9 Best Hardwood Flooring Options for Pet Owners

9 Best Hardwood Flooring Options for Pet Owners

It is no secret that pets and hardwood flooring do not go together. And since declawing your furry babies is out of the question, it all comes down to adjusting your floors to their needs.

But that doesn’t mean you have to give up on your dreams of having beautiful hardwood floors. There are some amazing hardwood flooring options you can count on to withstand the abuse your pets shower on them, so to speak. Understanding their quality will help you decide which is best for your home.

 

Ideal Pet-Friendly Hardwood Flooring Options

Wood is never a great choice for home flooring if you have pets. But the temptation to own beautiful hardwood floors can be overwhelming. So, avoid softwoods and go with these options.

 

1. Ipe or Brazilian Walnut

Brazilian hardwood flooring is dense enough to be used on your outdoor deck. With a Janka rating of 3510, it can withstand anything, from high foot traffic to the claws of your pets. This beautiful exotic hardwood has a medium to darker brown shade, like mahogany. It also ages gracefully and is naturally resistant to fire, rot, and insects.

2. Brazilian Redwood

Also known as massaranduba, Brazilian redwood is a little below ipe on the Janka scale, at 3190. This gorgeous and durable hardwood is a frequent choice for both flooring and decks. Its colour varies from light to dark brownish-red, and its grains can be straight, a bit wavy, or interlocked. It is a suitable flooring option no matter how many pets you have.

3. Caribbean Cherry

Caribbean cherry is a dense, open-pored, and reddish hardwood with a Janka rating of 3100, and is one of the few hardwoods you can use as a flooring option if you have pets. It comes in a wide range of colours, varying from yellow or tan to medium brown to deep dark reds. Its colour depends on the climate and soil in which the tree was grown.

4. Bloodwood

Also known as Satine, bloodwood is one of the most popular imported hardwoods, with a Janka rating of 2900. It comes in a bright vivid red that can turn to dark red or dark brown when exposed to light.

It has a fine, natural texture and usually straight and slightly interlocked grains. Using the distressed version of this flooring will hide the scratches from your pet’s nails, making it look like part of the finish.

5. Brazilian Cherry

Don’t get confused by the name. Brazilian cherry is not a species of the cherry family; instead, it is a legume species.

Also known as jatoba, it hails from the Brazilian rainforest and is a magnificent red or salmon colour. It can be very hard to install, so you will need to hire professionals. With a Janka rating of 2350, it is a good option for your home flooring if you have pets.

6. Santos Mahogany

You will find a range of variations between the boards of Santos mahogany. They usually range from lighter golden brown to a darker purplish red/ burgundy, which turns redder/burgundy with time. It has a good natural lustre, medium to fine texture, and interlocked grains. With a Janka rating of 2200, it is 18% harder than hickory.

7. Tigerwood

Tigerwood can not only withstand the paws of your pets (not tigers), but it can also turn your floor into of your home’s focal point. It has striking colour patterns that range from a light orange/golden tan to deep russet brown. With a Janka rating of 1850, it is exceptionally hard and durable. It is also resistant to water so can be used in damp areas as well.

8. Hard Maple

Hard maple is often seen on basketball courts so you know it can handle the scratching and sharp nails of your pets. It has a Janka rating of 1450 and is very different from any old maple. Hard maple is a specific type and is alternatively called rock or sugar maple. However, if your pet is heavy or super active, hard maple can be gouged.

9. Bamboo

You can also go for bamboo if you want something equally sturdy and gorgeous but not as expensive. Although bamboo is a grass, it is often referred to as a hardwood. Measured on the Janka scale, it stands somewhere between 1300 and 1400 which makes it almost as durable as hard maple.

You can also go for engineered hardwood if you want the look and durability of hardwood at a more affordable price. And if your heart is not set on hardwood, ceramic and tiles are the two best options. Contact a reliable store for hardwood flooring in Toronto to learn more about Janka ratings and hardwood floors that will stand up to your pets.