The Best Wood Floors for Pets

Many homeowners find themselves faced with the conundrum over whether hardwood floors are best in a home with pets. It's common knowledge that pets with claws tend to leave scratches in hardwood floors. Owners of large, heavy dogs can attest that their hardwood floors are scuffed and scratched in many high-traffic areas. Alas, there are simple solutions for people wishing to combine beautiful hardwood floors with pets.

  1. Choose a Hard Wood

    • Choose a hard wood that stands up to scratches and scuffs. Some of the hardest woods you can choose for your flooring include hickory, oak, cherry, elm, balsa and sycamore. Choosing a wider slab can also help with apparent scratches and defects. If your dog has damaged your flooring despite choosing a harder wood, sand the area and cover with varnish.

    Keep Up on Pet Maintenance

    • There are many easy, intuitive ways to maintain your hardwood floors. Keeping your dog or cat's nails trimmed is another way to reduce scratches. Don't place water dishes on hardwood flooring, as frequent spillage damages wood. Pet urine will also quickly stain and erode hardwood floors. Wipe up any accidents as soon as possible. Cat and puppy owners should monitor any incidents of scratching and correct the problem immediately.

    Go Green

    • Bamboo is an eco-friendly type of wood used for hardwood flooring. Bamboo purchased from reputable sources shouldn't age quickly and likely maintain its beauty for years to come. Also, bamboo is very durable and will stand up to the toughest cat claws or the longest canine nails.

    Hardwood Floors are Easily Restored

    • If you're still fretting over the coexistence of your pet and your hardwood floor, understand that the defective spot can be sanded and refurbished as many times as it takes. Hardwood flooring is desirable because of its durability and timelessness.