We just adopted two big dogs and our maple hardwood is already covered in little scratches after one winter of salt and slush — what are our options short of ripping it out?

Your maple hardwood can likely be restored without replacement - those surface scratches from salt and dog claws are exactly what floor refinishing is designed to address.

Surface scratches and salt damage are among the most common issues we see with hardwood floors, especially during Ottawa's harsh winters. If you can't catch your fingernail in the scratches when you run it across them, they're surface-level and will sand out completely during refinishing. Even deeper scratches from dog claws typically only penetrate the finish and top wood layer, which means a full sand and refinish will eliminate them entirely.

The refinishing process involves sanding down through the damaged finish and into fresh wood, then applying new stain (if desired) and protective finish coats. This essentially gives you brand new floors at a fraction of replacement cost. Most maple hardwood can be refinished 3-5 times over its lifetime, depending on the thickness of the wear layer. The process takes 3-4 days and costs $3-6 per square foot in the Ottawa market - significantly less than replacement.

For ongoing protection with large dogs, consider having a more durable finish applied during refinishing. Water-based polyurethane finishes with aluminum oxide provide excellent scratch resistance, while oil-based finishes offer deeper penetration and easier spot repairs. Adding area rugs in high-traffic zones and keeping dogs' nails trimmed will help prevent future damage.

Before deciding on refinishing, have a flooring contractor assess the damage depth and your floor's remaining thickness. If the scratches are minimal, you might even get away with a simple buff and recoat for $1.50-3 per square foot. For a professional assessment of your maple floors and refinishing options, request a consultation from Ottawa Floor Install.