Hardwood Flooring Selection Tips for Families with Dogs

04/13/2021

Many of us have pet dogs at home and we love them as an inseparable part of our family. In order to have a pet in the house, we make many sacrifices and special arrangements to make their lives easier. Proper selection of flooring is one of these important steps. All flooring types are not suitable for dogs. On the other hand, many types of floors tend to get damaged by the dog claws.

It is often said that hardwood floors are not suitable for houses with dogs. It is true that the presence of a dog is extremely likely to develop dents and scratches on the floor surface over a period of time. However, having a pet dog is no reason to avoid hardwood floors for your home. If you follow some simple hardwood flooring selection tips, you can also enjoy the timeless beauty of a hardwood floor along with your pet.

• First of all, please remember that there are certain types of hardwood that are not at all suitable for dogs. Try to avoid soft woods such as pine, fir, cedar, American cherry, American walnut, and carbonised bamboo. These woods will dent easily because of their softness. Ironically, these types of hardwoods are also very expensive.
• Instead of engineered hardwood, use solid hardwood because they are better in terms of quality. Also, engineered hardwood floors generally have a limited number of sandings.   Solid hardwood floors are also better because they can be refinished, in case there are pet stains or deep scratches. 
• Distressed hardwoods can be an excellent choice for households with dogs.  Some people love this stylised look, while some others may not like it. However, they are good for pet dogs because they can hide the scratches and dents to a great extent. Similarly, the dents and scratches are less visible in hardwood that has more character marks and knots.
• Woods that have a stronger graining are more efficient in hiding the scratches. Red oak is an excellent example of this.  Though its hardness on the Janka scale is only 1290, its strong graining helps hide the dents and scratches beautifully. On the other hand, with much higher hardness, Brazilian Cherry (2,350) and Brazilian Walnut (3,684) can’t hide scratches and dents as effectively because of their less and smoother graining. Another example of hardwood with strong graining is hickory. Conversely, maple, birch, Brazilian cherry, walnut and teak have smoother graining.
• Satin and matte finishes are usually better suited for houses with pet dogs. Scratches are more prominent of glossier finishes because of the light reflecting off the surface.
• Also, lighter colours are better because they make the scratches less visible. It is also a good idea to opt for a colour that is similar to pet’s fur.

If you still have any doubts or questions, feel free contact our experts at Enoak. We have an excellent range of styles as well as finishes to suit your furry friend.