If most of us want an attractive floor, the average dog owner will want the most durable and waterproof flooring for the most reasonable price. Which laminate flooring brands take dogs into consideration?
The best laminate flooring brands for dogs are Mannington, Mohawk, Pergo, and Aqua Step. Mannington received the NALFA Certification Seal (North American Laminate Flooring Association) and is FloorScore certified. These brands produce at least one waterproof and scratch-resistant collection.
This article will examine which Are the Best Laminate Flooring Brands for Dogs and why it is important to buy waterproof and scratch-resistant type as a dog owner.
Which Are Best Laminate Flooring Brands for Dogs?
There are so many high-quality laminate flooring brands, but we will only take a closer look at brands that are both waterproof (not water-resistant) and scratch-resistant. Flooring brands with both those qualities are best suited for households with dogs. Let’s start with our favorite!
Mannington
Mannington is a family-owned company founded in 1915, known for its innovation. The Mannington Restoration Collection laminate flooring tries to do everything right, from technological advancements to striving to be more environmentally friendly. SpillShield®Plus Waterproof Technology is what every dog owner needs. Of course, waterproof floors are a dream come true for families with young children, as well.
Pros buying The Mannington Restoration Collection laminate flooring are:
- Collection is scratch-resistant and stain-resistant against pets and children.
- It is also fade-resistant against UV rays.
- With the SpillShield®Plus Waterproof Technology, you no longer need to avoid installing laminate flooring in the kitchen, bathroom, or any high-traffic areas where people or dogs can track wetness in from the great outdoors.
- As previously mentioned, Mannington laminate flooring is FloorScore certified. That means that the flooring ensures good air quality inside your home.
- It also is made from 70% recycled materials.
- The NALFA Certification Seal indicates that a third party has thoroughly tested this flooring.
In addition to the notable traits above, the Mannington Restoration Collection offers over 60 choices in laminate flooring styles. From rustic to chevron. Brand has a style to fit everyone’s taste, even the family dog’s.
Bottom Line: The Mannington Restoration Collection of laminate flooring is perfect for households with dogs. Families can enjoy their everyday lives without having to give a second thought to the floor. They can also feel good that they’ve purchased a product for their home that is environmentally friendly.
Cons of Mannington flooring
- The homeowner will need to seal the perimeter.
Mohawk
Mohawk Industries is based in Georgia but sells its products in over 170 countries worldwide. Mohawk introduced its RevWood Plus laminate flooring just a couple of years ago. This flooring is both waterproof and scratch-resistant. The benefit of a waterproof product is a result of three types of innovation.
- Uniclic Locking System is a more user-friendly mechanism for snapping and locking together two pieces of laminate flooring. This locking system, along with the GenuEdge® pressed bevel edge, creates a very tight-fitting joint that makes it difficult for liquids to seep through.
- Add the Hydroseal perimeter coating to the joint technology above, and you have a truly waterproof laminate flooring.
NOTE: Because this technology only makes the joined planks waterproof, you will still need to seal the room’s perimeter to make the entire floor waterproof.
There are currently over 50 styles of Mohawk RevWood Plus laminate flooring to browse. All of them are made scratch-resistant with the ScratchGuard™ Advanced Finish Technology. Waterproof, scratch-resistant, and stylish makes this product an excellent option for any dog owner’s home.
Bottom Line: Mohawk is a trusted name brand for flooring high in quality and reasonably priced. Developing technology that works together to create a truly waterproof product is very innovative.
Perhaps someday, technology will come to life where sealing the room’s perimeter will not be necessary. Such a technological advancement would make the installation process even simpler for home and business owners.
Pros of Mohawk
- Uniclic® Locking System
- GenuEdge® pressed bevel edge
- Hydroseal perimeter coating
- ScratchGuard™ Advanced Finish Technology
- 50+ styles to choose from
Cons of Mohawk
- The homeowner will need to seal the perimeter.
Check my Mohawk laminate flooring review and get even more I for about this brand.
Pergo
Many may not know that Mohawk Industries have owned Pergo since 2013. Flooring collections produced by both brands share some of the same technology.
Still, consumers view the Pergo brand as a more stylish choice for laminate flooring because of its modern image. Pergo has three waterproof flooring lines. We’ll take a closer look at our two favorites today.
Pergo TimberCraft
The Pergo TimberCraft line uses some of the same technology as the Mohawk RevWood Plus. They both use the Uniclic® Locking System and the ScratchGuard™ Advanced Finish Technology.
The TimberCraft flooring is waterproof and scratch-resistant. It also uses pressed and milled bevels and a water-repelling hydrophobic coating.
What stands out about the Pergo TimberCraft line is the UltraDefTM technology. This tech enhances the graphics on the design layer to resemble genuine hardwood in appearance. Paired with a textured wear layer, Pergo is pushing for a close replica of hardwood. As such technological advances take place, consumers are more likely to opt for laminate flooring over hardwood.
Bottom Line: If the level of realism is essential to you when it comes to your laminate flooring, you may want to look further into the Pergo TimberCraft line. Thanks to the UltraDefTM technology, the wood-look floors will look and feel like real hardwood in color and texture.
Pros of Pergo TimberCraft
- Pergo is a well-respected brand for laminate flooring.
- Uniclic® Locking System
- Pressed and milled beveled edges
- Hydrophobic coating
- ScratchGuard™ Advanced Finish Technology
- UltraDefTM technology
- The core layer is recycled materials
Cons of Pergo TimberCraft
- The homeowner will need to seal the perimeter.
Pergo Outlast+
The Pergo Outlast+ shares many of the features of its TimberCraft cousin. What’s different is that it uses SpillProtectTM waterproof technology instead of the hydrophobic coating. Also, instead of the ScratchGuard™ Advanced Finish Technology, the Outlast+ uses SurfaceDefenseTM wear protection.
The Pergo Outlast+ is scuff, scratch, and stain-resistant, another excellent option for dog-owners. Compared to the Pergo TimberCraft, it sounds like the Outlast+ would hold up well against grander, more active dogs.
Bottom Line: The Pergo Outlast+ sounds like it might be the more durable laminate flooring than the Pergo TimberCraft. It would be a suitable option for homeowners with larger dogs or school-aged children (or both).
Based on personal experience, dogs that weigh 20lbs (9.1 kg) or more can leave scratches on laminate flooring just by walking around. I cannot imagine how much damage a 50+ lb (22.7+ kg) dog could do. In this case, I might choose the Pergo Outlast+ over the Mannington Restoration Collection flooring.
Pros of Pergo Outlast+
- Pergo is a well-respected brand for laminate flooring.
- Uniclic® Locking System
- Pressed and milled beveled edges
- SpillProtectTM waterproof technology
- SurfaceDefenseTM wear protection
- The core layer is recycled materials
Cons of Pergo Outlast+
- The homeowner will need to seal the perimeter.
Aqua Step
Aqua Step is new to the United States. Manufactured in Germany, this waterproof laminate flooring brand offers 26 prints in wood grains. It also has a collection of stone designs offered in their Aqua Step Mini Collection.
The technology Aqua Step uses includes five layers fused rather than four. The textured piece on top is separate from the wear layer. It also uses the Uniclic® Locking System as part of its waterproofing. Their Aqua-base underlay protects the flooring from any liquid that manages to get underneath.
This flooring brand’s mission is to mitigate environmental damage. Aqua Step spends much of its research and development on becoming more environmentally friendly. It currently recycles 100% of the water it uses and uses as few raw materials as possible.
Bottom Line: Aqua Step might be new to the U.S., but do not overlook it when considering your laminate flooring options. It uses similar technology to the brands you already trust. This brand cares about the environment and our planet’s future.
Pros of Aqua Step
- Uniclic® Locking System
- Aqua-base Underlay
- Recycles 100% of the water used in production
- Uses limited raw materials
- 26 wood grain options plus additional stone designs
Cons of Aqua Step
- The homeowner will need to seal the perimeter.
Why Is Laminate Flooring Susceptible to Water Damage?
Laminate flooring is usually composed of four layers fused into one plank unit using a lamination process.
Wear Layer
The top-most layer is the wear layer, which is clear. This layer prevents minor damage, like stains, scuffs, and fading, from reaching the next layer. Some wear layers are textured to mimic wood, vinyl, or stone, and some are smooth and glossy. We will touch on how to strengthen this layer to hold up against your dog’s nails a little later.
Design Layer
Below the wear layer, you will find the design layer. The manufacturer prints this layer with a design that makes your flooring visually appealing to you and your sense of style. It can be any color and may resemble wood, tile, or stone. Since the image is photographic, the flooring will appear to be textured even though the design layer is smooth.
Core Layer
The third layer down is the core layer. This layer is the thickest and gives the flooring its strength. It protects the flooring plank from sustaining more severe damage, such as dents. This layer is usually composed of wood composite particleboard. Because of its strength, durability, and low cost, companies often use particleboards to make ready-to-assemble furniture, such as computer desks, bookcases, armoires, and more.
Although particleboard is strong, it has one weakness. That weakness is water. When particleboard gets wet, it absorbs the moisture and tends to warp. Water also weakens the bond that holds the pressed wood together.
Standing water can seep down between two planks or between the planks and the walls to reach the core layer. Seepage happens even more often when changing humidity levels cause the planks to expand and shrink.
Back Layer
The last layer that sits at the very bottom is the back layer. It gives the core layer support and helps it keep its integrity should the core layer get wet. It also stands between the core layer and any moisture that may make its way down underneath the planks.
Read more about in my Laminate Flooring Buying Guide.
How Can I Make My Laminate Floors More Water-Resistant?
Experts widely recommend that you pick up any liquid from your laminate floors as quickly as possible. Such water could include water splashed from your kitchen or bathroom sinks. It could also result from a spilled drink, a water fight between your children, or an accident courtesy of your dog.
Either way, every minute the liquid sits on the seams dramatically increases your chances of having water damage to your floor.
Watch this video to learn how this homeowner uses a DIY trick using tea lights to make his laminate flooring more water-resistant in his kitchen and bathroom:
He did not need to spend a lot of money, only a little of his time. No special tools are required. All he needed was some tealight candles and a microfiber cloth.
If you would like to try this trick to give yourself a little more time to pick up standing water off your laminate flooring, you will need some unscented candles. These tea candles are brown-colored but are also unscented. They may work well if you have floors that are a warm tone.
Also, grab this 12-pack of Dry Rite Best Magic Microfiber Cloths to help you buff your floor and to work the wax into those crevices.
How Can I Make My Laminate Floors Waterproof?
If you want waterproof laminate flooring but are not ready to replace your existing laminate, then there are some things you can try.
- You can apply a silicone sealant to every place where you see a crack between the planks and between the walls and planks.
- The second thing you can do here is to apply polyurethane over your entire floor after the silicone sealant has dried and set correctly. You will need two complete coats of polyurethane to make your laminate flooring waterproof. Any less would only make it water-resistant.
NOTE: You would need to be sure to get the entire perimeter of the room covered , which may require you to remove baseboards and anything else that might be covering the space between the floor and the walls.
There are some disadvantages to applying polyurethane to laminate floors that you should consider.
- Putting a topcoat on laminate may not be recommended by the manufacturer.
- Not following the manufacturer’s care instructions could void the warranty on your flooring. If your flooring is new, then you may not want to invalidate the warranty. If the contract has expired already, then you have nothing to lose.
Does Waterproof Laminate Flooring Exist?
Not too long ago, the answer to this question would have been a flat out no. Over the past few years, waterproof laminate began to debut from multiple brands. It’s essential to know the difference between water-resistant and waterproof laminate flooring. Some businesses seem to use the terms interchangeably in their product descriptions freely. Do your research before you purchase.
With technological advances, waterproof laminate flooring has become available to home and business owners.
Mostly, flooring companies use a combination of tight-fitting joints that have no space for water to seep through. Then they combine the tight-fitting joints with a newly developed waterproof finish.
How to Make Laminate Floors More Resistant to Scuffs and Scratches
Now that you’ve been able to safeguard your laminate flooring against pet urine and other liquids, you will want to protect your floors against scratches from your dog’s nails.
Even if you keep your dog’s nails trimmed or walk your dog on pavement daily, your dog can still scratch your floor just from walking about, especially if your dog is heavier in weight.
In addition to putting felt pads on the feet of your furniture and not wearing shoes inside your home, you can apply extra protection to your laminate floors. A product like the highly-rated Rejuvenate All Floors Restorer and Polish is safe for laminate floors. This floor care product is affordable and easy to use.
After clearing your floor of dirt, dust, other debris, and stains, you can use a microfiber mop to apply this Rejuvenate product to your laminate floors.
This floor polish fills in the tiny scratches on the top layer of your flooring and helps to prevent new ones. It dries in just 45 minutes, but the protection lasts for 3 to 6 months.
Final Thoughts
Among our 4 top picks, the Mannington brand and its Restoration Collection is the best laminate flooring brand for dogs overall. It seems to be a forward-thinking brand that wants to go above and beyond when developing an excellent product for its customers.
Whether you decide to keep your existing laminate flooring or to take the leap to purchase new flooring, waterproof and scratch-resistant laminate is something you should not be willing to compromise.
