Pets and Hardwood Floors: 7 Tips for the Best Results - Part 1

Some homeowners have the false impression that pets and hardwood floors are simply incompatible. Because hardwood floors can be vulnerable to scratches and stains, they assume their beloved pets might invoke too much damage. Fortunately, this is not the case. While it’s true that dogs and cats can pose some issues, preventative steps can be taken. And if done well, any homeowner can enjoy both their pet as well as their hardwood flooring. Understanding this, the following provides 7 beneficial tips for anyone with a pet thinking about hardwood flooring.

1.      Choose “Hard” Hardwood Flooring – While the hardness of your hardwood flooring may not be an issue for small dogs and cats, it can be for larger dogs. Their weight combined with the sharpness of the claws can result in scratches and blemishes over time. This is especially true for softer woods. As a result, the better choice in terms of pets and hardwood floors involves harder wood type. Good choices include Hickory, Oak, and Hard Maple. Poor choices include Pine, Cherry, and Black Walnut. If choosing your hardwood flooring for the first time, the type of wood is worth a consideration.

 2.      Go With Strong Grain Patterns – One thing many homeowners fail to think about regarding pets and hardwood floors relates to grain patterns. Hardwood floors with more prominent grains have the advantage of hiding scratches, hair and blemishes. This is an added bonus for pet owners in their effort to keep their hardwood floors looking great. Different hardwoods come in different grain patterns, and some grades offer more prominent grain appearances as well. Everything else being equal, selecting more prominent hardwood grain designs may be preferable.

 3.      Pick Lighter Color Hardwoods – For the same reason that you might choose more prominent grain patterns, you’ll also want lighter-colored hardwoods. Light to medium colors also tend to hide hair, scratches and other marks caused by your pet. You may choose a hardwood that is naturally light, or you may stain a specific hardwood a lighter shade. In any case, lighter colors tend to be better than darker ones when it comes to pets and hardwood floors. Do you hardwood floor installation austin?

4.      Invest in Durable Hardwood Finishes – While some homeowners choose to leave their hardwood floors unfinished, it is uncommon. Instead, most choose different types of hardwood finishes to provide additional protection. When it comes to pets and hardwood floors, a good hardwood finish is important. And in this regard, one that is durable and string tends to be the best. For prefinished hardwoods, aluminum oxide may be a good finish choice. Otherwise, polyurethane hardwood finishes, both oil and water based may be considered. These offer the best protections to your hardwood floors when it comes to pets.

Stay tuned for part two of “Pets and Hardwood Floors: 7 Tips for the Best Results,” which will discuss protective rugs, and tackle the touchy subject of nails and claws!