Are Hardwood Floors Bad For Dogs?

Welcome to a two-part blog about dogs and floors. Today, we are looking into whether hardwood floors are bad for dogs.

First, let us look at whether hardwood floors are dangerous to dogs’ physical bodies. In short, the answer is not really.

Old, Sick, and Disabled Dogs

When dogs get old or sick, they can fall and get hurt. Most of us grow up thinking dogs are bulletproof and tough as nails when it comes to rough and tumble actions on the ground. However, the truth is that dogs can fall on the ground and get hurt just like humans can. This is especially true of dogs with injuries or disabilities and those who have aged into their senior years.

Apart from the injuries that can occur by a dog slipping on a slick floor, hardwood floors do not seem to pose a physical, long-term threat to dogs’ paws, joints, bones, or bodies. However, the real discovery is how a dog living on hardwood floors could be affected emotionally.

Emotional Health

The most significant concern for dogs living on or around hardwood floors is their emotional well-being. This might not sound like a big deal initially, but the research shows us otherwise.

Most dog owners invest lots of care and resources into how their dog behaves. However, families all over find themselves stumped as to why their family pet acts up or displays unwanted types of behavior. They will spend hours and hours training their dogs to behave as they would like. They hire professionals to come to their homes to train their dogs. They might even send their dog to obedience school. However, not many people realize their dog might suffer from an instinctual trigger causing bad moods and behavior.

Dogs have trouble walking and feeling comfortable on most hardwood floors. They experience this because their paws and nails cannot grip the floor’s surface. This causes serious physiological reactions that affect dogs in different ways. Some breeds of dogs do better with the stress this causes than others.

Similar to humans, when a dog feels out of control or like they’re slipping, it triggers a response in their body and mind. It might be compared to the sudden rush of panic you and I might feel as if we’re slipping on ice or a wet floor. This type of reaction repeatedly occurring over a long period could dramatically change how a dog acts and behaves.

Veterinarians and animal researchers have begun exploring how these factors influence a dog’s mind and psyche. The results are astounding. There are a lot of “bad dogs” that are just ill-equipped to live on hardwood floors! There are ways to help your dog adjust, like keeping their nails and fur on their paws trimmed. You can read about this here.

The only real way to know if your dog would be affected by hardwood floors is by letting it try out a hardwood floor. You could bring your dog somewhere that has hardwood floors or install hardwood floors and see how your dog does. If you already have hardwood floors, though, keeping aware of if they avoid the floors and stick to rugs and mats might be a way to tell if they’re having trouble with them.

So there it is. Are hardwood floors bad for dogs? No, it seems that they are not. However, they can prove problematic for some dogs.

If you need help deciding what kind of floor would be best for you and your family, we would love to help. Please call us today with any questions you might have.

Hardwood Vs. Bamboo Flooring

Are you looking to renovate your flooring or update your home? Are you weighing the pros and cons of hardwood vs. bamboo floors? In this article, we will take a look at some strengths and weaknesses of both.

Pros Of Hardwood Flooring

Hardwood flooring is the most traditional and diverse type of wood flooring for most people and budgets. With years of being the industry standard, homeowners and investors will find the most options for different wood types and colors. Most people will also find that a majority of contractors and local businesses will be able to offer more help when dealing with hardwood flooring. Finally, more information and resources are available for the DIY’er looking to save money and lay their hardwood floors themself.

Pros Of Bamboo Flooring

Contrary to the name, hardwood flooring isn’t always tougher and more durable than bamboo flooring. Many hardwoods are commonly used for floors that dent and scratch easier than bamboo.

You have probably heard bamboo floors are the most eco-friendly floor options available. Bamboo floors aren’t technically made of wood but rather from the bamboo plants indigenous to eastern countries and territories. There are a few different approaches to using bamboo to make flooring, but bamboo plants are always easier to farm and replenish than the actual trees it takes to make hardwood flooring.

Cons Of Hardwood

Hardwood flooring will almost always cost more than bamboo flooring. Even the most accessible hardwood flooring options will typically cast more than bamboo. And if you’re like most people, the attractive hardwood flooring options that catch your eye get pricey. This price difference is something to be aware of when considering hardwood floors.

Cons Of Bamboo

Since hardwood flooring has been around for years, there are strict standards and measurements to rate the quality of the floors. With bamboo being a newer product, it is unfortunately not measured and ranked by the same standard as hardwood. So for those shopping for a deal, it becomes hard to know the quality of the product you’re buying.

Conclusion

It is impossible to give someone an answer when deciding between hardwood and bamboo floors, but we hope this will help you in your decision. Everyone’s needs will be different. So, getting a professional opinion from someone you can trust can be helpful.

Color Trends For 2024 For Hardwood Floors

As we enter the months of 2024, we see home remodels hit an all-time high! However, the verdict is still out as to what the housing market is doing, and people are still moving fast to get their homes to market.

Here are the color trends we have seen so far in 2024:

1. Dark And Smokey

This trend has continued from last year and shows no slowing down. Dark and light grey stains are still one of the most popular choices we have been seeing. We’ve also seen greys mixed with specific browns to give dark, beige looks. From what we can tell, dark and smokey floor colors will be around for a while.

2. White, Whitewashed, and Bleached

We have also been seeing a rise on the exact opposite of the spectrum: Light floors. Whitewashed floors were a popular choice in years past, and it looks like it’s making a comeback. White and whitewashed flooring creates a bright and clean look that makes a space feel very modern.

3. Vintage-Inspired

Finally, we’ve seen a move towards vintage-inspired colors and finishes. With the cost of original, reclaimed wood skyrocketing, many people are turning to creative alternatives. A vintage-inspired floor aesthetic makes a room feel unique and special. People are achieving this in a few ways. First, we are seeing more and more cerused finishes. Cerused, or liming, is used to open the wood grain up and contrast it with the selected base color. It produces a two-toned look. Another way people achieve a vintage look is by using various color stains in the same room. This is done by mixing and matching stain colors to produce an eccentric floor pattern.

We’re Here To Help!

As professionals in the luxury hardwood flooring industry for over 20 years, we have seen trends come and go. What is popular today might not be tomorrow, and a home-owner would never cut corners to jump on a trend that might cost them in the future. We would love to help you with any of your hardwood flooring needs. Please reach out to us with any questions!

How To Refinish Porches And Decks

Refinishing your wood deck, porch, or patio is an easy way to improve your home. It could even add value to its worth. Today, we want to give you a basic understanding of what it takes to transform a weathered deck into something brand new!

1. Prepare And Clean

First off, you will need to clean your deck or porch in preparation for your project. Your primary focus should be getting rid of mold, mildew, dirt, and grime. A low-powered pressure washer will work, but it’s not necessary. Instead, a stiff-bristled brush will do the trick. Just be sure you don’t scratch the wood. Once you’ve cleaned your deck, you’re ready to start thinking about the stain.

2. Sand

Next, you will need to sand the surface of the wood on the deck or porch. Sanding the wood will help your new stain and sealant be adequately absorbed. You will want to lightly sand the wood with an orbital hand-sander using 80- grit paper. Once finished, sweep or vacuum up the dust before adding any stain. Skipping a proper clean-up will only give you a headache later.

3. Stain

The last step is to add your new stain. It is important to know if your new stain has a sealant already mixed in. Most modern outdoor stains do. We recommend applying a second coat of stain, especially if the wood is extra absorbent. Be sure to think ahead and begin adding the stain in an area where you can work your way to the outside of the deck from where you start.

Looking for help?

Restoring a porch or deck can be a fun weekend project. However, things can quickly get out of hand and become overwhelming. In this case, it could be a good idea to ask for help before investing more time, money, and energy into a project than it’s worth. If you have any questions about refinishing a deck or porch, we would love to help you at any stage of your project!

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Best Types Of Hardwood Floors In 2024

Are you looking to build your dream home? Looking to transform your interior? Whatever it might be, finding the right hardwood flooring is essential to creating the perfect interior design. We know how important flooring is to your home, which is why we have taken a closer look at the hottest trends in 2024:

1. American Walnut

This soft and dark wood is a great choice for any home, offering a striking design that can create a beautiful interior. However, it can be prone to scuffing, so it might not be suitable in areas of high traffic.

2. Cherry

Cherry is one of the most popular forms of hardwood flooring and is an incredibly versatile option that looks fantastic in any room. It is important to remember that it can be photosensitive when first installed and will likely darken over time.

3. Oak

Oak hardwood flooring is the most common type of flooring in the United States, thanks to it being an incredibly durable and affordable material. There are also various shades and colors to choose from, allowing you to find the perfect style for your interior.

4. Maple

If you’re looking for a long-lasting and highly durable style of hardwood flooring, then maple is a fantastic choice and can withstand areas of high traffic while still looking aesthetically pleasing.

5. Vinyl

Looking for an alternative to traditional wood flooring? Wood effect vinyl flooring is a great choice for those looking for a durable and cost-effective solution that still has that beautiful wood effect in your interior.

Looking for new flooring?

Are you looking to transform your home with new hardwood flooring? We can help you create a stunning interior in your home, so get in touch with our flooring professionals today.

Deep Cleaning Is Essential

Eagle Hardwood Flooring is working throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. We want to assure our customers that we are working with caution in accordance to the latest guidelines; maintaining social distance and equipping our employees with masks, gloves and sanitizers.

The safety of our customers and crew members are of upmost importance to us. We understand the essential need our customers are facing to keep their floors clean and disinfected. Wood floors can be found harboring mold, asbestos, high VOC residues, and germs brought in from outside the home. We’ve introduced a new service to help our customers keep their floors disinfected! We use a professional wood floor washing machine that removes 99% of all germs and dirt. Our machine, the BONA Power Scrubber Deep Cleaning System, uses a hot water and soap mixture combined with a sanitizing solution.

We hope to help in any way we can during this challenging time.

NWFA Certified Wood Flooring Specialist

Eagle Hardwood Flooring’s showroom has every type of wood flooring, stain colors, and finishes that will suit your needs.

We use environment-friendly products without VOC, we have DUSTLESS sanding, and sand-less refinishing.

We offer professional wood flooring, cleaning, and many more innovations from the wood flooring world.

Our company participates in frequent training to remain up to date with innovations in the wood flooring industry.

Thiago Lima, the owner and founder of Eagle Hardwood Flooring is a certified sander and refinisher and a certified installer credited by the National Wood Flooring Association NWFA.

Our experience and certifications make it possible for all of our products and jobs to meet all required standards and rules from the organization responsible for the wood flooring industry in America.

You will have the certainty that you are receiving a final product and flooring job that will last for a very long time.

Invest smart on your wood floors with Eagle Hardwood Flooring.

Call us to schedule a meeting at our showroom with Thiago Lima, a specialist who will blow you away with knowledge and innovations from wood flooring industry! 1-844-EAGLE-NY