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Flooring
Carpet vs Hard Flooring When You Have Pets
Claw resistance, accident recovery and the flooring that actually survives dogs.
BuildMate Editorial Updated March 2026 5 min read
Pet-friendly ranking (best to worst)
- LVP with attached pad — waterproof, claw-resistant, best all-around
- Tile — bulletproof but hard on joints (yours and theirs)
- Engineered hardwood with aluminum-oxide finish — scratches, doesn't dent easily
- Solid hardwood — scratches badly; refinish every 8–10 years
- Laminate — swells on any moisture; skip
- Carpet — traps allergens, stains from accidents; wool > nylon > polyester