You love both your dog and hardwood flooring, what should you do? Just because you have a dog doesn’t mean you can’t install hardwood flooring in your Pleasanton home or Danville house. There are some key factors to consider in order to minimize the chances of ruining your beautiful flooring.
Avoid Soft Woods
There are certain woods that are more prone to scratching and denting. The following are some that you should avoid:
- Pine
- Fir (any type)
- Cedar
- American Cherry
- American Walnut
- Carbonized bamboo (caramel colored)
Keep in mind that these woods to avoid are usually expensive as they are bought less often, despite looking beautiful. At the end of the day, these types of wood are not very practical for everyday living with or without a pet. The harder the wood, the better.
Solid Hardwood
While engineered hardwood can sometimes be less expensive, they usually have a set number of refinishes before you have to replace them or live with the scratches. We recommend solid hardwood for those with pets as it allows for more refinishes and they tend to hold up better over time.
Shoeless is the Way to Go
We often get frustrated with the damage our pets do to our flooring but the dirt, grime, and particulars in our shoes do more harm than any dog or cat. Thus, whether you are talking about hardwood floors, tile, or carpet, we recommend creating a habit of not wearing your shoes around the home.
Distressed/Grainy Hardwood
Many love distressed hardwood while many others find it very old fashioned. While it is up to your taste, this flooring has a lot of character in it to start with through its lines and knots. Even if you do not like the distressed look, a compromise could be getting hardwood that has looks more grainy. This allows it to be much more forgiving when it comes to dents and scratches caused by humans or pets.
Lighter is Better
The color of your flooring is often dictated by your house décor. Saying that, you should know that lighter colored hardwood flooring will often camouflage the problem areas better than darker woods. It is like how black colored cars tend to show dirt more than white.
Avoid Glossy Finishes
Last but not least, you should avoid glossy finished hardwood floors. Glossy is bright and stands out. Thus, any anomalies like scratches or dents stand out like a sore thumb. If you have a dog, cat, or even kids, we recommend getting hardwood floors with satin finishes.
Dublin Carpet has been a family owned business over the course of several decades and we strive to provide both traditional and cutting-edge hardwood flooring for all your needs. Please contact us today if you have any questions or would like to check out some of these innovative trends.
