At TLC Custom Design, we frequently handle hardwood flooring projects for owners who recently purchased a new home. One of the common challenges they bring us is dealing with older pet stains on hardwood flooring. In this month’s Ask The Expert Column, owner Thang Lam tackles this question by detailing what he did for a recent homeowner who called us for help in refinishing pet-stained hardwood floors. The owner discovered the stains in their new home after pulling out the old carpeting.
Depending on the extent of the stain, you have three options for dealing with the pet stain. If the stain is not too deep, sometimes just sanding the flooring will remove enough of the stain that it isn’t noticeable. If the stain is all the way through the hardwood, the best option is removing the damaged hardwood, repairing the subflooring underneath, and then weaving in (installing) new hardwood in the section that was damaged. These two options are great for pet stains on either side of the spectrum.