The Best Type of Solid Floors for Your Furry Friends

Many flooring customers have pets, and they would love to have hardwood floors that stand up well to dog claws. Can dogs and hardwood co-exist and live happily ever after?

Chances are if you’re searching the internet for the best wood flooring for dogs, your furry BFF has destroyed your current flooring. We get it! Dogs are sweet and cute and our absolute favorite, but they can certainly leave their… mark. 

But here’s the good news: with so many durable types of wood in the market, and at the same time there are many flooring companies in Gilbert AZ, they can surely help you decide the best type of hardwood you can get that is suitable for your little dog too. 

Things to Remember Before Choosing What Type of Flooring

• Use solid hardwood rather than Engineered hardwood

Solid hardwood is often better quality and most engineered hardwood floors have a limited number of sandings. It’s always good to have an insurance plan, and you will have stronger peace of mind with solid since you can refinish solid hardwood floors if you get deep scratches or if you get pet stains.

• Your Floor’s Finish and Overall Design

In addition to picking a scratch-resistant flooring, you should also consider choosing a matte or satin finish to hide some of the inevitable scratches from your dog’s nails. Small scratches will show much easier on a glossy floor when the light reflects off of it. 

• Installation Concerns

If you’re feeling a DIY project and wondering how to install hardwood floors, we’ve got to warn you… it may be best to hire an expert for the install. Nail-down and glue-down wood flooring planks can be difficult to lay correctly. Plus, if wood floors aren’t sealed properly, they may be more susceptible to water damage. This can be a big deal if you’re house training a new dog.

The Best Wood Flooring for Dogs

1. Brazilian Walnut (Ipe)

Exotic woods tend to have the highest Janka ratings, and Brazilian Walnut (aka Ipe) is no exception. With its Janka score of 3680, this wood is so strong, it can actually be used as an outdoor flooring option. Talk about durable! It’s definitely on the pricier side, but we think it’s a great investment. 

2. Oak: The Go-To Classic

Why is Oak considered one of the best types of wood flooring? Well, it’s one of the most common flooring types in the US. It has a Janka rating of about 1300, which puts it right around the middle of the scale. In fact, Oak is often thought of as the industry standard for hardness. Really, it’s a no-brainer. Oak’s easy availability and excellent hardness definitely earn it a spot on our list of best wood flooring for dogs.  

3. Santos Mahogany

Just like Brazilian Walnut, Santos Mahogany is popular, exotic, and extremely durable. It has a Janka rating of about 2200, making it more durable than both Oak and Hickory! It’s a great choice for Hickory lovers that want a bit more durability for their furry friends. 

4. Maple

You read that correctly—Maple is actually the go-to for basketball courts! And if Hard Maple can stand up to ten stomping athletes (go Warriors!) it can absolutely stand up to even the most rambunctious pup. Hard Maple is typically a very pale domestic wood, and its light color often draws eyes (and paws). It’s super strong, too, with a Janka rating of 1450. 

5. Bamboo

Ready to be confused? Bamboo flooring isn’t real wood, but it does have a Janka rating. And that’s because bamboo is actually made from grass! 

Not only is bamboo naturally strong, but certain manufacturing processes can actually make it even more durable. Non-carbonized strand-woven bamboo flooring has a Janka rating of 3000+, which is nearly 3 times as hard as Oak! And though bamboo isn’t “real wood”, we think you’ll agree that it deserves a spot on any list of the best wood flooring for dogs.