Although dogs are our beloved, pampered pets, they can be pretty destructive when it comes to hardwood flooring. Claws can leave scratches and gouge, urine can leak into and between the floorboards, and dirty paws leave behind mud prints and other debris. But you love your furry friend, so what can you do? The answer: pet-friendly flooring.
Rather than simply give up and accept the fact that your floors will always look less than perfect, purchase and install hardwood flooring that can stand up to the use and abuse from your best pal.
Here are some great suggestions:
Choose Hardwoods, Not Softwoods
It sounds strange, but not all types of wood flooring are equal. Some, such as fir and pine, are softer than others, so they tend to scratch, dent, and gouge more easily. This makes them unable to stand up to your dog's claws and other shenanigans.
Instead, reach for a harder type of wood. According to the Janka hardness scale, options like hard maple, hickory, and pecan are tougher, so they're harder to damage. Your dogs will be able to walk on floors made of this type of wood without you having to worry about the marks that they'll leave behind.
Cork Flooring
Yes, cork flooring is a very soft type of wood, and previously, it was discussed that hardwoods are better. However, this is an exception. Cork flooring is designed to have some give to it, so it's comfortable under the feet. This is true for both humans and dogs.
Since your dogs won't have to work so hard to gain traction on the floors, due to that softness and give, they are less likely to leave claw marks and scratches on the surface. The result is a comfortable floor for everyone, pets included, that will hold up over time without much damage.
Choose a Distressed Finish
Reclaimed wood is all the rage because people love the distressed finish, not to mention the knowledge that they're using wood that has some history attached and the fact that they're saving it from going into a landfill.
With that said, you don't need to use reclaimed wood to get a cool, distressed finish on your new hardwood floor. Choosing a distressed type of finish will hide any claw scratches and other damage left behind by your pups, so you won't have to have your floors redone anytime soon.
Pick a Lighter Color Stain
Darkly stained wood looks nice, but every tiny bit of damage shows up very quickly. Those gouges and pits will be hard to hide, and any additional stains left behind by your pups will only darken those areas further.
As an alternative, go with a lighter-colored wood (like a light brown or even yellowish-brown stain). Any dog-related damage will be slightly hidden and harder to see, making your floor look nicer in the long run.
Don't Forget About Bamboo
To be absolutely technical, bamboo isn't a type of wood. Instead, it's a form of grass. With that said, when bamboo is turned into a wood floor, it's infused with resin to make it very resilient.
This means that your dog's claws will have a hard time damaging the finish, and it won't be easy to gouge or dent. If you want a small alternative to hardwood flooring that will last for quite some time without a marred finish, then bamboo is a solid option.
Finding the Right Balance for You and Your Pooch
Pet owners know just how crucial it is to find the right balance between a home that's comfortable for their dogs and a space that looks nice for the humans who reside there. The key is finding the right type of hardwood flooring.
If you pick a version that's easily scratched and dented, you could end up spending quite a bit of money to have it refinished on a regular basis. Instead, pick one of the suggestions here from Hardwood Bargains that can stand up to the use and abuse, not to mention the daily wear and tear of pets.
Sources:
Understanding Wood Hardness Ratings | The Spruce
Best Wood Flooring Options for Homes with Dogs | The Spruce
What Is the Best Hardwood Flooring for Dogs | Low County Style and Living
