Wooden floor, and pets
Having pets at home or considering getting one doesn't mean you have to give up your wooden floor.
Choose durable wood for your floor, such as oak, popular in our region, or exotic species like merbau or pressed bamboo.
Finish the wood with natural oil that penetrates deeply into the material's structure and creates a necessary protective layer. Repeat this process every few months to gradually increase the floor's resistance, smooth out minor scratches, and refresh the overall look of the planks.
Opt for light-colored wood. Scratches made by your pet will be less noticeable on such a floor.
Brushing the wood helps minimize the visibility of any damage.
Some dogs, and especially cats, use the floor to sharpen their claws. First and foremost, remember to regularly trim their nails. It is also essential to provide your pet with its own space by placing a non-furry rug or a special mat on a designated area of the floor. This way, your dog or cat will have its safe, favorite spot, and you will be sure that claw sharpening and animal play will take place in the designated space with the use of scratching posts.
The real question is, can we avoid this at all? Most likely not. Therefore, it is essential to wipe and clean your pet's paws after each walk. Another solution is to buy special walking boots. Regardless of our efforts, it is impossible to completely eliminate such dirt. It is more of a preventive measure aimed at minimizing the mess.
This is where the advantages of a wooden floor really shine. Unlike laminate flooring, scratches cannot be removed. They can be subtly masked using special markers, but this is not a solution that guarantees a perfect result. On the other hand, wooden floors are easy to renovate and only require sanding a thin top layer and re-oiling. After the entire process, the parquet looks almost new, not to mention that oiling can be done selectively, repairing the floor only in the scratched area.