Engineered Wood Flooring
Now, wood flooring isn't highly recommend for pets as they are more prone to scratches, stains and water damage. But if you have your heart set on wood flooring, always, and we mean always, go for engineered. Specifically, choose an engineered floor that is scratch and water resistant.
Dogs and Engineered Wood Floors
The top layer of finish on engineered wood flooring can be sanded down, and then re-coated, to repair dog scratches and other damage. But this process can only be completed one to three times. And then the floor will need to be replaced.
Engineered hardwood typically lasts between 20 and 30 years. Because they do have a top layer of hardwood, like solid hardwood, they are susceptible to scratches. If scratch resistance is important to you, look for engineered hardwood floors with a scratch-resistant top coat.
Engineered hardwood flooring has it all! It is scratch-resistant, water-resistant or waterproof, soft underfoot, warm, and boasts the same beautiful aesthetic as solid hardwood.
Dogs—especially young ones—can easily can have an accident on a hardwood floor, but if you clean it within a reasonable time, no problem. Yes, dogs could possibly damage hardwood floors, but a dog lover will gladly take the simple steps to prevent that.
You may also want to trim the hair that grows between the pads so they don't slide so much on slick floors. When your dog puts the “poo” in pooch, don't panic. Usually feces are less damaging than urine to wood floors. Remove the solid waste and gently wash the area with a cloth dampened with hydrogen peroxide.
Small does will definitely ruin your hardwood floors. Don't assume that their nails are not sharp enough. They certainly are and will scratch and tear anything they get their little paws on. Protect your elegant hardwood floors by trimming your dog's nails, making them wear dog booties or even nail caps.
You can usually fix scratches on engineered hardwood floors using floor repair wax, fine steel wool, or wood filler. However, sand scrubbing is not a viable solution. To avoid scratches on engineered hardwood floors, cover the bottom of your furniture with pads and place rugs on high-traffic areas.
Scratching or digging is a natural behaviour which has evolved from wild dogs. I learnt that it is behaviour in their DNA. While we humans might think is odd, there are many reasons why our dogs scratch and dig. It could be a sign of boredom, nesting, security or even territorial.
Scratch-resistant finishes
Given that the actual surface of engineered wood flooring is the same as that of solid hardwood flooring, the two are both equally resistant to scratching. Instead, the main factor in their scratch-resistance is how they're treated.
Engineered hardwood flooring provides a special mix of durability and style few other materials can offer. If you love the look of hardwood, engineered hardwood may be the best flooring for dogs in busy, high-traffic spaces.
For a home solution, try hydrogen peroxide applied directly to the affected area. Pour the hydrogen peroxide over the stain and then cover it with a clean cloth soaked in hydrogen peroxide. Cover the cloth with plastic wrap, weighting it with a book if necessary. Allow this to sit overnight or for at least 8 hours.
Dog urine is typically acidic, which is why it can break down the finish of a hardwood floor's surface; especially if the urine is allowed to dry up. It might leave a stain on the surface, make it lose its shine and cause discoloration.
The most simple reasoning behind this scratching behavior is entertainment. That's right, entertainment. Some dogs are happy entertaining themselves, and find scratching and digging to be quite delightful. If your dog is bored or needs to release excess energy, he or she will look for ways to relieve the boredom.
Vinyl flooring is the best floor for dogs. It's an inexpensive, waterproof, scratch and stain resistant flooring that is also comfortable underfoot. Vinyl flooring will keep both you and your dogs happy.
Con: Maintenance
Hardwood flooring of any kind will take quite a lot of maintenance to keep its shine and lustre. Engineered wood is no different in this respect, therefore not particularly suitable to home's with pets or young children unless you are prepared to keep up with regular maintenance.
Engineered wood floors are “fake” and “cheap” compared to solid wood floors. For some of the very inexpensive engineered floors, this might be true. But a quality engineered floor will look and feel exactly like a high-quality solid hardwood floor. Engineered wood won't cup or gap.
Lifespan. If you properly maintain your engineered hardwood flooring, it can last around 20 to 30 years. High quality, durable floors can last even longer—up to 50 years—as long as they are diligently maintained and nothing has been done to significantly compromise the veneer.
One of the main reasons for a dog scratching the floor at night has to do with nesting. They want to be in a comfortable and secure location, so they will scratch before they decide to lay down for the night. Back in the day, dogs would do this in the wild to create themselves a small den to curl up into.
Wolves and all dog breeds have glands in their feet. These glands contain pheromones that get released when a dog uses his or her back legs and feet to scratch the ground. The chemicals that get released into the earth are absorbed into the area. This is also known as the way a dog marks his or her territory.