Hardwood Floors: Guidelines for Pets

Hardwood flooring is a popular floor choice; however, some types may not handle the possible wear and tear of your pet over time . This is because most hardwood floors, even the harder types such as Brazilian Cherry (or Jatoba), can be scratched and gouged by pet nails. But all pets are different and the amount of damage one pet can inflict on a floor surface depends on two things: the type of animal and the type of floor. Based upon height, weight and lifestyle, one pet may be able to wear down a hardwood floor in a couple of years while another may do little to no harm whatsoever.

Pros

• Keeping your pet's nails regularly trimmed, helps to minimize long-term wear - especially with large breed dogs
• In case of excessive wear, most solid and some engineered hardwood flooring can be refinished. Refinishing can help remove floor damage from pet nails and daily activities

Cons

• Some hardwood types dent easily so select a species with a high Janka Rating (durability rating) such as Brazilian cherry, cumaru, mesquite, Santos mahogany, merbau, and jarrah
• May expand or contract with changes in humidity or under standing water
• Slippery
• Can amplify noise (consider installing a cork underlayment to reduce sound)

Pet–Friendly Flooring Tips – Hardwood Flooring

• Add a hard urethane finish to increase protection and durability
• Frequently reapply urethane finish to repair small scratches
• Clean up spills, dirt and debris immediately
• Protect the subfloor with a moisture barrier or underlayment such as cork or foam rubber
• Keep pets' nails trimmed
• Put pet boots or nail caps on your pets to reduce slippage and floor damage
• Use non–slip rugs or mats in water–susceptible areas (such as under water dishes/bowls), in running paths, and in areas frequently visited by pets
  Note: Rugs and mats with a rubber backing may discolor hardwood flooring.