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Dogs And Hardwood Floors

  • 08/02/2016

Dogs and other pets can cause havoc to a hardwood floors, with their claws, dirty paw prints, vomit and urine all being potentially disastrous to your wooden floor. Despite these dangers, it is possible for animals and hardwood floors to coexist in relative harmony, providing the necessary steps and precautions are taken. It is inevitable that your pets will damage a hardwood floor, but you can prevent and limit this damage, by following the step we are about to discuss.

The Wood - The wood itself has a huge role to play in how resilient your floor will be against the daily wear and tear caused by canine interaction. Firstly you want a wood which is strong and durable, and try not to make the decision based purely on the look of the wood rather than quality. Oak is a very commonly used wood for floors, is affordable, and strong making it ideal for flooring. You will also want to go for a light shade of wood, as this will reduce the visibility of any scratches or dinks. Alternatively you could go for a distressed look, so any scuffs or wear may look intentional.

The Finish - Now you have chosen the right wood you need the right finish. When it comes to floors there is two main finishes, oils and varnishes. Oil's are a very popular finish, as they give a natural look and feel, but they are not very resistant to damage. Instead you will want to look for a floor varnish, as these offer a hard protective coating to the surface of the wood protecting the wood below from damage. With a floor varnish multiple coats can be built up to increase protection. Always use a specific "floor varnish" as these are specially made for floors, and will be the best thing at standing up to your dogs. You can see a range if floor varnishes at Wood Finishes Direct.

Sheen - When you are choosing a varnish you will have the option of what sheen level you want. Sheen refers to how shiny the finish will be, you will want to choose something like a satin or matte as these will limit the visibility of any marks and a gloss finish will make these marks very visible. If you are unsure about what the best finish for you is, try a test are on some scrap wood or in an obscure corner and compare.

Cleaning - So you now have the perfect floor, finish and sheen, but the work isn't done yet. You need to ensure that your wooden floor is cared for and maintained to keep it at its best. If your dog is sick or urinates on the floor this could damage the finish, as well as the wood beneath, and should be cleaned as soon as possible. The same can happen with muddy paw prints, and general dirt  both of which could cause discolouration. As well as cleaning these as required, you should also have a regularly cleaning routine to remove any dirt that can't be seen. When cleaning your floor always use wood floor cleaners, as they are made to protect the floors and will not damage the finish like some other domestic cleaners. Apply floor cleaner to a damp mop or cloth and wipe clean after. You can find wood floor cleaners at Wood Finishes Direct .

Other Tips : There are a few more thing you can do to help limit the damage to your floor like keeping their nails trimmed, ensuring they are toilet trained, placing water bowls on a matt to prevent water spilling on floor, and put a rug or matt anywhere that receives excessive use.

There is no guaranteed way to stop damage altogether, but by taking these steps you can help reduce this damage, and help your dogs and hardwood floors live in harmony.

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