Tips For Making A Pet-Friendly Manufactured Home
Are you building a custom manufactured home? A manufactured home is an affordable, easily customized way to get the home of your dreams -- but don't forget about your furry family members. There are a few things that you can do to make your manufactured home better able to withstand the wear and tear that four paws can cause.
Install a Cat or a Dog Run
A cat or dog run is an outside, entirely fenced-in area that is accessible from within the home. A cat or dog run can be installed in existing homes, but it's best discussed during the original installation and customization of your manufactured home. This is because there are insulation concerns and because a certain amount of care needs to be put into any structural addition of a manufactured home (so that it remains mobile and has the correct permits). Cat and dog runs provide mental stimulation for pets.
Put In Doggy Doors
Make sure that your contractor knows which doors are going to have dog doors or cat doors installed. They can either do it for you or simply make sure that the door is suitable for that purpose. Apart from traditional dog doors and cat doors, there are also special sliding glass doors that have pet inserts and windows that can be used by animals for outdoors access. If you don't want accidents in your home, you have to make it easy for your pets to get out.
Choose the Right Flooring
There are certain types of flooring that are simply easier to care for with pets. Tile flooring and laminate flooring are both excellent and durable options. While hardwood flooring is attractive, it's also easily damaged with larger pets. Carpeting is affordable and can be easily replaced, but it also tends to get stained. There are also certain types of flooring that are usually preferred -- Berber carpeting can be unraveled by cats quite easily, but also makes it easier to clean up shedding fur.
Don't Forget the Built-Ins
One of the best aspects of building your own custom manufactured home is specifying your own built-in shelving, cabinetry, and storage space. Don't forget your pets when you're thinking about built-ins. For instance, a built-in litter cabinet can vastly improve both the appearance and the functionality of your home. Other built-in pet options include: leash hooks, pet food pantries, and an outdoor water hook-up for easy bathing.
Manufactured homes are inherently fantastic for pet-friendly families (and for those who have other considerations, such as handicapped or elderly family members) because they are so easily customized. Consult with your manufactured home seller or contractor, such as Country West Mobile Home Park, to find out more about your options.
