Tips for Pet Owners

Every pet owner knows that having an animal friend can bring joy, love, and companionship. Some people love getting home after a long busy day out and receiving a warm, cheery welcome from a playful dog, while others prefer the friendly gesture of cats bumping their heads against them. Whether they are big or small, playful or calm, furry or feathered, pets always lighten up our lives and homes; we love them, we take good care of them, and we always want them to feel comfortable, just like any other member of the family. However, there is one downside to them, sometimes they can be really messy.


Most pet owners have dealt with a number of chaotic situations ranging from trash cans laying on the floor to finding urine in the strangest places. Even though homeowners are quick to forgive pets when they look at their adorable faces, they often are unaware of how much these daily inconveniences can damage hard surfaces to the point where hiring hard surface cleaning and sealing experts might be necessary to restore them.

But, What if My Pet is Well Trained?

While owning a pet does not mean you cannot have a beautiful hard surface installed in your property, you ought to remember that pets have natural instincts which are fitting of other spaces. So if your furry pals do something to upset you, just remember they are trying their best to adapt to their current environment. You can also facilitate this process through training.

Training your pets can give you some peace of mind when you are not around them. The key to conditioning your pets to behave the way you want them to lies on having a good attitude and being patient. More often than not, you will see trainers using clickers, marker words, and treats as a mean to reward the pet after they have performed a good action. These are called positive reinforcements. Praising, giving treats, and playing with your pet after they get it right will make it so they are more inclined to repeat the action.


Educating the animal members of the family is not only beneficial to you but the pets themselves. For example, teaching them to stay away from trash cans not only helps you keep pets from making a mess or spilling harmful substances onto your surfaces, but it also protects them from the potential harm that swallowing or eating these substances can cause.

Overall, training pets can keep your pets and surfaces healthy, however, you always have to keep in mind that even the best-trained pets have accidents and that, even though you can lessen their impact by pet-proofing some of the areas in your property, you should be always ready to take action when necessary.

Is My Pet Comfortable With Every Kind of Surface?

There is no doubt pets are becoming quite common in homes. Whether you are thinking of renovating your surfaces or buying your first property, you can easily find out how friendly certain types of flooring can be to your pets. There are many things to consider, such as comfort, durability, safety, maintenance, and your tolerance for when your cat or dog might have an accident.

Here are some of the pros and cons of the common types of flooring when it comes to pets:

• Natural stone: this is an often-seen material among homeowners as it is both elegant and durable. Stones such as marble have the ability to keep your home warm through insulation, which makes it a great choice for your floors if you happen to be a pet owner. However, several other stones do not possess the same effect, which might sometimes cause discomfort for your furry friends. Also, depending on the stone's finish, it might be difficult for pets to move around the house. For example, while polished stone might provide the glossy look you are looking for, the pores on the surface have been narrowed, making it so pets cannot easily gain traction. Stone surfaces, especially the polished kind, are prone to scratches, etch marks, and stains if they are not properly maintained.



• Tile: this type of flooring has a few options, mainly ceramic and porcelain. They are a durable, easy to clean option if you happen to be a pet owner. Some of the cons are that it can be very cold and slippery for pets. Additionally, you have to keep an eye on the grout so it is not stained or worn-out by your pet's accidents or spills.



• Wood: this type of flooring is warm and beautiful. It seems to be a win-win deal – owners gain an outstanding surface, and pets do not have to deal with cold temperature. Nevertheless, wood floors are not very resistant, especially when you have playful pets running around your house. Wood is prone to staining and scratching, which is bound to happen an awful lot if you have bigger dogs at home. Additionally, it can show signs of deterioration shortly after it has been exposed to spills.

It is worth noting that it is not all doom and gloom with these types of surfaces. While it is true that every type of flooring might be prone to a certain type of damage, there are factors which can lessen the impact. For example, a small dog is less likely to scratch a marble surface than a bigger one, so realistically, having a small-sized breed run around your marble floors most likely will not cause any harm.


One thing to keep in mind, however, is that regardless of what you choose as your animal companion, the best way to ensure your surfaces remain in top condition is to maintain them.

Common Problems Caused by Pets and How to Prevent Them

No matter how well you train your pets, it is only a matter of time before an accident happens. Scratches can make your floors look bad, stains can result in dingy looks and bad odor, spills can etch your tile and destroy your grout. If you can think of any problem, we have dealt with it. At Sir Grout Charleston, we have years of experience working with home and business owners to keep their hard surfaces in top condition. We have seen how much damage pets can cause, so we are giving you a list of things you can do to preserve the lifespan of your hard surfaces and create a better environment for your pets:

1. Porosity is not an issue if you have a regular maintenance plan:
   Grout is not the only porous material on your surfaces. Most natural stones and certain types of tile are porous, which means they can easily absorb liquids. This makes them prone to etching and staining. Spills caused by your pet can potentially etch, stain, and wear out the sealant on your floor. To prevent these problems, spills must be cleaned immediately after they occur. We recommend using a pH-neutral cleaner such as Sir Grout's Natural Hard Surface Cleaner after wiping the spills away for an effective outcome. This cleaner is non-toxic and it is safe for everyone in the house, including pets. Keep in mind that scheduling Sir Grout Charleston's tile and grout cleaning and sealing services periodically can be a fantastic way to keep your surfaces free from all the dirt brought by your pets.



2. The effects of urine over calcium carbonate can be avoided with sealing procedures:
   Natural stones like marble, travertine, limestone, or onyx need special care. These stones are mainly composed of calcium carbonate. This means they are highly sensitive to acidic substances. In case you did not know, pet urine is highly acidic. Urine can etch and dull a beautiful stone surface in a matter of seconds, especially if it is unsealed. The combination of acidic substances and calcium carbonate often results in what is known as "pet stains." Grout too is affected in a similar manner.
   
   
   Pet stains not only affect how your surfaces look, but also how they smell. Sometimes the stench – especially from cat urine – can be very hard to withstand and to remove if it is not immediately cleaned. As such, we propose the best possible solution to these problems, the application of a sealant. Sealing your tile and grout with a quality sealer is the most effective way to prevent etching or staining. An appropriate sealer will keep liquids at surface level, making them easier for you to clean. You should contact our sealing experts to have a sealing procedure performed on your surfaces periodically. Whether you want a cleaning and sealing for your stone or a grout recoloring and sealing service to remove these awful stains, we will gladly provide them for you. We recommend testing your sealant yearly to check if your surface needs to be resealed.

Now you are aware of some of the measures you can take to prevent the most common issues but, what can you do to help your pet minimize the damage?

Tips to Keep Pet-Friendly Floors in Top Condition

These easy-to-apply tips can help prevent further damage to your hard surfaces:

1. Groom your pets:
   Something as simple as brushing your dog's hair and clipping its nails can help minimize the damage they cause by a lot. Nails cause scratches and excess hair can combine with dirt and cause hard surfaces to soil. Make sure to do these things regularly to ensure your surfaces remain in good condition.



2. Feed your pets properly:
   Not only will it make them healthier and even more appreciative of what you do for them, but it also will make their accidents less harmful to your surfaces. Also, improper diets can increase the loss of hair.



3. Use mats in every entrance:
   This will catch excess dirt and debris before they enter any room. You can also use them below bird cages and stands to avoid scratching the surface.


4. Place trays below pet cages:
   In order to prevent spills and pet waste from falling onto your hard surfaces, make sure to place a tray under your pet's cages.



5. Place a mat under food and water bowls:
   Food and water can damage your floors in a lot of ways which are often unexpected by most homeowners. For this reason, it is best to place a mat under the bowls to catch any spills.

Sir Grout Knows The Importance of Animal Pals in Everyone's Lives

Here, at Sir Grout Charleston, we know how much of a difference pets can make in someone's life. Therefore, we offer the best services in the market which can help make your home a suitable environment for any kind of pet. We hope that now that you have read this, you feel more at ease when it comes to letting your pets wander around the house. Keep our tips in mind and make sure to train your animal companions for a better outcome.


Have your pets damaged your floors, counters or walls? Do not worry! We have the necessary tools and expertise to fully restore any surface with pet-, human-, and plant-safe procedures and products. Sir Grout Charleston are the leading experts in hard surface restoration. Call us at (843) 920-6242 or fill out the "Request a Quote" form at the bottom of this page to schedule a free, in-home evaluation today! Also, do not forget to subscribe to our newsletter to keep up with our latest news and promotions.