No matter how big or small,Pets provides us with various benefits such as having someone to accompany us,show us love and loyalty,provide us with lots of fun,and many more. However,sometimes our pets can be a handful,especially when they roam or play around our homes. One example Their nails can create scratches and long gauges to our floors.
This is why when building or designing our home,we must always consider the materials we will use for our pets so that the materials will fit with their characteristics and qualities. However,if you like to go with the material that suits the design of your home,then that’s okay.
So,If you are opting for wood as your flooring,then don’t fret. We’ve got some of the top wood flooring ideas that are perfect for your home with pets.
Top Wood Choices
Before we start,if you want long-lasting flooring against your pet then you use other alternatives such as vinyl,laminate,tile,or stone but not wood. This is because wood and pets are like water and oil. They don’t mix. This is because woods can get easily scratched by their claws.
BTW,if you are interested in topics like this, read more here.
Nevertheless,if you still like to go on with wood as your material,then here are some tips you might need to consider:
- Avoid using Softwoods like pine or fir as they are not very durable for household pets. ,
- Opt for super-hard species that have a high rank in the Janka hardness scale. ,
- Find pre-finished wood floors that have been stained and sealed with various layers of tough aluminum oxide-impregnated urethane finish by the manufacturer. ,
- No matter the type of shielding or surface preparation you’ll do will completely prevent it from scratches. ,
Below are some wood flooring options to consider:
Hard Maple
One of the most common types of wooden floors is Hard Maple. It is also a top choice by various establishments that have heavy foot traffic. It is often and usually used
as a surface for basketball courts hence why it will withstand heavy foot traffic. Its Janka rating hits as high as 1,450 which is an excellent rating for wood (Anything above the 1000 rating means it an excellent choice for flooring).
Make sure not to confuse it with ordinary maple wood as it is not as hard. However,despite its hardness and durability,it can still be gouge when the dog is super active. So make sure to take that into consideration.
Brazilian Walnut or Ipe
Ipe,also known as the Brazillian Walnut is one of the hardest among domestic woods. Its texture is hard and dense which allows it to be used for outdoor decks. Though it may seem pricey,Brazilian Walnut flooring is very affordable and can be purchased easily in any hardware shop.
Bamboo
Though Bamboos are classified in the grass category,It is considered to be wood in the flooring industry. It has been subjected to the Janka hardness test and passed with flying colors. Due to their manufacturing process,bamboo is very durable against pets. It has been covered with hard resins making it almost impenetrable by scratches.
A great example of this is Fossilized,which is a bamboo brand from Cali,scores an astronomical 5,000 in the Janka Rating while strand-woven bamboo flooring has a Janka rating of 2000-3000.
Cork
For those who prefer a softwood floor,then cork is a great choice. Its materials feature various pet-friendly characteristics such as being non-slip which is a very important aspect to lessen the discomfort of your pets. It is also impervious to hard impacts perfect for very active fur friends. Lastly,it can easily be finished and repaired in case it gets scratches from a pet’s claws.
Engineered wood flooring
Another excellent choice for wood flooring is Engineered wood flooring. It features laminated wood with a hardwood veneer on its surface. The only problem with this is that it can only take a number of light sandings until it is completely destroyed