Some floors are better for dogs generally, but your pet's breed, temperament and age impact what the best flooring is for you. Consider the location, traffic, and your priorities and needs before deciding. Scratch and stain resistance are critical factors for most people, while easy cleaning and dog comfort are also desirable. Whatever you choose, the best flooring for dogs is a durable one.

Carpet

Generally, carpeting isn't the most dog-friendly flooring, unless your dog is a well-trained, older dog, with joint pain or stiffness concerns, needing extra softness and traction.

Otherwise, there are several disadvantages to carpeting. They attract and trap pet hair, so you'll need to vacuum frequently and shampoo regularly. More expensive types may resist pet stains, but dirt, pet hair, dander and odours are hard to remove. Unclipped pet nails snag on looped carpets, potentially damaging the carpeting or nails.

If you still decide on carpet, choose a darker colour to hide any carpet stain, or opt for replaceable carpet tiles.

Laminate Flooring

Laminate is attractive, with the look and appeal of a wood floor, and is one of the best flooring for dogs. Although these artificial wood floors are one of the most cost-effective options available, the real advantage for a pet owner is the protective layer. This layer makes it a hard-wearing, scratch-resistant flooring that's easy to clean, and resistant to staining.

A laminate floor is warmer and more comfortable than some others for furry friends. With a pad and good underlayment, not only are these are softer, well-insulated, and warmer, they have good sound absorption. Textured options give pets the grip they need.

Ignored spills from water bowls may be absorbed or seep through cracks; however, cleaning up right away will prevent any issues. 

Supreme Flooring can install the perfect laminate flooring for you.

Vinyl Flooring

Vinyl is another of the best flooring for dogs. Vinyl plank flooring simulates hardwood flooring, while vinyl tile imitates stone, ceramic, or slate. Choose one with texturing for traction. 

Luxury vinyl flooring is preferable to standard vinyl floors, which is too thin for durability with pets; luxury vinyl tile and planks are sturdier with better scratch resistance. All provide stain-resistant, easy-to-clean surfaces, however. 

Because of the seams, moisture can leak down through, so you still need to mop up pet accidents and other spills quickly, or look for vinyl sheet flooring for fewer seams.

Bamboo Flooring

Bamboo is an environmentally-friendly, unique, stain-resistant flooring. Most options are tough, but some strand-woven varieties are extra durable. 

While it's one of the pet-friendly floors, there's a wide range in quality of bamboo flooring, so if you choose to use bamboo, be sure to research thoroughly to avoid issues. They're easy to clean, but known for being a moisture-sensitive flooring.

Cork Flooring

Like bamboo, cork is environmentally friendly and unique. This warm, softer flooring for dogs absorbs sound well. It's antibacterial, antimicrobial, and hypoallergenic. However, it is not one of the more durable flooring options, getting scratched and dented easily, and is sensitive to moisture damage.

Ceramic, Stone, and Porcelain Tile Flooring

Although expensive, these floors are extremely durable and highly resistant to pet damage. If installed well, with stain-resistant grout and sealants, they’re water resistant and handle spills and heavy mopping. Porcelain is more resistant than ceramic tile.

Because tile is waterproof flooring, it's the best flooring for puppy accidents or for incontinent dogs. However, some aspects make it unsuitable for other dogs. Engineered tile has a warmer feel, but traditional tile floors typically are cold and hard, and uncomfortable for dogs. Additionally, most tiles are slippery, affecting active dogs who may slip while playing, as well as older dogs.

Solid Wood Flooring

Many pet owners worry about how dog-friendly hardwood floors are. However, with some basic care, these can be one of the best flooring for dogs. By trimming your dog's nails regularly to reduce scratches, and cleaning spills right away, real hardwood floors are both attractive and suitable for most pets. Select one of the hardest woods for the best hardwood flooring. 

Engineered hardwood is a more cost effective and sturdier option; in addition, engineered wood floors can be regularly refinished. Improved scratch-resistant finishes protect solid hardwood floors, too, and you can sand and refinish these if necessary. Strong grain patterns, matte finishes, and distressed or reclaimed wood floors camouflage any scratches well.

Both engineered wood flooring and real wood floors are easy to sweep. They have a warm, natural feel, and good traction. If installed well, with a good underlay, they’re more comfortable and have better sound dampening. Supreme Flooring is an expert in hardwood flooring, helping you find the best option for both you and your dog.

Rubber Flooring

For specific areas, you may want to consider rubber flooring. It's a sustainable flooring that's fairly durable and bacteria-resistant. It has excellent traction unless wet, and is soft for comfort. If you prefer not to use full sheets, durable rubber mats provide the same benefits in key spots. There are also rubber dog kennel mats for added comfort.

Contact Us

Supreme Flooring specializes in hardwood and laminate floors, expertly installing them to be the best flooring for dogs. Trust us to install your pet-friendly flooring today in the Mississauga area.

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The best of hardwood and laminate floors, engineered wood flooring comprises numerous hardwood or plywood layers, making it more water and heat resistant, contrary to a layer of solid wood, which can warp or bend. However, it's also susceptible to maintenance, so you must routinely clean engineered hardwood flooring.

Some homes have family members who are hypersensitive to store-bought cleaning products due to their intense odors. Fortunately, there are homemade cleaners that work on almost all areas and surfaces of the home, including wood floors.

Clean your Engineered Hardwood Floors With Vinegar

Among the handiest condiments used for DIY cleaning recipes is vinegar. Vinegar is an acidic product, so it needs diluting. Never use vinegar directly on a surface. Many recipe options are highly effective in cleaning engineered hardwood floors with the necessity for a particular treatment for tough stains, dullness, etc.

Water, Vinegar & Essential Oils

When you want to add a pleasant scent to your cleaning solution, try this mixture of vinegar, warm water, and essential oil when you're about to mop your hard floor. Essential oils come in various fragrances, so pick a few drops of your favourite scent to add to your mixture for an extra sense of cleanliness. Orange and lemon variations work best for engineered hardwood floors. The limonene in the orange is ideal for attacking germs and dirt as the hardwood floor adapts and shines.

Vinegar & Linseed Oil

This vinegar cleaning formula might be the answer to removing unsightly marks from your engineered hardwood floor. Make a solution with an equal ratio of vinegar and linseed oil. Mix it well and use the mixture with a rag to gently wipe the floor. You have to rub the spots properly. Once the spots are out, wash with clean water and dry thoroughly. This solution is an affordable and effective spot cleaner.

Water, Olive Oil & Vinegar

Olive oil naturally hydrates and polishes engineered floors without leaving residue typical with mass-produced products. It can clean engineered wood floors and simultaneously quickly buff dull areas back to a striking shine. Combine 1/4 cup olive oil with 1/3 cup white vinegar and five cups of water. Soak your mop or rag in the solution and apply it to buff your floors. If your engineered floor is too greasy after using it, pat any left oil with a dry cloth.

Dishwashing Detergent, Water & Vinegar

If the floor is rustic or classic wood, you can use dish detergent. Mix a ½ cup of distilled white vinegar and a gallon of water, then add some drops of dish detergent for a good and fresh smell. This also works on laminate flooring.

First, use a vacuum cleaner to remove dust and hair. Then mop the floors with a dry microfiber mop. With a spray bottle, spray the cleaning solution onto the microfiber pad until the pad is damp. Mop the floors with the wet mop. Then, rinse the mop frequently and reapply the cleaning solution.

Apple Cider Vinegar Alone

The apple cider vinegar recipe is intended for those who need to remain things a little safer. This is because apple cider vinegar is remarkably less powerful. Consequently, any damage threat to your engineered wood flooring is relatively low.

Use a gallon of water mixed with a quarter cup of apple cider vinegar to make this solution. Grab a bucket to contain the mixture. Then, get a microfiber mop to wipe this mixture on the floor. You must dip and twist the mop several times because it will ultimately become dirty. After finishing, you have to wipe away the excess moisture with a dry towel.

Clean Engineered Hardwood Floors Without Vinegar

Liquid Soap

Liquid soap breaks down the links between the floor and dirt, degreases, and cleanses the floor. Avoid liquid soap with antibacterial ingredients, moisturizers, or oxygen bleach. Just add 2 to 3 drops, depending on the water you get. In a half-litre of water, you can have five drops at most.

If you add too much dish soap to the water, your homemade hardwood cleaner will be overly foamy, making it difficult to wash the foam and remains from the surface.
Use it wisely and spray sparingly. Dishwashing soap already has a great scent, so you can skip adding essence for aroma.

Black Tea

Like vinegar, black tea mixed with water is an effective homemade floor cleaner that polishes the engineered wood floors. The acidity of black tea budges dirt from the floor; however, it is not as potent as vinegar. The tannic acid in tea will deliver a nice sheen to your hardwood floors. Black tea will eliminate more excess dirt without damaging the finish on your floors.

Bring the 9 cups of water to a boil in a large pot, then add eight black tea bags and allow to steep for 10-15 minutes. Remove the tea bags and let the mixture cool. Damp a mop cleaning pad or soft cotton cloth in the mix and apply it to the wood grain direction. Never drench your wood floors with too much water and use the tea mixture sporadically.

Rubbing Alcohol

Rubbing alcohol is another efficient cleaner. The pH balance in this product is neutral, so it will not pose any damage to your flooring. Another significant advantage of alcohol is that it will disinfect as you clean. Alcohol that has 70% isopropyl disinfects the surface from germs and bacteria. Dilute the rubbing alcohol using distilled water.

Pour a cup of water into a 1-quart container, then mix in 1/4 cup of rubbing alcohol. You can also add three or four drops of mild dishwashing soap. The soap will add a great scent and sever the dirt into particles, making it manageable to eliminate.

Floor Cleaners to Avoid On Engineered Wood

• Bleach
• Harsh chemicals, like ammonia
• Lemon juice
• Acetone
• Soap-based cleaners
• Wax

These cleaners wear away at the wood, deteriorating the top wear layer after a while to form splits, wrinkles, and a dull surface. If your kitchen has engineered flooring, be mindful of cooking with citric acid and acetic acid.

Before applying any new cleanser on your entire floor, test it on a secluded area, such as beneath a piece of furniture. Avoid soaking the floor and rinse with clean water. Dry with a towel.

Maintaining Engineered Hardwood Floor

Hardwood engineered flooring is an elegant choice, and it requires little effort and strength to maintain it satisfactorily. You should know how to clean engineered hardwood floors every week and ensure you're not observing any incorrect cleaning methods.

If you want to learn more about the beauty of hardwood floors, feel free to call Supreme Flooring. Our expertise in various kinds of wooden floors allows us to deliver high-quality installation services in the Mississauga area.

The post Homemade Cleaner For Engineered Hardwood Floors appeared first on Supreme Flooring.

To find out if engineered hardwoods are the right flooring choice for you, we will go through all the benefits of engineered hardwood flooring, its costs, and the difference between this material to other types of floorings.

What is Engineered Hardwood Floor?

Engineered wood floor is a hardwood veneer affixed to the top surface which retains the natural features of the selected wood type, unlike solid hardwood flooring which is solid hardwood with no layers.

What type of wood is used for engineered wood floors?

When talking about the hard surface floor, there are several hardwood species from real red oak hardwood to a hardened vinyl that appear like real hardwood up to the grain patterns. Species diversity isn’t an issue because engineered floors have both domestic and exotic hardwoods.

Domestic hardwood flooring species such as maple, white oak, red oak, and more, are consistently used for hardwood flooring in homes. These domestic selections are great for conventional ambiances or for complementing current furniture or cabinets.

Usually, if there are numerous selections to opt for, it may appear overwhelming, which brings us to our next point.

Differentiating Engineered & Solid Hardwood

Solid hardwood floors are constructed from one piece of wood like walnut, maple, or oak. Their main benefit is that they can be sanded and refinished multiple times throughout their life expectancy. On the other hand, engineered wood is made with solid wood along with a highly-durable plywood core.

Engineered hardwood has the edge in below-grade spaces and rough climates. It has either a multi-ply or three-ply construction. Multi-ply floors highlight a core composed of numerous layers of plywood for a floor with exceptional resilience and durability, so this engineered hardwood construction sees its way onto top-quality flooring.

Engineered flooring is relatively more affordable than solid hardwood, though most varieties can be sanded down and refinished just once because the surface hardwood layer is somewhat thin. Solid hardwood comes in both pre-finished and unfinished boards.

Why Is Engineered Hardwood Floor More Durable Than Solid Hardwood?

All flooring options will exhibit some wear eventually; however, wood flooring is the only floor variety that can restore that wear to make it appear new again.

If the requirements aren’t precise, solid wood floors can arch, twist, swell or break in half. The multiple-ply plank structure of engineered hardwood prevents warping and remains levelled and intact. This makes engineered hardwood flooring a better choice for installation over heat sources or concrete. And, if you use a high-quality engineered floors brand, you can refinish this layer as much as solid hardwood.

How Durable Is Engineered Hardwood Flooring?

Long-Lasting

Engineered wood floors are typically very durable, and if well-maintained, will last for decades. There have been researches conducted that discovered that an engineered floor can last 20-40 years. Different manufacturers will give different life expectancy information for the flooring that they offer and sell to the public.

Withstands Movement

For the whole year, the humidity levels and temperature shift. This indicates that flooring can contract and expand while these shifts happen. Luckily, most engineered products are durable enough to resist temperature transitions since this wood doesn’t contract and expand as much as solid hardwood.

Made of Real Wood

Since it's made of real wood for the top layer, this flooring won't flake as laminate or vinyl can. This also implies you'll acquire luxury hardwood flooring without much concern for the coming years.

Moisture-Proof

Many expresses that engineered hardwood can deal with moisture levels observed on most basement concrete floors, which often doesn't exceed 4%
Provided that the engineered hardwood is installed correctly and has a moisture barrier beneath, it’s created to have flex and movement. This permits the boards to absorb a reasonable amount of moisture. You still don't wish to pour your drink on it and leave, though it is constructed to be long-lasting in humid conditions.

Engineered Hardwood Vs. Laminate

Some people may mistake engineered hardwoods with laminate hardwood. They are two ideal options when you want new floors that seem like solid hardwood. But their commonalities stop there.

Laminate Flooring

Laminates are constructed from unvarying materials, like fibreboard, that's been combined in a lamination process. A photographic layer rests at the top and the woods receive a final coat of resin for additional durability. Since the top layer is simply a print, laminate flooring isn’t a workable option for repairing or refinishing.

Engineered Wood Flooring

Engineered wood is a lot more compelling imitation of solid hardwood because, as we've mentioned, it's genuine wood and uses layers of wood fused for water and heat resistance.
Considering it is a floor covering, it’s suggested to be installed on top of radiant heating and a concrete subfloor. It can go directly over concrete slabs. Like solid hardwood, engineered hardwood has panels that connect side-to-side with tongue and groove joinery.

And, if scratch resistance is vital to you, seek engineered hardwood floors with a scratch-resistant overcoat. Tiny scratches on engineered hardwood can be restored with a cotton cloth and some rubbing alcohol.

What Is The Best Thickness For Engineered Wood Flooring?

Engineered hardwood floor ranges in thickness depending on the quality of the flooring, but is generally between 3-7mm, although thicknesses of up to 15mm are available.
You will wish the top layer of solid wood to be at least ¼ inch (6.5mm) thick for it to wear in the same way to a solid hardwood floor and allow you to resurface the floor at least once.

How Much Is Engineered Wood Floor?

This is the wood type to opt for if you want affordable flooring. The least pricey engineered wood flooring costs about $2.50 per square foot, with $10 per square foot as the most expensive type. Most products cost $4-$7 per square foot.

Definitely A Durable Choice!

Engineered hardwood flooring is similarly as durable, and in certain circumstances, more durable than solid hardwood flooring. Available in a vast array of wood species, stains, and finishes, you can have engineered hardwood that matches your efficiency conditions wherever you plan to install it and what your framework's requirements are.

Looking For A Mississauga Flooring Service For Your Engineered Hardwood?

At Supreme Flooring, we provide hardwood flooring services that are guaranteed to help you achieve your flooring dreams effortlessly. If you have concerns with your installation, just dial 647-893-1771 and our staff will gladly help you.Among the most typical queries from homeowners looking for new flooring is if it's durable. Engineered hardwood is exceptionally long-lasting; hence, for those seeking the invariability of wood flooring while wanting versatility, engineered hardwood is an ideal flooring option.

The post Is Engineered Hardwood Flooring Durable? appeared first on Supreme Flooring.

In this blog post, we will explain what engineered hardwood flooring is, what its benefits are and why you should choose this engineered hardwood for your home.

Engineered Wood Flooring: What Is It Made of?

Unlike hardwood, engineered hardwood is not a solid piece of wood. The top layers of engineered wood planks are a thick veneer of solid wood covered in a high-gloss clear acrylic. Underneath the solid wood is a plywood base that acts as the core layer of each plank. The premium quality plywood layer makes each piece of engineered hardwood cheaper to be installed because the pieces are not made entirely of solid hardwood. The construction of this material is much like that of laminate flooring.

The Benefits of Engineered Hardwood Flooring

While engineered and solid hardwood looks alike, there are many differences between them. We'll discuss why you should choose engineered hardwood over solid hardwood flooring.

Durability

Engineered hardwood flooring is incredibly strong. The top layer of the wood floor is the only area that is susceptible to scratches, dents and expansion; however, most engineered hardwoods have a relatively thin layer of semi-gloss to protect them from such wear and tear.

If an engineered wood floor does become scratched, chipped or dented, it can easily be fixed. The wear layer can be sanded and refinished, allowing home or business owners to have spotless flooring.

Cost

While traditional hardwood is beautiful, it can cost an exorbitant amount. Home and business owners that don't want to pay a great deal to have a new floor installed should choose engineered hardwood. Engineered hardwood looks like solid hardwood flooring and is relatively affordable.

The price of engineered hardwood varies depending on the hardwood veneer used. You can expect to pay more per plank if the wood layer is thick, a unique style or a popular species like birch. Nevertheless, this is a much more affordable option.

Water Resistance

Let's face it, spills happen. Solid hardwood floor is not resistant to water; the tight seams between the planks will become warped if any water sits on solid wood flooring for too long. Engineered wood flooring is a more durable type of flooring.

Thanks to its unique construction, engineered wood floors will not expand or contract in humid spaces. And, if water rests on the surface of engineered hardwood floors, it will have fewer damages than solid hardwood. This water resistance makes engineered flooring the best type of flooring for busy areas of your home.

Easy Installation

Engineered flooring promises easy installation. Much like laminate flooring, engineered hardwood can be a floating floor; this means that the flooring does not need to be nailed or glued to a concrete subfloor. Instead, the hardwood flooring pieces lock together using a tongue and groove system.

Engineered hardwood construction makes it easy to install. Hardwood engineered floors can be installed as quickly as laminate. This easy installation allows professional floorers to cover a large area in a short period of time.

Customize the Appearance

You can customize the appearance of your engineered floor to your preferences. Engineered wood has nearly as many styles as laminate.

Various materials like oak, maple and hickory are available. You can also choose between a thin or wide plank. The tongue and groove system makes it easy to run your floor in a different direction than the surface subfloor. No matter what your vision is, you can make it a reality with engineered hardwood.

Choose an Engineered Hardwood Floor

Overall, engineered hardwood is the best option if you want a solid hardwood appearance with all of the benefits of laminate flooring. This type of flooring boasts a durable surface, a lower cost per square foot and a real wood appearance.

Instead of choosing a laminate floor for your home or business, choose a more affordable and beautiful option—engineered hardwood is a fantastic option. Contact us today to learn more about how we can install new floors in your home or business.

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