StaceyMarieB's Profile

My husband and I recently purchased a new home requiring new floors. We have a 65-pound stereotypical (read: happy!) lab. Our goal was some kind of wood floors and have learned/been told the following:

1. Cork and bamboo floors cannot be refinished... only replaced. So they are not the best options for homes with dogs.

2. No wood flooring is "dog proof." If you do want wood, you'll need to accept that it will get scratched, scuffed and develop a "lived in" feel.

3. Hardwoods such as oak and hickory withstand dogs better than softer woods such as pine and maple.

4. Lighter floors with more natural variation (wood grain) don't show the scratches as much.

5. Prefinished hardwoods are ideal because they have a stronger finish than can be applied to unfinished woods in your house.

6. Solid hardwoods are best (3/4 inch) because they can be somewhat "easily" refinished numerous times... engineered hardwoods can only be refinished a couple times before wearing through the top layer.

We've actually decided to go with a pre-finished hickory... ultimately, talking to "experts" at local hardware and flooring stores helped us make our decision. I would recommend reaching out to them as well to find an option you're most comfortable with. Good luck!