Nobody wants to see scratches on their beautiful new flooring. The best way to avoid scratches is to get scratch-resistant flooring in the first place. Scratch-resistant flooring is even more critical if you have pets and kids living in the house.
Scratch Resistance is the property of a substance that is resistant to repeated rubbing or scratching. In general, it means the resistance of a (coating) layer or surface against mechanical friction.
Scratch-resistant flooring refers to floorings that are not prone to scratches. Typically, these floorings have a rigid surface that can tolerate pressure well. Scratch-resistant floorings are ideal for high traffic areas such as staircases and living rooms, and households with pets and kids.
Scratch-resistant flooring is an absolute necessity for anyone with children, pets and just life in general. However, finding the perfect floor can be a challenge with all the different flooring types on the market. Let’s take a look at some scratch-resistant flooring options to help you choose the right scratch-resistant flooring for your home!
Laminate:
Laminate flooring has earned its reputation as a cheaper, easy-to-install and durable alternative to hard timber flooring. It can also be eco-friendly depending on the sourcing. Laminate flooring has improved immensely over the last few decades and now offers sharper high-definition imaging, deeper embossing and better seaming mechanisms. It can create a timber floor look at a fraction of the cost!
The material is incredibly durable and can handle your pets’ ‘zoomies’ or kids dropping their toys on the floor. However, one down side of laminate is that it is not waterproof- if you spill liquids on this flooring, you must clean it up immediately. Otherwise, the base layer will swell if liquids seep between the planks. But this is where waterproof laminate comes into play (refer to our blog about Waterproof Laminate)!
Vinyl:
Vinyl flooring has been around for a very long time, and continues to be one of the top flooring choices- for good reason too! It is also affordable, durable and low maintenance.
Vinyl can mimic the appearance of timber, tiles and natural stones.
Tile:
Tiles are the ultimate scratch-resistant flooring with a tough surface that can tolerate abrasion and pressure well. Tiles are versatile, affordable, and easy to maintain and come in different shapes and sizes- perfect for any space and style. Tiles can be used outdoors and in commercial spaces as well. There are two types of tiles that you can choose from depending on your household and lifestyle: Ceramic and Porcelain.
Ceramic tiles are not as durable as porcelain tiles. They are not suitable for flooring applications as they cannot tolerate pressure well. Ceramic tiles are usually smaller and lighter, so they can be installed vertically as they hold against gravity well.
Porcelain tiles are more durable, heavier and larger than ceramic since the clay is packed at a high pressure and baked at a higher temperature. They can tolerate abrasion and pressure well and are suitable for household applications.
Carpet Tile:
Carpet tiles are a great addition to your already existing floors to turn them into scratch-resistant flooring. It is a temporary solution to protect your floors especially in high foot traffic areas. However, it’s an excellent option for kids’ rooms and play rooms as they will protect your flooring underneath as well as give your kids a soft underfoot and insulation.
You can also use them in home gyms in basements and garages! They are also colorful, creative, and cheap. You can even put them under heavy furniture to avoid dents and scratches on your flooring.