If you have pets, it can be a challenge to keep your floors looking nice, but there are things you can do to make the transition to hardwood easier for them.
We’ve learned a lot about the do’s and don’ts for homeowners with pets so check out our tips for sharing a hardwood space with your best friend.
Trim your pet’s nails
Most homeowners who have pets and are considering hardwood floors are primarily worried about the scratches their pet may leave on the floor. This is less of a problem with cats, whose claws retract while walking. To avoid this, keep your dog or cat’s nails trimmed to a reasonable length, either by cutting them yourself or taking them to a professional groomer.
Opt for hardwood with a large grain
Harder species of wood will be more likely to stand up to wear and tear from pet’s nails or other damage. A large grain option, such as hickory, ash, or oak will also help hide scratches better than a fine grain wood.
Choose light or medium colors
When looking at hardwood flooring samples, steer towards the light to medium tones. These can help hide scratches and pet hair better than darker colors. Pet hair can be a particular nightmare on dark brown and black tones of hardwood so choose a lighter color to avoid seeing so much pet hair.
Consider matte or satin finishes
A very shiny hardwood floor will show every imperfection, scratch, and paw print left by your pets. Look for matte or satin finishes that will offer more leeway in hiding marks.
Use texture for a rustic look
If you’re concerned about your pet potentially damaging your hardwood, you might want to consider flooring with a rustic look. No one will notice a few additional scratches and dents in this wood that already looks worn and used.
Add rugs and mats
Not only do rugs add warmth and color to a room, but they can give your pets some extra traction and cozy spots in large areas of hardwood. They will also protect those areas that your pets like to frequent the most. Also, consider adding a mat around your pet’s food and water bowls or litter box. This will protect the surrounding hardwood from any moisture or pet food that may end up out of their pet bowls.
Keep it clean
Cleaning hardwood floors is easy, but pet urine will damage your wide plank flooring if left on it for too long. Be sure to clean up any pet accidents quickly to avoid damage that could potentially require replacing areas of your floor.
Contact Oak and Broad today!
Don’t fret about getting hardwood floors if you have a furry friend at home that shares your space. Use the tips above to help them enjoy your new floors with you.
If you’re looking for the best wide plank flooring in the United States, contact Oak and Broad today. We will answer your questions, make recommendations, and walk you through the process of finding new beautiful flooring for your home.