Hardwood Flooring and Pets: Can They Coexist?

You love your dog, cat, guinea pig, bird, chinchilla, or whatever creature you call a pet. You want to keep them in your life as long as you possibly can. You also love your house and want to give it the most expensive, long-lasting flooring around, which is hardwood flooring. However, you might have heard that solid hardwood flooring and pets can be a poor match, as hardwood’s moisture sensitivity and animals’ messy nature might mean that your significant investment can quickly become a significant wreck.

This might mean you’re torn. You couldn’t imagine parting with your pet, but you also don’t want that pet getting in the way of your interior renovation dreams. Is there any way that pets and hardwood flooring can coexist?

While it’s true that prefinished hardwood flooring can have problems with moisture damage when improperly maintained, it’s also true that with just a small change in your habits, hardwood can keep going strong for decades in households with pets. E Hardwoods & Flooring, where you can buy hardwood flooring online, will explain further below.

It’s All About Being Conscientious

There’s a reason why hardwood flooring is so popular: it’s tough. Made of solid wood, hardwood flooring is able to be sanded and refinished, which gives it a polished appearance each and every time. When properly taken care of, hardwood is a lot less vulnerable to pet damage than you might think.

However, while you don’t need to treat your hardwood flooring with kid gloves, pets still do make messes. As with many types of flooring, it pays to minimize these messes to ensure your hardwood’s longevity.

• Use mats under water bowls, or water your pet in a different location | Even if your furry friend isn’t a sloppy drinker, spills and scuffs still can happen. This is especially true when it comes to larger pets, like dogs. Hardwood flooring is not a fan of excessive moisture, so putting a barrier down helps it maintain its luster.
• Don’t let smaller furry friends run wild in the room |Ferrets, rats, mice, and guinea pigs are known for unfortunate accidents. Unless your pet is thoroughly potty-trained, consider fencing off your hardwood floors when you let them out to play. Wipe up any accidents promptly.
• Use only hardwood-safe products for cleanup |While it can be tempting to panic when your pet inevitably makes a mess on your solid hardwood flooring, keep a cool head and remember only to use cleaning products deemed safe for use on wood floors. You don’t want to make the problem worse.

Looking Into Hardwood Flooring? E Hardwoods & Flooring is Here to Help

Our wide variety of hardwoods, vinyl flooring, and nearly everything in between is sure to meet any of your flooring needs. Check out our stock here or contact us if you have questions.