Not all natural hardwood flooring options are the same.
Cherry wood floors and dogs.
The top layer of finish on engineered wood flooring can be sanded down and then re coated to repair dog scratches and other damage.
It s more advisable to install solid wood flooring.
Protect your hardwood flooring from canine friends by using protective items in high traffic dog areas and otherwise maintaining a clean floor.
Hardwood species such as brazilian cherry brazilian walnut hickory red and white oaks and maple are ideal choices.
Opt for solid wood rather than engineered wood as your dog s claws are likely to cause scuffs and scratches to your floor.
Dark stains as in black labrador retriever dark are bad news.
1 place runners or types of long thin rugs often.
There are only two things that can ruin a hardwood floor beyond all hope.
Olive oil and vinegar this recipe has you mix cup of olive oil with cup of vinegar to create a natural wood filler for scratches.
These softer wood floors tend to dent much easier than others even when you do not have to worry about a dog.
Many of my customers have pets and they would love to have hardwood floors that stand up well to dog claws.
Even if your floors are sealed dog urine can still penetrate the wood and reach the subfloor resulting in discoloration and an ammonia like stench.
Wood floors and dogs don t always mix.
Some species to avoid when choosing a natural floor include pines american cherry and american walnut.
Floods are fairly rare but almost everybody has dog or a cat or a rabbit that will eventually leave a puddle on the hardwood floor.
Blunt broad tipped nails can still gouge the floor s sealer creating long shallow dents.
Some wood species are much softer than others.
When a dog is involved it is best to choose a flooring that is not soft.
The softer the wood the more easily it scratches and dents.
Can dogs and hardwood co exist and live happily ever after.
Trimming nails is not a comprehensive solution either.
It s a challenging question to answer because all hardwood will dent and scratch over time it s just a matter of how much and how much it shows.
For example do not choose pine cedar fir american walnut american cherry or carbonized bamboo.
Cat pee and dog toenails.
And since declawing a pooch is never a good option you need to adjust the floor to the dog not the dog to the floor.
Are pets always a deal breaker for hardwood floors.