Wondering what will keep your floors intact despite your playful furry friends? Dogs are important family members; however, we can all agree that they can cause some harm to the floor. This has kept many pet owners dilemmatic about what the best finish for hardwood floors with dogs is.
More than half the population of Americans are dog owners, most of them having at least two of these four-legged friends. It isn’t surprising that there is a growing need for hardwood floors with the right finish that can endure scratches and accidents.
Whether you’re revamping old floors or protecting new ones, the varieties of hardwood finishes available can cause confusion. Hopefully, this post will help you make an informed decision.
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Best Finish for Hardwood Floors with Dogs
We’ve done some research on various products in the market that can ensure durability and stand the test of time. Here are our top picks for hardwood floor finishes:
RUST-OLEUM Premium Polyurethane Finish
One of the best of its kind, Rust-Oleum Oil Polyurethane is a premium choice on our list. Although expensive, this product is excellent for giving your floor a protective coating. If budget isn’t a concern, we highly recommend picking this over others.
Rust-Oleum Oil Polyurethane is thickly formulated and packed with features that make it suitable for heavy use. It can take a while to dry down because of its thickness, but humidity and temperature dramatically determine the drying time.
This premium hardwood floor finish gives your floor a rich, satiny, and durable fish. It does not soak too deep into the floor or give off a pungent odor. So, you don’t have to take the trouble of putting on a mask. That said, proper ventilation is crucial for safety.
Disclaimer: You might not like this product if you already have a pre-treated floor.
- Gives a durable and shiny finish
- Doesn’t have a strong, pungent smell
- Enhances the wood grain and gives a satin finish
- You don’t need a lot of this product as it needs minimal coating
- More on the expensive side compared to other products
- Doesn’t work well on pre-treated surfaces.
Duraseal Polyurethane clear Oil-Based Finish
Another oil-based hardwood floor finish that promises durability and safety against dents and scratches is this one from Duraseal.
Duraseal is a trusted brand for providing hardwood floor finishes, and this product is among the best in the market. You can rely on it to make your floor scratch-resistant. It is a transparent product that deepens and enhances the wood’s color. Since it is oil-based, it prevents dirt and spills from permeating the wood.
The best part about this product is that you can choose different types of finishes based on your preference- satin, gloss, semi-gloss, and matte. You can also purchase it in 1, 2.5, and 5-gallon sizes.
The product takes about 8 hours to dry. You wouldn’t require a professional to do the job as it is pretty easy to use with clear instructions included on the label. One gallon of this product offers coverage up to 500 sq. ft. Therefore, it is a cost-effective option if you don’t want to spend a fortune on a hardwood floor finish.
- Offers resistance to scratches and dents
- Gives the wood a rich and deep color
- Available in multiple sizes and finishes
- It provides excellent coverage
- You may need to apply multiple coats for the best results and durability
- It takes a long time to dry
RUST-OLEUM Diamond Floor Finish
Those who aren’t into oil-based formulae will find this finish better. The Rust-Oleum Waterborne Diamond floor finish offers a glossy crystal-clear finish to your hardwood floors and shields them from scratches and dents.
This hardwood floor finish is made for highly trafficked areas, so there’s no issue, even if your house is a den! It provides superior protection from scuffs and abrasion.
Kudos to the chemical and stain-resistant formula; dog vomits, urine, or any type of excreta won’t penetrate the hardwood. It is an excellent product that ensures durability and wood grain preservation.
Since this product is water-based, it takes very little time to dry. You can recoat your floor on the same day, unlike other times when you have to wait for 24 hours for the second coating.
Another advantage of using the Rust-Oleum Waterborne Diamond floor finish is that sanding is not required between coats. It only requires a waiting time of 1 hour after the first coat to apply the second time.
- It allows re-coating on the same day
- Dries into a crystal-clear durable finish
- Sanding isn’t needed between coats
- Offers durability and high resistance to corrosion
- It has a slight smell
Zar Semi Gloss Interior Ultra Polyurethane
If looking at brush strokes after painting something is a pet peeve, you surely wouldn’t like to see it on your floor when you give it a finish. This semi-gloss hard floor finish from Zar ensures that you get a smooth application.
It has a self-leveling feature that gives your wood floor a smooth, streak-free coating. Since it dries within an hour and a half to two hours after the initial coat, you can get the work done quickly.
There are no problems with the Zar semi-gloss finish regarding durability. You’ll see that your dog’s scratches are impossible to appear once you coat your floor with this finish.
The only downside might be its overly smooth finish, which can increase the risk of slipping and falling. However, given its affordability, many buyers are ready to ignore that aspect.
- Dries fast and self-levels
- It is affordable
- Gives a durable and abrasion-resistant finish
- It does not darken the hardwood floor
Deft Lacquer Sanding Sealer Spray
Formulated for the perfect shield against all types of abrasion, the Deft Lacquer Sanding Sealer Spray is ideal if you want to protect your hardwood floor.
With 100% nitrocellulose in its formula, this spray hardens from the first layer. That means re-coating multiple times isn’t necessary to get the finish you need. You only need a little bit of this sealer spray compared to other products that require two to three coats.
A single coat of the Deft lacquer spray ensures protection from moisture and stain getting inside the wood. There’s no problem, even if your dog urines on the floor. That said, you can coat the floor a second time for a smoother texture and increased durability. Fortunately, the spray doesn’t harden or discolor inside the can even if you store it away for a long time.
The Deft lacquer spray dries in half an hour and doesn’t leave a tacky finish. Sanding is required for this product as it can leave a not-so-smooth texture after the first coat.
- Hardens quickly after the first application
- Multiple coating is not necessary
- Does not discolor over time
- Easy to use and effortless to sand
- Given its price, the spray quantity is a little small
How Do You Choose The Best Hardwood Floor Finish When You Have Dogs?
Before concluding, we’d like to give you some tips on selecting the best finishes for your floor as a dog owner.
Consider these aspects when you go about finding your suitable product:
Coverage
Look for products that cover a wide area on the first coat. It will make your project more cost-effective.
Finish Type
Gloss or semi-gloss finishes are suitable for those who want a transparent finish on their hardwood floor and aren’t particularly bothered about dents showing through. If you wish to cover dirt, scratches, and dust, we suggest opting for satin and matte finishes.
Color
While purchasing a hardwood floor finish, consider whether you want your floor color to be light or dark. While others give a light finish, poly products are known to give the wood a darker color.
Other factors you might want to keep in mind while buying a finish for your hardwood floor are smell, drying time, and if the formula is toxic or non-toxic for pets and children.
Conclusion – Best Finish for Hardwood Floors with Dogs
Protecting your hardwood floor by coating it with a durable finish is crucial to make it long-lasting. As a pet owner, you would know better about the damage they can cause to unprotected hardwood floors over time. Therefore, it is vital to give your floor a protective layer.
We have listed our top five picks of the best hardwood floor finishes. You can pick a suitable one for your home based on your budget and preference. Once you give your floor a coat or two of these finishes, scratches, and dents will be at bay.
