Best Finish For Hardwood Floors With Dogs: 5 Best options

One of the , 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. 

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 . 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. 

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.

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.

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.

How Do You Choose The 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:

Look for products that cover a wide area on the first coat. It will make your project more cost-effective.

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.

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.