New hardwood flooring adds a lot of character and value to a home, but if you have pets, hardwood flooring can become a ruined investment. If you have ever owned a dog or a cat, you know that accidents are inevitable. Nails rip into fabrics or hard surfaces, eating areas can get messy quickly and animal urine and vomit damage the finish and wood floorboards. All of these things inevitably wreak havoc on hardwood flooring.
Fortunately, there are some simple tips for keeping your pets from ruining your new hardwood floors. Accidents can be prevented with proper training of your dog, and in the meantime, be sure to put down training pads in the areas where your dogs have frequent accidents. If any accident does occur on the hardwood, be sure to clean it up right away.
To prevent scratches on your hardwood flooring, make sure your dog’s nails are routinely clipped and trimmed. Some dogs are messier eaters than others, but most leave behind some evidence they’ve been there. Some simple solutions include using heavy, stable bowls for water and food and a waterproof mat underneath to protect the floor. Cats are rarely a problem, but they can still have accidents. Again, just be sure to clean them up right away.
The Best Flooring Options for Homes with Dogs
Although no real hardwood floor is invincible, there are certain specifications you’ll want to keep in mind when it comes to choosing a hardwood floor for your home.
Pre-finished hardwood flooring offers a major benefit – a harder, more durable surface. Most major manufacturers these days use an aluminum oxide finish, which creates a stronger surface coating. This gives pre-finished hardwood flooring an edge over site finished flooring when it comes to being scratch resistant.
Surface texture can help hide scratches or dents caused by pets. Hand-scraped flooring is an example of a popular texture because it adds warmth and character to a room while also minimizing scratches and dents.
Hard wood species are recommended for busy households with pets. Different wood species offer different hardnesses. There are very soft species, like American Cherry, and very hard species, like Brazilian Walnut. Natural Maple offers both a beneficial light color and the hardness needed to stand up to busy households. Other light colored and hard wood species to consider are Hickory and Amendoim.
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