Natural hardwood flooring is a popular choice among homeowners for a reason. With its beautiful array of colors, unique textures, and patterned grains, simply having these materials in your home adds an extra layer of depth and charm. But when you have a beloved four-legged companion in your life, it’s commonly believed that maintaining these floors is a dream that’ll never come to pass. After all, between periodic accidents and scratches or stains, it makes sense that you could be hesitant to purchase hardwood floors when you’re living with Fido. Fortunately, you don’t need to give up on your vision just yet. These are the best hardwood flooring options for homes with dogs and how they resist damage from even your pet’s toughest messes.
Best "Breeds” of Hardwood Flooring for Dog Owners
As previously mentioned, hardwood flooring is among the most aesthetically pleasing options on the market. These materials incorporate the gorgeous natural qualities of real wood into your home in some of the most accommodating ways to your interior design. Certain types of wood, particularly ones that are harder and more durable, can actually resist damage from pets and make keeping them clean a much easier task for you. These are some solid wood species that hold up against the stressors your dog throws their way.
Hard Maple Wood
Known for its use on basketball courts and gymnasiums, hard maple wood is one of the strongest flooring materials on the market. Since it’s rigid and heavy, it has very high durability ratings and can resist most forms of abrasion. As such, your dog’s nails are less likely to leave scratches when walking around the home. This wood is also compatible with a diverse range of polishes to give you just the finish you’re looking for.
However, while hard maple can withstand most types of wear, it’s important to note that it can still gouge under enough stress. Because of this, it’s recommended that you refrain from playing with your dog in the house and stop them from running around.
Brazilian Walnut
Brazilian walnut floors, also known as Ipe, are also characterized by their denseness and ability to stave off different forms of wear and tear. In fact, they’re so durable that Brazilian walnut is one of the leading choices for backyard deck or patio spaces. This wood can even resist certain quantities of moisture, making it ideal for cleaning up potential accidents in the home.
In addition, Brazilian walnut has a rich chocolaty color that many homeowners find luxurious and desirable. Keep in mind that you might not want a wood this dark when you have a pet. Darker colors tend to make lighter fur and scratches more visible. So, you’ll have a lot more cleaning on your hands.
Red Oak
When many homeowners think of oak, they think of a softer type of wood that has a light color and beautiful graining. But red oak is a bit different. Coffee-like in color and much harder than traditional oak, this flooring makes for the perfect balance of beauty and practicality. Though this wood can still scratch under your dog’s nails, the multi-directional graining makes them much harder to see. As such, it’s a great option for those who want something durable yet unique in appearance.
The only thing to be aware of with this material, however, is its lack of soundproofing. While red oak is thick, it doesn’t have any additional padding when installed in its solid form. This’ll make the clicking of your dog’s nails seem louder than it would on other types of wood.
Northern Hickory
If you’re looking for something a bit lighter though, hickory might be what you’re after. Prized for its hardness, it’s a top choice for anyone wanting something durable in their home. The wood’s coloring adds a burst of warmth while amplifying the light within a space. Because of its strength, you won’t even need to worry about your pets leaving marks.
Due to its lighter color, it’s vital that you’re still prepared to handle dirt when choosing hickory. While this hue is a great way to show off the wood’s unique grain patterns and richer textures, it will still show any dirt or mud your pets track into the house. For this reason, you’ll want to keep an extra mop handy just in case.
American Black Walnut
Like Brazilian walnut, American black walnut flooring is resistant to moisture and comes in a deep chocolate color to bring out the feeling of luxury in any home. Since this color is natural, scratches and dents won’t readily appear on its surface, and its swirling grain patterns make you feel like the outdoors are inside with you.
On the flip side, it’s important that you keep the softness of the wood in mind. American black walnut isn’t as hard as many of the other options. So, it will still scratch and dent when exposed to enough force. Larger dog breeds pose the highest risk of damaging these floors. As such, you’ll also want to take your dog’s weight into account when making your decision.
Engineered Hardwood Flooring
As you can see, there are a lot of different hardwood flooring options for homes with dogs, but the possibilities don’t even end there. You can also purchase these same types of wood in engineered form. By placing a thin layer of solid wood on top of several engineered boards, you achieve a greater amount of stability and durability than the raw wood on its own. With engineered floors, you have access to all the benefits above listed, while also cutting out some of the most problematic drawbacks. Don’t worry about dents or scratches with an engineered hardwood floor, as the construction of engineered floors is specifically designed to be more durable. Therefore, you have a lot more versatility available to you than you may have originally thought.
You shouldn’t have to sacrifice your dream home just because you’ve opened your heart to a pet. That’s why we at From the Forest seek to provide individuals just like you with durable and accommodating flooring options. As premium engineered hardwood flooring manufacturers in the USA, we work with some of the strongest woods on the globe and we know exactly which ones will resist pet damage the best. So, if you’re interested in finally having the flooring you’ve always dreamed of, we’re just a simple click or a phone call away.
