Pet owners can have beautiful hardwood floors with a little bit of preparation and some simple solutions to prevent damage.
Maintaining hardwood floors requires some special attention and treatment, no matter what home they are installed in. However, this task can be a little more difficult for pet owners (or parents or small children). Pet owners can maintain their hardwood floors by taking some extra steps before and during installation and doing some simple things to keep claws from becoming a problem.
Choose Wisely
Choose hardwood flooring options that can effectively hide damage better. Choosing distressed hardwood is one option that works well, and woods with a strong grain also tend to be more effective at making minor damage less visible. It’s also a good idea to look at Janka ratings—the higher the rating, the harder the wood. Choose harder woods that are more difficult to damage, and stay well away from any soft woods.
Apply a Finish
Applying a surface finish is a great way pet owners can protect their hardwood floors. In truth, a surface finish protects a wood floor from all kinds of damage, so anyone with a hardwood floor should consider a finish.
When it comes to finishes, a gloss finish can be incredibly luxurious. However, gloss finishes don’t hide damage as well as low-sheen finishes do. A gloss finish is best reserved for low-traffic areas of the home where the floor won’t be subject to a lot of potential damage. A low-sheen finish, such as satin or matte, is the best option for pet owners to maintain their hardwood floors.
It’s also a good idea to apply several coats of finish. When you have a finish applied to your hardwood floors, any damage is happening to the finish instead of the wood itself. More layers of finish mean more protection for your wood floors—just be mindful of how much you’re adding, and don’t overdo it.
Add Rugs
Setting down rugs and runners is a good idea, even if you don’t have any pets. That said, pet owners can maintain their hardwood floors more easily by adding rugs and runners to high-traffic areas of the home and anywhere their pets frequent. This is also important for dog owners because some dogs find it difficult to walk on hardwood floors, and they’ll appreciate the stability rugs and runners offer them.
Trim Their Nails
If you are a dog owner, you likely already know how important it is to keep your pup’s nails trimmed. This doesn’t just benefit their health and keep them comfortable, it can also help to protect your hardwood floors from damage. Dogs love to run around and stomp their paws, which will be a big problem for your hardwood flooring if they have sharp, overgrown nails.
Hardwood Flooring from Jason Brown Wood Floors
At Jason Brown Wood Floors, our commitment to quality installation is clear in all that we do, which is why our customers consistently rate us as one of the top contractors in the region. We have been awarded Baltimore Magazine’s Best of Baltimore Award 4 times and have been proudly serving the Baltimore Area for over 16 years. If you’re ready to speak with someone about your hardwood flooring project, we want to hear from you! Contact us at 410-668-9131 or send us a message here.
Jason Brown Wood Floors is also your convenient dealer of high-quality, professional-grade power tools. We offer brands that tradespeople trust most for the job. Come check out our Abingdon showroom to browse the in-stock selection of products and tools by Festool, Freud, Diablo, Shaper, Mirka, Makita, Saw Stop, and Grex.
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