Spokane is a dog-friendly city, and nearly half the homes we refinish have some level of pet damage. The good news: most pet damage is completely repairable through refinishing. Even the stuff that looks catastrophic — dark urine stains, deep claw marks, worn finish from the dog's favorite path — can usually be restored without replacing the entire floor.
Here's a breakdown of common pet damage types, repair options, and prevention strategies that actually work.
Surface Scratches from Claws
Severity: Low to Moderate
This is the most common pet damage we see. Dog claws — especially from larger breeds like Labs, Goldens, and German Shepherds — scratch through the finish layer and into the top of the wood grain. Cat claws cause similar but typically shallower damage.
Repair options:
- Screen and recoat ($1.50–$2.50/sq ft): If scratches are only in the finish layer (you can't feel them with your finger), a screen-and-recoat buffs the existing finish and applies a fresh topcoat. No sanding to bare wood required. This is the fastest and cheapest option — typically done in 1–2 days.
- Full sand and refinish ($3–$8/sq ft): If scratches penetrate into the wood itself, sanding is needed. Most claw marks, even deep ones from large dogs, sand out completely because they're only 1/32" to 1/16" deep. After sanding, the wood looks brand new.
Urine Stains and Odor
Severity: Moderate to Severe
Pet urine is the most damaging substance your hardwood floors will encounter. Urine is acidic, and when it soaks through the finish into the wood, it causes dark black staining (tannin reaction) and warping. The damage depends entirely on how long the urine sat before being cleaned up.
Fresh accidents (cleaned within minutes): Usually no permanent damage if the finish is intact. The polyurethane acts as a barrier. Wipe up, clean with a hardwood-safe cleaner, done.
Repeated accidents in the same spot: This is where real damage occurs. Urine eventually breaks through the finish, soaks into the wood grain, and sometimes penetrates through the board into the subfloor. The result is dark black staining, swollen grain, and persistent odor.
Repair options:
- Sanding + oxalic acid treatment ($4–$8/sq ft): For moderate urine stains that haven't penetrated deeply, we sand to bare wood and apply oxalic acid (wood bleach) to neutralize the tannin reaction and lighten the dark spots. Multiple applications may be needed. This works on about 70% of urine stains we encounter.
- Board replacement ($15–$40 per board): For severe staining where urine has soaked through the board, individual boards need to be cut out and replaced. We match the wood species, grain pattern, and stain color so the repair is invisible after refinishing. Common for pet-designated areas where accidents happened repeatedly over months or years.
- Subfloor treatment: If urine has soaked into the subfloor, we seal it with an enzymatic odor blocker and shellac-based sealer before installing replacement boards. This prevents odor from migrating back up through the new wood.
Worn Finish in Traffic Paths
Severity: Low
Dogs create predictable traffic patterns — the path from the back door to the living room, the route around the kitchen island, the sprint to the front door when someone knocks. Over time, these paths wear through the finish faster than the rest of the floor.
This is purely cosmetic and easily fixed with a full refinish. In fact, this type of wear is a sign that your floors are overdue for refinishing regardless of pets. Most finishes last 7–15 years under normal use with pets.
Water Bowl Damage
Severity: Low to Moderate
Sloppy drinkers and messy eaters create constant moisture exposure around food and water bowls. Over time, this breaks down the finish, causes darkening, and can lead to minor warping. The fix is straightforward: sand, potentially bleach the darkened area, and refinish with a fresh coat of polyurethane.
Prevention: Use a waterproof mat or tray under all pet bowls. Wipe up splashes daily. Consider an elevated feeding station that contains mess.
Prevention Strategies That Actually Work
After repairing hundreds of pet-damaged floors in Spokane, here are the prevention strategies we've seen make a real difference:
- Keep nails trimmed: This is the single most effective thing you can do. If you can hear your dog's nails clicking on the floor, they're too long. Monthly nail trims (or more for fast growers) dramatically reduce scratching. Nail caps (Soft Paws) work for some dogs but most Spokane dog owners find regular trimming more practical.
- Choose a harder finish: Bona Traffic HD is the most scratch-resistant waterborne finish available. It's what we recommend for all pet households. It won't prevent scratches from sharp claws, but it resists abrasion and wear significantly better than standard finishes.
- Area rugs in high-traffic zones: Place rugs at entries, in hallways, and in front of doors where dogs run, slide, and turn. Use rug pads — not rubber-backed rugs, which can trap moisture and discolor the finish underneath.
- Clean up accidents immediately: The difference between "no damage" and "board replacement needed" is often just 30 minutes of urine sitting on the floor. Keep enzyme-based cleaners accessible on every floor of your home.
- Consider matte or satin finish: High-gloss finishes show every scratch. Matte and satin finishes hide scratches much better — not because they prevent them, but because the light doesn't catch them the same way. Most Spokane homeowners are choosing satin now for exactly this reason.
- Maintain humidity: Dry floors gap and crack, creating more places for urine and moisture to penetrate. Keep indoor humidity at 35–45% with a whole-home humidifier, especially during Spokane's dry winters.
Cost of Pet Damage Repairs
Here's what pet damage repair typically costs in Spokane:
- Screen and recoat (finish-only scratches): $1.50–$2.50/sq ft
- Full sand and refinish with pet damage: $4–$8/sq ft
- Board replacement (per board): $15–$40
- Subfloor sealing (per affected area): $200–$500
- Oxalic acid stain treatment: $100–$300 per area
For complete pricing, see our 2026 Spokane refinishing cost guide. For an assessment of your specific pet damage, contact us for a free estimate.
Pet Damage? We Can Fix That.
Send us a photo of your floors and we'll give you a preliminary assessment. Or schedule a free in-home estimate.