easily as some other surfaces, but because they are slippery and uncomfortable to lie on, rugs are recommended throughout the home to help the pet. Bamboo is an excellent choice for homes with pets, for many different reasons. It’s harder than the hardest hardwoods, meaning it will stand up to more traffic. It won’t wear out, and it’s completely renewable, so it makes a good choice for those who are trying to be green. It is stain resistant, so people don’t have to worry about accidents or spills. Due to bamboo’s hardness it will save money compared to repairing other types of flooring.

For those who are trying to decide between using hardwood and vinyl flooring, choosing bamboo floors is a great compromise. Cork is a green flooring choice good for the environment and the health of the occupants, pets included. Cork is an antimicrobial type of flooring that will reduce the growth of mold and other allergens. Cork is scratch resistant, though it should be swept regularly to prevent scratching from particles of dirt left on the floor. It is an excellent sound absorption option, so as pets walk across the floor, it will not be as loud. While the flooring is water resistant, it is a natural product, so spills should be cleaned up promptly. Discoloration of this flooring will happen over time when exposed to sunlight. This type of flooring is amazing for pet owners because it does not scratch easily, and scratches don’t show as they do in other types of flooring. When pets have accidents on the stone tile floor, there is much less reason to worry over how this will impact the condition of the flooring.

With these two factors considered, this is a good choice for pet owners, but the floors are hard and cold so they are not very comfortable to lie on, unless the floor is heated by radiant heat. Consider using area rugs and pet beds to alleviate this problem. Granite is the hardest of the natural stones and is the best choice for scratch resistance. Softer stones such as marble, slate, and travertine may require somewhat more maintenance than granite, especially if they feature a polished finish. Much similar to stone, porcelain or ceramic tile is a good choice in terms of wear and tear for pets. It won’t scratch easily. If pets don’t manage to make it outside before relieving themselves, the urine won’t damage the condition of the floor as it would with hardwood. However, much like stone, the surface is hard and uncomfortable for pets to lie on, but rugs will help. While many people wouldn’t think vinyl flooring be a very pet friendly flooring choice, the new luxury vinyl flooring is an excellent choice, and it’s great for small children, too.

The flooring is scratch and stain resistant, low in allergens, easy to clean and maintain, and even quiet to walk on. When it comes to pets, carpet is likely the worst flooring choice one can make, simply because it is easily damaged by pets. Even normal wear and tear on carpet in a pet-free home happens faster than with other flooring options. If carpet is the only choice because it is the most cost effective option for home flooring, the best thing to do is choose a carpet without loops as pet nails can snag on the loops and cause the carpet to wear faster. While budget and ease of installation will be factors impacting the flooring decisions of a home, taking time to consider the best flooring options for pets beforehand may save money in repairs and frustration in the long run. Cutting corners on flooring to save money is not a good choice if the flooring needs to be replaced in a few months or even a year due to the wear and tear from the pets. Are pets a factor in your flooring decision?