One of the most common questions we are asked is, “What hardwood flooring is best for dogs and pets?” As anyone with a furry friend can tell you, dogs and cats can do a lot of damage with their nails. Of course, if your pup isn’t potty trained yet, or if your adult dog is still prone to accidents, stains are another concern for pet owners who are considering hardwood floors.
Fortunately, hardwood is still a great option for homes with four-legged residents; you just need to know what to look for. To help you make the right decision, ReallyCheapFloors.com has put together a guide to buying pet-friendly hardwood flooring.
Engineered Hardwood Floors
If you have a dog or a cat, we suggest adding engineered floors to your home. Engineered wood floors are made with three to nine layers of different wood veneers. The grain of each layer runs in different directions, which makes engineered floors much more stable than solid floors. The sub-layers of engineered flooring can be of the same species or of different species, while the top layer is always high-quality wood.
The durability of engineered floors means that they can better withstand scratches from your pet’s nails. To make your floors even more scratch-resistant, we recommend having a tough finish applied to the surface.
Wood with a High Janka Score
When you choose your engineered floors, you will want to pick a wood with a high Janka score. The Janka hardness test measures the resistance of various species of woods to denting and wear. Janka scores indicate the force required to embed a 0.444-inch steel ball into half its diameter in wood. White oak and hickory both have high Janka scores. To research a wood species that you’re considering, check out the Janka hardness test for hardwoods.
Another one of the pros to a dense floor is it will be less likely to show damage from gouges and scrapes cause by moving furniture and other heavy objects around your home. The choice you make needs to hide scratches from not just your furry friend.
Hardwood Floor with a Rustic Look
Another thing to consider when selecting the best hardwood flooring for dogs and other four-legged friends is the style of the floor. If your furry pal is prone to scratching, you may want to choose engineered flooring with a rustic look. This can be a floor with a delustered finish that already has some texture or “stressing” on it. When you pick a floor with a rustic style, any scratch marks your pets make will blend in, because your hardwood already appears worn.
Tips for Maintaining Your Floors
Even with an engineered floor that has a high Janka score and a rustic look, you will need to frequently clean your floors to keep them looking good. Dogs and cats can leave a trail of hair, dander, dirt, and debris behind them, so we suggest sweeping or vacuuming at least once a week. If your pet has an accident on the floor, try to clean it up immediately. To reduce the chance of spills, put a mat under your pet’s food and water bowls.
Best Choice of Hardwood Floors for Dogs
Based on what we have learned, the best wood floor for your dog and other pets is a high-quality engineered floor made with at least 5 hardwood plies in the core. A veneer of Hickory wood, due to its high density will limit the dents and scratches that a pet can cause. I would also choose a wood floor that features some type of texture on the surface, like handscraping, so that I never have to worry about my dog damaging the finish on my floor. The choice that you make should take into consideration all of the criteria you need to satisfy as you work on building a place for you and your dog to be happy.
Purchasing Hardwood Floors
If you have any additional questions about what hardwood flooring is best for dogs and pets, don’t hesitate to call ReallyCheapFloors.com! Our friendly staff is always happy to suggest flooring for your home. We have a huge selection of discontinued, overstock, and seconds at competitive prices. Follow the link to view all of our collections of wood flooring so the choice that you make will be perfect for you and your dog!
