I love hardwood floors and want them in my house, but I also love my dogs, can I have both? This is a question we get asked more often than you may think. And the answer is, you can have both but there are a few things to consider.
First, it is very important to keep your dog's claws trimmed. Keeping your dog's nails trimmed will go a long way in protecting any floor covering your home, including hardwood floors.
The second important thing to consider is the type of hardwood floor you choose. Different species of wood have different hardness. If you are an owner of large dog's you need to consider a wood species that is harder, making it more resistant to damage from the large dogs.
Another thing to consider when having a hardwood floor installed in your home is the type of finish applied to your floor. There are finishes that dry harder and provide better protection. Having a harder finish applied to your floor will help protect the wood from your active dog.
You can also consider traffic patterns in your home. Often damage happens from a dog running and "sliding" around corners. Controlling the flow of traffic across your floor will help decrease the damage caused to your floor. You can also place area rugs in high traffic areas helping to reduce the risk of damage to your floor.
Here at The Ohio Floor Company, we understand how much your dogs mean to you, as well as how much of an investment your new hardwood floor is. With some planning and small efforts from the pet owner, you can enjoy both your dog and your hardwood floors.