Dogs and Hardwood Floors
Dogs can do a lot of damage to any style of flooring, like scratches and urine stains. That's a fact.
And they produce or stir up a great deal of dust, dirt, dander, shedding, fleas, ticks and odor you wouldn't have to deal with in a pet-free home. Another fact. Dogs and hardwood floors get along just fine.
So as a dog owner, I believe your flooring choice should reflect two main factors:
Here's why ...
Moisture damage from spills or pet urine can occur on laminate, engineered wood or hardwood flooring if it isn't wiped up fairly quickly. Yet, hardwood floors are the only type that can be fully restored in most cases.
Hardwood can be sanded and refinished like new again, over and over and over again, for generations of pets and children.
Floors, just like the houses they are installed in, are meant to be used, enjoyed, and lived on. Hardwood doesn't highlight little dings, dents and nicks like other flooring - in fact, if they are noticeable at all, they often add to the character and charm of the wood.
Hardwood floors are a healthy and practical choice for homeowners with pets!
Tips for wood floor pet owners
Our beloved dogs FAVOR lounging on the insulating effects of hardwood floors, which keep your rooms cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter! Recommended items for hardwood floor dog owners:
Urine Stains on Hardwood Floors The remedy for removing urine and vomit stains is to a) cover them up with a rug or furniture, b) hire a wood floor contractor to cut out and remove the stained wood, then patch and repair the area or c) sand and refinish the floor.
These are NOT the remedies homeowners hope for! They want a miracle cure ... an inexpensive, quick fix. And retailers know this, so they create products aimed at wood floor owners with pet stains.
Some of these products may work to a certain extent - but I warn you, your wood floor will not be restored. These products might change the color of the wood from a dark black to a greenish hue, or a lighter black that seems to blend better with the real wood color. Never-the-less, you are still left with a stain, with discolored wood, with permanent damage.
Prevention is first and foremost If you have a puppy in training or a dog with incontinence (i.e. a loss of bladder control) for example, be proactive about touring the house two or three times a day to wipe up leaks and puddles so they don't have a chance to stain the floor. For odors, place a bowl of vinegar at the stain site and this will usually help absorb them.
The Old House Web has detailed instructions on how to bleach stains on wood floors using a toxic mixture of Hydrogen Peroxide and Sodium Hydroxide. Something like this may be your last resort hope prior to sanding and refinishing the entire floor. The area must be free of all finish so you are working with bare wood.
It requires that you dissolve and scrape off the finish, sand off any remaining finish, and then sand the wood itself that's been stained. Hopefully the stain isn't too deep. Once you've sanded out the stain and smoothed the area of the floor, clean it thoroughly to ensure it is dust-free, and then refinish the area with polyurethane or your preferred finishing product.
This project will require a few days as there is overnight drying time involved. Be very careful of the area surrounding the stain so that it doesn't become damaged from water or other liquids.
Dogs can do a lot of damage to any style of flooring, like scratches and urine stains. That's a fact.
And they produce or stir up a great deal of dust, dirt, dander, shedding, fleas, ticks and odor you wouldn't have to deal with in a pet-free home. Another fact. Dogs and hardwood floors get along just fine.
So as a dog owner, I believe your flooring choice should reflect two main factors:
- Ease in cleaning and repair
- Health of your family
Here's why ...
- Carpet confines animal dander, shedding, fleas, ticks, dust and dirt, and odor. Pet stains are extremely difficult to clean and really never go away. Dogs have oils on their skin that can transfer to the carpet and cause damage. Cats often prefer shredding the carpet with their claws rather than using a scratching post. The carpet will wear faster and need to be replaced.
- Laminate is permanently damaged by scratches, chips and dents made by your pets.
- Engineered wood can only be sanded, to repair scratches and the like, generally one to three times ... and then it will need to be replaced.
Moisture damage from spills or pet urine can occur on laminate, engineered wood or hardwood flooring if it isn't wiped up fairly quickly. Yet, hardwood floors are the only type that can be fully restored in most cases.
Hardwood can be sanded and refinished like new again, over and over and over again, for generations of pets and children.
Floors, just like the houses they are installed in, are meant to be used, enjoyed, and lived on. Hardwood doesn't highlight little dings, dents and nicks like other flooring - in fact, if they are noticeable at all, they often add to the character and charm of the wood.
Hardwood floors are a healthy and practical choice for homeowners with pets!
Tips for wood floor pet owners
- Clip your pets nails regularly
- Wipe up urine and other liquids as quickly as possible
- Keep water bowls off the floor (use a rug or riser)
Our beloved dogs FAVOR lounging on the insulating effects of hardwood floors, which keep your rooms cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter! Recommended items for hardwood floor dog owners:
Urine Stains on Hardwood Floors The remedy for removing urine and vomit stains is to a) cover them up with a rug or furniture, b) hire a wood floor contractor to cut out and remove the stained wood, then patch and repair the area or c) sand and refinish the floor.
These are NOT the remedies homeowners hope for! They want a miracle cure ... an inexpensive, quick fix. And retailers know this, so they create products aimed at wood floor owners with pet stains.
Some of these products may work to a certain extent - but I warn you, your wood floor will not be restored. These products might change the color of the wood from a dark black to a greenish hue, or a lighter black that seems to blend better with the real wood color. Never-the-less, you are still left with a stain, with discolored wood, with permanent damage.
Prevention is first and foremost If you have a puppy in training or a dog with incontinence (i.e. a loss of bladder control) for example, be proactive about touring the house two or three times a day to wipe up leaks and puddles so they don't have a chance to stain the floor. For odors, place a bowl of vinegar at the stain site and this will usually help absorb them.
The Old House Web has detailed instructions on how to bleach stains on wood floors using a toxic mixture of Hydrogen Peroxide and Sodium Hydroxide. Something like this may be your last resort hope prior to sanding and refinishing the entire floor. The area must be free of all finish so you are working with bare wood.
It requires that you dissolve and scrape off the finish, sand off any remaining finish, and then sand the wood itself that's been stained. Hopefully the stain isn't too deep. Once you've sanded out the stain and smoothed the area of the floor, clean it thoroughly to ensure it is dust-free, and then refinish the area with polyurethane or your preferred finishing product.
This project will require a few days as there is overnight drying time involved. Be very careful of the area surrounding the stain so that it doesn't become damaged from water or other liquids.
