Do Dogs Scratch The Bamboo Floors? (Tips and Best Options)
Bamboo floors are beautiful and elegant, they add value to your home and do not go out of style. If you have a dog at home and are thinking of installing bamboo flooring, it is understandable that you may be concerned that the floor may be scratched by your pet.
Because dogs cannot retract their claws when running, it is very common to see scratches on hardwood floors caused by dogs of considerable size, for this type of occasions the braided bamboo floor, intermediate to high quality, can be an excellent option to withstand scratches from dogs of considerable size.
If you have a dog of considerable size, it is very likely that if you use a bamboo floor of very basic quality, the dog can scratch it, the bamboo floor can scratch it, the bamboo floor can be damaged by the dog and the bamboo floor can be damaged by the dog.
The bamboo floor can be composed of resin that gives it even more hardness and resistance to scratches.
In addition to the type of material to choose, there are several factors to consider when choosing a floor if you have a dog at home.
First of all, choosing the cheapest option of bamboo flooring will not guarantee quality in terms of resistance to scratches, and this is something obvious, the more economical the material, the less performance and hardness it will have.
The problem with dog claws and hardwood floors
Cats and dogs are the most common and popular pets in any home, although cats have much longer claws than dogs, they obviously do not cause any damage to bamboo floors because their claws are retractable.
Dogs, on the other hand, cannot retract their claws, and the heavier they are, the more friction they create on the floor which translates into scratches, and although a smooth floor may create less friction on a dog’s paws, the smoother a floor is, the more scratching it can cause.
Another thing to keep in mind when buying bamboo flooring is that some bamboo flooring from some eastern countries, which are usually quite inexpensive, may contain high levels of toxic chemicals, such as glues and formaldehyde-based finishes.
Keep in mind that direct and prolonged exposure to these types of chemicals could result in long-term damage to your dog.
If you have a dog, avoid using very slippery floors
Not only are the chances of scratching the floor very high as he will try to use his nails more in order to create friction with the floor, but also the dog could get hurt as he is unable to walk properly.
You should keep in mind that for bamboo floors there are different types of finish, you can tell right away if a bamboo floor has a very smooth finish and that could be very slippery for your dog.
You can verify this by touching the piece of bamboo flooring, or by asking directly in the store where you are going to buy it. In general, laminated bamboo flooring is usually slippery, and therefore it is not recommended in case you have a dog.
I have even seen in some cases that as an alternative to this inconvenience they use special anti-slip socks for dogs, these socks fulfill two functions, they prevent the dogs from slipping, and at the same time, they avoid scratches on the floor.
Although this would be a complicated task every day since it is recommended that dogs only wear the socks for a couple of hours, and not leave them on all the time.
Is bamboo flooring good for dog owners?
Bamboo flooring is a very good choice for friends of natural materials and those who have dogs.
It has more stable material characteristics than solid floorboards. It is water and moisture resistant, has high hardness, durability, wear and scratch resistance, and is easy to clean.
It has good thermal insulation and cold insulation properties, and some bamboo flooring also advertises antibacterial properties to prevent the growth of mold and bacteria.
The price of bamboo flooring is lower than wood flooring, and it has many advantages that wood flooring does not have.
How to clean dog urine from bamboo flooring?
It is recommended to use a high-quality toilet cleaner and wipe it with a dry cloth after leaving it on for 5 minutes.
Ideally, use a sponge to remove urine and the toilet cleaner or detergent you used for cleaning.
Ideally, wipe from the center outward to avoid buildup in the center.
The coverage time should be long enough to remove all urine from the bamboo floor. Once the absorbent pad has absorbed all the urine, it should be replaced.
This process can be repeated several times, in case you notice any stain after the cleaning process, you can apply a little water-based stain remover and a few drops of white vinegar (only place a few drops mixed with water).
There are other cleaning methods for dog urine on bamboo floors. Dog urine is alkaline. You can use specific cleaning products for floors.
Orange oil is a special product for removing traces and dirt from the floor and can react chemically with stains.
In this way, it cleans. At the same time, it can maintain and nourish the floor.
Avoid using organic acids, alkaline solvents, or gasoline. To clean the bamboo floor, do not put strongly acidic and strongly alkaline substances on the floor.
Classification of bamboo flooring and choosing the best option
Bamboo flooring can vary depending on the brand, but broadly speaking there are some distinguishing features that will help you choose the best possible flooring if you are really worried about your dog scratching it.
Let’s start with the simplest bamboo flooring, usually, the thinnest laminate, usually about 10mm thick, this type of flooring can be composed of two layers of bamboo.
Including a super-thin top layer of about 4 or 5 mm, this top layer is usually of some kind of oil or varnish, therefore, although it is usually promoted as a very resistant floor, this floor is the most prone to scratches and is usually slippery for a dog, although its finish is matte.
The other type of bamboo flooring is of intermediate quality, it can be more than 15 mm thick and has no thin surface layer of oil or varnish, but the top layer is made of the same bamboo which makes its surface much more resistant.
There is another type of bamboo flooring that is usually called industrial bamboo flooring, this floor is approximately 10 mm thick, but the only difference that they are solid bamboo slats, no layers.
The density of this floor makes it extremely resistant to wear and scratches, although the price is proportional to its quality because much more material is used for its composition.
Not everything that is called parquet has to be parquet. Often it is a laminate floor, which does not have to be a disadvantage after all. Especially not if the floor is to be laid floating.
Unfortunately, the price does not provide any information about the type of floor and its quality. Often the term bamboo parquet only serves to set the price a little higher without considering the advantages and disadvantages.
Bamboo floors are generally quite expensive, which is not always worthwhile for the user, especially if it is basically just a laminate with a decorative layer of bamboo.
Not everything that is called parquet has to be parquet. Often it is a laminate floor, which does not have to be a disadvantage after all.
Especially not if the floor is to be laid floating. Unfortunately, the price does not provide any information about the type of floor and its quality.
Often the term bamboo parquet only serves to set the price a little higher without considering the advantages and disadvantages. Bamboo floors are generally quite expensive, which is not always worthwhile for the user, especially if it is basically just a laminate with a decorative layer of bamboo.
Tip: The carrier layer of the bamboo floor should be made of a harder material. You can recognize a high-quality laminate or parquet with bamboo by the greater thickness of the entire panels. You can tell the strength of the parquet not only by the price. Even if the price per square meter is higher, you cannot necessarily assume a really stable, high-quality parquet.
Is bamboo flooring easy to scratch?
Honestly, although bamboo has a harder surface, many homeowners consider bamboo floors to be quite fragile.
Children playing or a pet such as a large dog, as well as furniture, can easily scratch the hard surface.
If it is parquet or laminate that can not be sanded, it is very annoying. That is why, in many forums, owners of prefabricated bamboo parquet complain about the shabby appearance of the floor after three or four years.