Strand Bamboo and Pets
When shopping for a new floor, one of the most often questions asked by homeowners is – will this floor stand up to the wear and tear of my pet? If you are looking for a pet-friendly bamboo flooring, than strand bamboo is your best option.
While there is no such thing as a natural floor – wood or bamboo – that is truly pet proof, strand bamboo flooring is one of the most resilient floors that you can purchase today. The strand woven process insures a much stronger, denser material than any other process used in manufacturing bamboo flooring. Most manufacturers include a final scratch resistant layer on bamboo flooring as well. Even so, any floor will show wear given enough pressure repeated long enough.
One of the best ways to protect your strand bamboo with pets is to make sure that you clip their nails regularly. This can be done at home or at the dog groomer. If you aren’t comfortable clipping your pet’s nails yourself, you can ask the vet or groomer to show you how to do it properly. In addition to clipping, many pet stores also care vinyl caps that you can place over the pet’s nails for further protection.
One thing many pet owners don’t consider when thinking about purchasing strand woven bamboo is whether or not the flooring is good for the pet. Usually we just consider how the pet may potentially damage the floor and if we will have to repair scratches. If you have an older dog with arthritis, or even a younger one whose breed may be prone to arthritis, you may want to consider whether or not any hard type of flooring is your best option. Pets who suffer from arthritis will need slip-free flooring in order to maintain their balance. Hardwood and tile floors can make it difficult for them to move around comfortable and even to lay down comfortably without a soft bed. Of course you can use area rugs and runners over strand bamboo though the spots your dog travels. This will both protect your pet as well as your flooring.