Damage To Floor By Dogs And Cats
The best pet-proof flooring for houses
In Florida cities like Pensacola, Tallahassee, and Panama City, damage to floors from dogs or cats is one of the most common issues homeowners and landlords face. With 1 out of every 5 households owning a pet with 70% of them being dog lovers--the problem is widespread. Flooring damage doesn’t just create odors; it can lower property value and make selling a home more difficult.
This topic will give some insight into how to prevent damage to the flooring in your house and if the floors are damaged, what would be the best replacement flooring vs. the worst choice of flooring to use. We will even give information on different types of cleaners used for those little mishaps that occur on flooring to prevent odor in your home. Damage caused to homes by dogs, or cats can be very expensive and reduce the value of your home when selling due to lingering odors costing homeowners/landlords thousands of dollars in repairs.
We have all walked into someone’s home having carpet in it with the horrible smell of urine or pet odor making us want to exit as quickly as we entered. If you’re a landlord this part of the topic is for you. Never rent a home out with carpet as it holds odor and never can be cleaned properly once soiled, as it penetrates the padding and spreads. Not to mention pulling it up yourself or paying someone to do it for you, either way, it is horrible. The next thing about carpeting and pets is you run the risk of the carpet being torn and ripped up by pets. If you have ever replaced carpet after a tenant due to pet damage you know it is not cheap.
So now we come up with the great idea of using laminate flooring, this is a big no as well, due to it not being moisture-proof. Have you ever seen wet laminate flooring after it dries out? It immediately swells up causing the floor to come apart. I have found the best flooring for pets in a home to be vinyl plank, it has great durability, is moisture-proof, and is easily cleaned, saving you financially. For many Florida homeowners, the high cost of repairing pet damage—whether it’s replacing carpet, subflooring, or baseboards—can be overwhelming. In cities like Pensacola, Tallahassee, and Panama City, this has led many sellers to choose an easier path We buy houses as-is for cash is a solution. Selling as-is means you avoid costly renovations and move forward quickly.
So let’s talk about materials that you will need to purchase for replacing your floor in your rental house. All materials can be purchased at your local home improvement store. You will need rolls of moisture barriers, and or subflooring depending on the surface after the old flooring is removed. Subfloor replacement is called luan board and it’s used to level and take away most imperfections in the floor, prices may vary. Next, we will replace all baseboards in the house. This is a big factor as well; due to the odor being held behind the baseboards such as urine, and fecal residue.
Next, we will prep the floor for new material by sweeping and mopping the floor before installing new flooring. I use an odor neutralizer purchased at Home Depot called Odo Ban. This stuff works well and can be used for multiple instances in your house even mopping vinyl floors, giving your house a fresh clean light scent. Next, we will need to get an estimate from a flooring contractor. Most prices average between $1 and $5 per sqft, which can be very expensive, not including materials.
Prevention to save floors in your house with pets. Use a crate to housebreak your pet, there are very helpful articles on how to do which are available on the internet. Never leave the pet unattended if you have issues such as chewing, separation anxiety, etc all causing destruction of the home.
The final installation of your new flooring will give your home the protection it needs, pleasing you. But if the damage in your Florida property is too severe, or repairs feel overwhelming, selling as-is may be the smarter choice. At French Investments, we buy homes in Pensacola, Tallahassee, and Panama City for cash—no repairs required. See how it works and discover a faster way forward.
This information should help arm you with what is needed to prevent pet damage to your home.