If you have a furry companion in your home you may be wondering if there is a superior hardwood flooring choice. Trimming your dogs nails helps but if you have soft wood it can still be gouged by their nails. Some people choose laminate instead of hardwood but it can also scratch and cannot be repaired the same was hardwood flooring can.
Ipe or Brazilian Walnut is one of the hardest hardwood options out there. Exotics are generally the way to go when you are looking for a harder wood. Brazilian hardwood is generally harder and more dense than other woods and Ipe is a beautiful option. Ipe can also be used for exterior decks because it is so hard. Ipe is an exotic but is still relatively affordable for homeowners.
Hard Maple is also a great option for dogs. Hard maple is used for basketball and sport courts and can withstand a lot of traffic. Hard maple is a specific type of maple and also called sugar or rock maple. The Maple Flooring Manufacturers Association classifies hard maple as trees grown north of the 38th parallel.
Bamboo is also very durable. The strand-woven type of this flooring can test very high on the Janka hardness test. Bamboo is actually a grass not wood but within the flooring industry it can be classified as wood. The flooring is impregnated with lots of hard resins to make it a viable option for flooring. There is also a type of bamboo flooring that is called “Fossilized” and tests extremely high on the Janka rating.
In the end, hardwood flooring can be damaged by your animals but by keeping your dogs nails short, rugs in high traffic areas and choosing a strong wood you can enjoy the best of both worlds. Further more, if you choose a solid plank wood you can have the floor maintained professionally to eliminate and fill scratches each year.
You can read more about the hardesss of different woods. The harder the wood, the better for dogs. We also suggest a lower sheen, this will cause less light to diffuse on the finish and you will see less scratches!